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Kumar C, Roy JK. Decoding the epigenetic mechanism of mammalian sex determination. Exp Cell Res 2024; 439:114011. [PMID: 38531506 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Sex determination embodies a dynamic and intricate developmental process wielding significant influence over the destiny of bipotential gonads, steering them towards male or female gonads. Gonadal differentiation and the postnatal manifestation of the gonadal phenotype involve a sophisticated interplay of transcription factors such as SOX9 and FOXL2. Central to this interplay are chromatin modifiers regulating the mutual antagonism during this interplay. In this review, the key findings and knowledge gaps in DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA-mediated control throughout mammalian gonadal development are covered. Furthermore, it explores the role of the developing brain in playing a pivotal role in the initiation of gonadogenesis and the subsequent involvement of gonadal hormone/hormone receptor in fine-tuning sexual differentiation. Based on promising facts, the role of the developing brain through the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis is explained and suggested as a novel hypothesis. The article also discusses the potential impact of ecological factors on the human epigenome in relation to sex determination and trans-generational epigenetics in uncovering novel genes and mechanisms involved in sex determination and gonadal differentiation. We have subtly emphasized the disruptions in epigenetic regulations contributing to sexual disorders, which further allows us to raise certain questions, decipher approaches for handling these questions and setting up the direction of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cash Kumar
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Jagat Kumar Roy
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
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2
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Kung KTF, Louie K, Spencer D, Hines M. Prenatal androgen exposure and sex-typical play behaviour: A meta-analysis of classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105616. [PMID: 38447820 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Thousands of non-human mammal experiments have demonstrated that early androgen exposure exerts long-lasting effects on neurobehavioural sexual differentiation. In humans, females with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are exposed to unusually high concentrations of androgens prenatally, whereas prenatal concentrations of androgens in males with CAH are largely normal. The current meta-analysis included 20 independent samples and employed multi-level meta-analytic models. Consistently across all 7 male-typical and female-typical play outcomes, in the expected directions, the present study found significant and large average differences between control males and control females (gs = 0.83-2.78) as well as between females with CAH and control females (gs = 0.95-1.08), but differences between males with CAH and control males were mostly negligible and were non-significant for 6 of the 7 outcomes (gs = 0.04-0.27). These meta-analytic findings suggest that prenatal androgen exposure masculinises and defeminises play behaviour in humans. Broader implications in relation to sex chromosomes, brain development, oestrogens, socio-cognitive influences, other aspects of sex-related behavioural development, and gender nonconformity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karson T F Kung
- Department of Psychology, Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
| | - Krisya Louie
- Department of Psychology, Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Debra Spencer
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa Hines
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RQ, United Kingdom
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3
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Reiche E, Keller PR, Soares V, Schuster CR, Rahmayanti S, Mroueh J, Mroueh V, Billaud M, Hu S, Hoover-Watson H, Lian CG, Tan Y, Doloff JC, Newell-Fugate AE, Coon D. Androgenic steroids induce pathologic scarring in a preclinical porcine model via dysfunctional extracellular matrix deposition. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23561. [PMID: 38530321 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202302144rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Hypertrophic scarring is a major source of morbidity. Sex hormones are not classically considered modulators of scarring. However, based on increased frequency of hypertrophic scarring in patients on testosterone, we hypothesized that androgenic steroids induce abnormal scarring and developed a preclinical porcine model to explore these effects. Mini-swine underwent castration, received no testosterone (noT) or biweekly testosterone therapy (+T), and underwent excisional wounding. To create a delayed wound healing model, a subset of wounds were re-excised at 2 weeks. Scars from postoperative day 42 (POD42) and delayed wounds (POD28) were harvested 6 weeks after initial wounding for analysis via histology, bulk RNA-seq, and mechanical testing. Histologic analysis of scars from +T animals showed increased mean fibrosis area (16 mm2noT, 28 mm2+T; p = .007) and thickness (0.246 mm2noT, 0.406 mm2+T; p < .001) compared to noT. XX+T and XY+T scars had greater tensile burst strength (p = .024 and p = .013, respectively) compared to noT swine. Color deconvolution analysis revealed greater deposition of type I and type III collagen as well as increased collagen type I:III ratio in +T scars. Dermatopathologist histology scoring showed that +T exposure was associated with worse overall scarring (p < .05). Gene ontology analysis found that testosterone exposure was associated with upregulation of cellular metabolism and immune response gene sets, while testosterone upregulated pathways related to keratinization and laminin formation on pathway analysis. In conclusion, we developed a preclinical porcine model to study the effects of the sex hormone testosterone on scarring. Testosterone induces increased scar tissue deposition and appears to increase physical strength of scars via supraphysiologic deposition of collagen and other ECM factors. The increased burst strength seen in both XX and XY animals suggests that hormone administration has a strong influence on scar mechanical properties independent of chromosomal sex. Anti-androgen topical therapies may be a promising future area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Reiche
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Patrick R Keller
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Vance Soares
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Calvin R Schuster
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Siti Rahmayanti
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica Mroueh
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vanessa Mroueh
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marie Billaud
- Division of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sophia Hu
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hunter Hoover-Watson
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christine G Lian
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yu Tan
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joshua C Doloff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Annie E Newell-Fugate
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Devin Coon
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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4
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Keogh E, Boerner KE. Challenges with embedding an integrated sex and gender perspective into pain research: Recommendations and opportunities. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 117:112-121. [PMID: 38145854 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The focus of this article, within this BBI horizons special issue, is on sex, gender, and pain. We summarise what is currently known about sex- and gender-related variations in pain, exploring intersectional biological and psychosocial mechanisms, and highlight gaps in knowledge and understanding. Five key challenges with the exploration of sex and gender in pain research are presented, relating to: conceptual imprecision, research bias, limitations with binary descriptions, integrating sex and gender, and timely adoption/implementation of good research practice. Guidance on how to overcome such challenges is provided. Despite clear evidence for sex and gender differences in pain, there are conceptual and methodological barriers to overcome. Innovation in methods and approach can help develop more effective and tailored treatment approaches for men, women, boys, girls, and gender-diverse people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund Keogh
- Bath Centre for Pain Research & Department of Psychology, University of Bath, UK.
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Kostyunina DS, Pakhomov NV, Jouida A, Dillon E, Baugh JA, McLoughlin P. Transcriptomics and proteomics revealed sex differences in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Physiol Genomics 2024; 56:194-220. [PMID: 38047313 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00051.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Marked sexual dimorphism is displayed in the onset and progression of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Females more commonly develop pulmonary arterial hypertension, yet females with pulmonary arterial hypertension and other types of PH have better survival than males. Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells play a crucial role in pulmonary vascular remodeling and increased pulmonary vascular resistance in PH. Given this background, we hypothesized that there are sex differences in the pulmonary microvascular endothelium basally and in response to hypoxia that are independent of the sex hormone environment. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) from healthy male and female donors, cultured under physiological shear stress, were analyzed using RNA sequencing and label-free quantitative proteomics. Gene set enrichment analysis identified a number of sex-different pathways in both normoxia and hypoxia, including pathways that regulate cell proliferation. In vitro, the rate of proliferation in female HPMECs was lower than in male HPMECs, a finding that supports the omics results. Interestingly, thrombospondin-1, an inhibitor of proliferation, was more highly expressed in female cells than in male cells. These results demonstrate, for the first time, important differences between female and male HPMECs that persist in the absence of sex hormone differences and identify novel pathways for further investigation that may contribute to sexual dimorphism in pulmonary hypertensive diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY There is marked sexual dimorphism in the development and progression of pulmonary hypertension. We show differences in RNA and protein expression between female and male human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells grown under conditions of physiological shear stress, which identify sex-different cellular pathways both in normoxia and hypoxia. Importantly, these differences were detected in the absence of sex hormone differences. The pathways identified may provide novel targets for the development of sex-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria S Kostyunina
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nikolai V Pakhomov
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Amina Jouida
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eugene Dillon
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John A Baugh
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul McLoughlin
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Zelco A, Wapeesittipan P, Joshi A. Insights into Sex and Gender Differences in Brain and Psychopathologies Using Big Data. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1676. [PMID: 37629533 PMCID: PMC10455614 DOI: 10.3390/life13081676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The societal implication of sex and gender (SG) differences in brain are profound, as they influence brain development, behavior, and importantly, the presentation, prevalence, and therapeutic response to diseases. Technological advances have enabled speed up identification and characterization of SG differences during development and in psychopathologies. The main aim of this review is to elaborate on new technological advancements, such as genomics, imaging, and emerging biobanks, coupled with bioinformatics analyses of data generated from these technologies have facilitated the identification and characterization of SG differences in the human brain through development and psychopathologies. First, a brief explanation of SG concepts is provided, along with a developmental and evolutionary context. We then describe physiological SG differences in brain activity and function, and in psychopathologies identified through imaging techniques. We further provide an overview of insights into SG differences using genomics, specifically taking advantage of large cohorts and biobanks. We finally emphasize how bioinformatics analyses of big data generated by emerging technologies provides new opportunities to reduce SG disparities in health outcomes, including major challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anagha Joshi
- Department of Clinical Science, Computational Biology Unit, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway; (A.Z.); (P.W.)
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Johnson L, Lukert B. Science, Scripture, and Sexuality: The US United Methodist Church at Crossroads. JOURNAL OF RELIGION AND HEALTH 2023:10.1007/s10943-023-01806-7. [PMID: 37079172 PMCID: PMC10117265 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-023-01806-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
During the past 50 years, medical and behavioral scientists have made great progress in understanding the variables which influence the development of sexual orientation, identity, and consequent behavior. In most instances, homosexuality is influenced by hormonal, genetic, and immunologic variables during fetal development, and the effects cannot usually be altered without consequence. The recent struggle within The United Methodist Church in the USA reflects the difficulty that society in general has with accepting homosexuality as part of the spectrum of sexuality. Hopefully, understanding the factors influencing sexual orientation will aid in reducing prejudice and eventually bring an end to the pain endured by the LGBTQ community, and the conflict within The United Methodist Church, a prototype of the struggle.
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Parker CG, Craig SE, Histed AR, Lee JS, Ibanez E, Pronitcheva V, Rhodes JS. New cells added to the preoptic area during sex change in the common clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 333:114185. [PMID: 36509136 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sex differences in cell number in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus (POA) are documented across all major vertebrate lineages and contribute to differential regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad axis and reproductive behavior between the sexes. Sex-changing fishes provide a unique opportunity to study mechanisms underlying sexual differentiation of the POA. In anemonefish (clownfish), which change sex from male to female, females have approximately twice the number of medium-sized cells in the anterior POA compared to males. This sex difference transitions from male-like to female-like during sex change. However, it is not known how this sex difference in POA cell number is established. This study tests the hypothesis that new cell addition plays a role. We initiated adult male-to-female sex change in 30 anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) and administered BrdU to label new cells added to the POA at regular intervals throughout sex change. Sex-changing fish added more new cells to the anterior POA than non-changing fish, supporting the hypothesis. The observed effects could be accounted for by differences in POA volume, but they are also consistent with a steady trickle of new cells being gradually accumulated in the anterior POA before vitellogenic oocytes develop in the gonads. These results provide insight into the unique characteristics of protandrous sex change in anemonefish relative to other modes of sex change, and support the potential for future research in sex-changing fishes to provide a richer understanding of the mechanisms for sexual differentiation of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coltan G Parker
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sarah E Craig
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Abigail R Histed
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Joanne S Lee
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Emma Ibanez
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Veronica Pronitcheva
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Justin S Rhodes
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 603 E Daniel St, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Becher E, Oertelt-Prigione S. The Impact of Sex and Gender in Medicine and Pharmacology. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 282:3-23. [PMID: 37594607 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Sex and gender play a pivotal role in health and disease. Differences can be identified in symptoms, biomarkers, lifetime experiences of diseases, incidence, prevalence, therapeutic options, health-related behavior, and resiliency. However, awareness of sex and gender differences in medicine is still limited. Systematic implementation of sex and gender-sensitive research is not yet the norm, resulting in gaps in evidence especially in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in women. For decades research has predominantly included male persons and animals, leading to a lack of information about symptoms in female individuals or the classification of their symptoms as "atypical". Currently, the inclusion of female participants in clinical marketing access trials is mandatory. However, this does not automatically translate into sex-disaggregated analyses potentially limiting the discovery of sex-specific targeted therapeutic schemes. Consistent consideration of sex and gender in planning, conducting, analyzing, and dissemination of pharmacological research projects is an important prerequisite for closing the gender data gap. Targeted implementation strategies might help to include sex and gender aspects in different parts of the health system and thereby support the improvement of health care for all patients. Health economic aspects could be a further drive for the implementation of sex- and gender-sensitive medicine.The current chapter focuses on the role of sex and gender in biomedical research and, consequently, their potential role in pharmacology. We will explore the commonly used terminology in the field, the historical development of sex and gender-sensitive medicine (SGSM), the relevance of sex and gender to research and clinical practice and conclude with an outlook on future developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Becher
- Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Medicine Unit, Medical Faculty OWL, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Sabine Oertelt-Prigione
- Sex- and Gender-Sensitive Medicine Unit, Medical Faculty OWL, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
- Gender Unit, Departement of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Tekin S, Akgün EE, Ömür AD. A neuroscience-based approach to the assessment of sexual behavior in animals. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1136332. [PMID: 37082135 PMCID: PMC10110897 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1136332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual behavior in animals is important in ensuring the continuity of the generation. These behaviors differ in animal species. Sexual behaviors are shaped under the control of the reproductive system. Physiological stimuli produced by the reproductive system find their counterparts in the organism as reproductive activity. Reproductive activity display a critical role by transferring on the genetic heritage of organisms to the next generations. This activity, which is built on delicate balances, is associated with many systems in the organism. Nervous system, hormonal system, and circulatory system are the main ones. The regular formation of the reproductive activity in species is due to the effect of various factors. In domestic mammals, the reproductive activity is regulated by hormones secreted from brain and endocrine glands. Many hormones have duties in terms of the sustainability of reproductive activity. GnRH is the main hormone responsible for initiating this reproductive activity. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which is a small molecule peptide from certain nerve cells in the nucleus infundibularis region of the hypothalamus and consists of different amino acids, is secreted under the influence of smell, temperature, light, and physical stimulation. Besides, GnRH release is controlled by various neurotransmitters (adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine, acetylcholine, serotonin). On the other hand, various genetic factors in secretory glands, gonadal cells, reproductive tissues can lead to significant changes on reproductive activity through specific molecular pathways and mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samet Tekin
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Türkiye
| | - Elif Ece Akgün
- Department of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Türkiye
- *Correspondence: Elif Ece Akgün
| | - Ali Doğan Ömür
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Türkiye
- Ali Doğan Ömür
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11
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Renner J, Rasia-Filho AA. Morphological Features of Human Dendritic Spines. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:367-496. [PMID: 37962801 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic spine features in human neurons follow the up-to-date knowledge presented in the previous chapters of this book. Human dendrites are notable for their heterogeneity in branching patterns and spatial distribution. These data relate to circuits and specialized functions. Spines enhance neuronal connectivity, modulate and integrate synaptic inputs, and provide additional plastic functions to microcircuits and large-scale networks. Spines present a continuum of shapes and sizes, whose number and distribution along the dendritic length are diverse in neurons and different areas. Indeed, human neurons vary from aspiny or "relatively aspiny" cells to neurons covered with a high density of intermingled pleomorphic spines on very long dendrites. In this chapter, we discuss the phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of human spines and describe the heterogeneous features of human spiny neurons along the spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, amygdala, hippocampal regions, and neocortical areas. Three-dimensional reconstructions of Golgi-impregnated dendritic spines and data from fluorescence microscopy are reviewed with ultrastructural findings to address the complex possibilities for synaptic processing and integration in humans. Pathological changes are also presented, for example, in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Basic morphological data can be linked to current techniques, and perspectives in this research field include the characterization of spines in human neurons with specific transcriptome features, molecular classification of cellular diversity, and electrophysiological identification of coexisting subpopulations of cells. These data would enlighten how cellular attributes determine neuron type-specific connectivity and brain wiring for our diverse aptitudes and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué Renner
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Alberto A Rasia-Filho
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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12
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Helman TJ, Headrick JP, Stapelberg NJC, Braidy N. The sex-dependent response to psychosocial stress and ischaemic heart disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1072042. [PMID: 37153459 PMCID: PMC10160413 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1072042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is an important risk factor for modern chronic diseases, with distinct influences in males and females. The sex specificity of the mammalian stress response contributes to the sex-dependent development and impacts of coronary artery disease (CAD). Compared to men, women appear to have greater susceptibility to chronic forms of psychosocial stress, extending beyond an increased incidence of mood disorders to include a 2- to 4-fold higher risk of stress-dependent myocardial infarction in women, and up to 10-fold higher risk of Takotsubo syndrome-a stress-dependent coronary-myocardial disorder most prevalent in post-menopausal women. Sex differences arise at all levels of the stress response: from initial perception of stress to behavioural, cognitive, and affective responses and longer-term disease outcomes. These fundamental differences involve interactions between chromosomal and gonadal determinants, (mal)adaptive epigenetic modulation across the lifespan (particularly in early life), and the extrinsic influences of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Pre-clinical investigations of biological mechanisms support distinct early life programming and a heightened corticolimbic-noradrenaline-neuroinflammatory reactivity in females vs. males, among implicated determinants of the chronic stress response. Unravelling the intrinsic molecular, cellular and systems biological basis of these differences, and their interactions with external lifestyle/socio-cultural determinants, can guide preventative and therapeutic strategies to better target coronary heart disease in a tailored sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa J. Helman
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
- Correspondence: Tessa J. Helman
| | - John P. Headrick
- Schoolof Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Nady Braidy
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney, Australia
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Garrido-Gil P, Pedrosa MA, Garcia-Garrote M, Pequeño-Valtierra A, Rodríguez-Castro J, García-Souto D, Rodríguez-Pérez AI, Labandeira-Garcia JL. Microglial angiotensin type 2 receptors mediate sex-specific expression of inflammatory cytokines independently of circulating estrogen. Glia 2022; 70:2348-2360. [PMID: 35943203 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
There are sex differences in microglia, which can maintain sex-related gene expression and functional differences in the absence of circulating sex steroids. The angiotensin type 2 (AT2) receptors mediate anti-inflammatory actions in different tissues, including brain. In mice, we performed RT-PCR analysis of microglia isolated from adult brains and RNA scope in situ hybridization from males, females, ovariectomized females, orchiectomized males and brain masculinized females. We also compared wild type and AT2 knockout mice. The expression of AT2 receptors in microglial cells showed sex differences with much higher AT2 mRNA expression in females than in males, and this was not dependent on circulating gonadal hormones, as observed using ovariectomized females, brain masculinized females and orchiectomized males. These results suggest genomic reasons, possibly related to sex chromosome complement, for sex differences in AT2 expression in microglia, as the AT2 receptor gene is located in the X chromosome. Furthermore, sex differences in expression of AT2 receptors were associated to sex differences in microglial expression of key anti-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-10 and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β and interleukin-6. In conclusion, sex differences in microglial AT2 receptor expression appear as a major factor contributing to sex differences in the neuroinflammatory responses beyond the effects of circulating steroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Garrido-Gil
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Department of Morphological Sciences, IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CiberNed), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria A Pedrosa
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Department of Morphological Sciences, IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CiberNed), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Garcia-Garrote
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Department of Morphological Sciences, IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CiberNed), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Pequeño-Valtierra
- Laboratory of Genomes and Disease, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jorge Rodríguez-Castro
- Laboratory of Genomes and Disease, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Souto
- Laboratory of Genomes and Disease, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ana I Rodríguez-Pérez
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Department of Morphological Sciences, IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CiberNed), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose L Labandeira-Garcia
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Parkinson's disease, Research Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Department of Morphological Sciences, IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CiberNed), Madrid, Spain
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14
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Levin RN, Erickson-Schroth L, Mak K, Edmiston EK. Biological studies of transgender identity: A critical review. JOURNAL OF GAY & LESBIAN MENTAL HEALTH 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/19359705.2022.2127042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel N. Levin
- Departments of Biology and Neuroscience, Pomona College, Claremont, CA, USA
| | | | - Kristie Mak
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - E. Kale Edmiston
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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15
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Abstract
Understanding sex differences in physiology and disease requires the identification of the molecular agents that cause phenotypic sex differences. Two groups of such agents are genes located on the sex chromosomes, and gonadal hormones. The former have coherent linkage to chromosomes that form differently in the two sexes under the influence of genomic forces that are not related to reproductive function, whereas the latter have a direct or indirect relationship to reproduction. Evidence published in the past 5 years supports the identification of several agents of sexual differentiation encoded by the X chromosome in mice, including Kdm5c, Kdm6a, Ogt and Xist. These X chromosome agents have wide pleiotropic effects, potentially influencing sex differences in many different tissues, a characteristic shared with the gonadal hormones. The identification of X chromosome agents of sexual differentiation will facilitate understanding of complex intersecting gene pathways underlying sex differences in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur P Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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16
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Enbody ED, Sin SYW, Boersma J, Edwards SV, Ketaloya S, Schwabl H, Webster MS, Karubian J. The evolutionary history and mechanistic basis of female ornamentation in a tropical songbird. Evolution 2022; 76:1720-1736. [PMID: 35748580 PMCID: PMC9543242 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Ornamentation, such as the showy plumage of birds, is widespread among female vertebrates, yet the evolutionary pressures shaping female ornamentation remain uncertain. In part this is due to a poor understanding of the mechanistic route to ornamentation in females. To address this issue, we evaluated the evolutionary history of ornament expression in a tropical passerine bird, the White-shouldered Fairywren, whose females, but not males, strongly vary between populations in occurrence of ornamented black-and-white plumage. We first use phylogenomic analysis to demonstrate that female ornamentation is derived and that female ornamentation evolves independently of changes in male plumage. We then use exogenous testosterone in a field experiment to induce partial ornamentation in naturally unornamented females. By sequencing the transcriptome of experimentally induced ornamented and natural feathers, we identify genes expressed during ornament production and evaluate the degree to which female ornamentation in this system is associated with elevated testosterone, as is common in males. We reveal that some ornamentation in females is linked to testosterone and that sexes differ in ornament-linked gene expression. Lastly, using genomic outlier analysis we identify a candidate melanogenesis gene that lies in a region of high genomic divergence among populations that is also differentially expressed in feather follicles of different female plumages. Taken together, these findings are consistent with sex-specific selection favoring the evolution of female ornaments and demonstrate a key role for testosterone in generating population divergence in female ornamentation through gene regulation. More broadly, our work highlights similarities and differences in how ornamentation evolves in the sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik D. Enbody
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisiana70118,Department of Medical Biochemistry and MicrobiologyUppsala UniversityUppsalaSE‐75123Sweden
| | - Simon Y. W. Sin
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusetts02138,School of Biological SciencesThe University of Hong KongPok Fu Lam RoadHong Kong
| | - Jordan Boersma
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive BiologyWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington99164,Department of Neurobiology and BehaviorCornell UniversityIthacaNew York14853,Macaulay LibraryCornell Lab of OrnithologyIthacaNew York14850
| | - Scott V. Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard UniversityCambridgeMassachusetts02138
| | - Serena Ketaloya
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisiana70118
| | - Hubert Schwabl
- School of Biological Sciences, Center for Reproductive BiologyWashington State UniversityPullmanWashington99164
| | - Michael S. Webster
- Department of Neurobiology and BehaviorCornell UniversityIthacaNew York14853,Macaulay LibraryCornell Lab of OrnithologyIthacaNew York14850
| | - Jordan Karubian
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyTulane UniversityNew OrleansLouisiana70118
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17
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Chiang VSC, DeRosa H, Park JH, Hunter RG. The Role of Transposable Elements in Sexual Development. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:923732. [PMID: 35874645 PMCID: PMC9301316 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.923732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Up to 50% of most mammalian genomes are made up of transposable elements (TEs) that have the potential to mobilize around the genome. Despite this prevalence, research on TEs is only beginning to gain traction within the field of neuroscience. While TEs have long been regarded as “junk” or parasitic DNA, it has become evident that they are adaptive DNA and RNA regulatory elements. In addition to their vital role in normal development, TEs can also interact with steroid receptors, which are key elements to sexual development. In this review, we provide an overview of the involvement of TEs in processes related to sexual development- from TE activity in the germline to TE accumulation in sex chromosomes. Moreover, we highlight sex differences in TE activity and their regulation of genes related to sexual development. Finally, we speculate on the epigenetic mechanisms that may govern TEs’ role in sexual development. In this context, we emphasize the need to further the understanding of sexual development through the lens of TEs including in a variety of organs at different developmental stages, their molecular networks, and evolution.
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18
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Cīrulis A, Hansson B, Abbott JK. Sex-limited chromosomes and non-reproductive traits. BMC Biol 2022; 20:156. [PMID: 35794589 PMCID: PMC9261002 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01357-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex chromosomes are typically viewed as having originated from a pair of autosomes, and differentiated as the sex-limited chromosome (e.g. Y) has degenerated by losing most genes through cessation of recombination. While often thought that degenerated sex-limited chromosomes primarily affect traits involved in sex determination and sex cell production, accumulating evidence suggests they also influence traits not sex-limited or directly involved in reproduction. Here, we provide an overview of the effects of sex-limited chromosomes on non-reproductive traits in XY, ZW or UV sex determination systems, and discuss evolutionary processes maintaining variation at sex-limited chromosomes and molecular mechanisms affecting non-reproductive traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aivars Cīrulis
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Bengt Hansson
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
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19
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Otterbring T, Elbæk CT, Lu C. Can Digit Ratio and Gender Identity Predict Preferences for Consumption Options With a Distinct Gender Image? Front Psychol 2022; 13:923709. [PMID: 35756313 PMCID: PMC9220292 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated whether individuals' preferences for masculine (vs. feminine) consumption options could be predicted by a biological sex cue (the 2D:4D digit ratio; a biomarker linked to prenatal testosterone exposure), and a psychological gender cue (self-perceived gender identity). Chinese participants (N = 216) indicated their preferences for a series of binary options that differed in their perceived gender image (e.g., romantic comedy vs. action thriller; pop music vs. hard rock), with one of the options evaluated as relatively more feminine and the other viewed as comparably more masculine. Participants also self-reported their gender identity and the length of their index and ring fingers, which was used to calculate their 2D:4D digit ratios. A low (male-typical) digit ratio and a masculine gender identity were both associated with more masculine preferences, regardless of participants' biological sex. However, a low digit ratio predicted preferences for masculine consumption options only in female participants with a masculine gender identity, but not in those with a feminine gender identity. These findings add to the literature on whether and when biological sex cues and psychological gender cues can predict preferences for options with a distinct gender image and suggest that the connection between these cues is more complex in women than in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Otterbring
- Department of Management, School of Business and Law, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
- Institute of Retail Economics, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Chaoren Lu
- Kunming Academy of Governance, Kunming, China
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20
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Casto KV, Leininger EC, Tan T. Teaching About Sex and Gender in Neuroscience: More Than Meets the "XY". JOURNAL OF UNDERGRADUATE NEUROSCIENCE EDUCATION : JUNE : A PUBLICATION OF FUN, FACULTY FOR UNDERGRADUATE NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 20:A191-A206. [PMID: 38323054 PMCID: PMC10653250 DOI: 10.59390/azvz2988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Offering courses on the neuroscience of sex and gender can help support an inclusive curriculum in neuroscience. At the same time, developing and teaching such courses can be daunting to even the most enthusiastic educators, given the subject's complexities, nuances, and the difficult conversations that it invites. The authors of this article have all developed and taught such courses from different perspectives. Our aim is to provide educators with an overview of important conceptual topics as well as a comprehensive, but non-exhaustive, guide to resources for teaching about sex/gender in neuroscience based on our collective experience teaching courses on the topic. After defining vital terminology and briefly reviewing the biology of sex and sex determination, we describe some common topics within the field and contrast our current nuanced understandings from outdated misconceptions in the field. We review how (mis)representation of the neuroscience of sex/gender serves as a case study for how scientific results are communicated and disseminated. We consider how contextualization of sex/gender neuroscience research within a broader historical and societal framework can give students a wider perspective on the enterprise of science. Finally, we conclude with a brief discussion on how to choose learning goals for your course and implementation notes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen V Casto
- Division of Social Sciences, New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL 34243
| | | | - Taralyn Tan
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
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21
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Abstract
Irene Miguel-Aliaga comments on the importance of considering biological sex as an experimental variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Miguel-Aliaga
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK.
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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22
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Brain Sex in Transgender Women Is Shifted towards Gender Identity. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11061582. [PMID: 35329908 PMCID: PMC8955456 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11061582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgender people report discomfort with their birth sex and a strong identification with the opposite sex. The current study was designed to shed further light on the question of whether the brains of transgender people resemble their birth sex or their gender identity. For this purpose, we analyzed a sample of 24 cisgender men, 24 cisgender women, and 24 transgender women before gender-affirming hormone therapy. We employed a recently developed multivariate classifier that yields a continuous probabilistic (rather than a binary) estimate for brains to be male or female. The brains of transgender women ranged between cisgender men and cisgender women (albeit still closer to cisgender men), and the differences to both cisgender men and to cisgender women were significant (p = 0.016 and p < 0.001, respectively). These findings add support to the notion that the underlying brain anatomy in transgender people is shifted away from their biological sex towards their gender identity.
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23
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Rasia-Filho AA. Unraveling Brain Microcircuits, Dendritic Spines, and Synaptic Processing Using Multiple Complementary Approaches. Front Physiol 2022; 13:831568. [PMID: 35295578 PMCID: PMC8918670 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.831568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto A. Rasia-Filho
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology, Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Alberto A. Rasia-Filho ;
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24
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Rainville JR, Lipuma T, Hodes GE. Translating the Transcriptome: Sex Differences in the Mechanisms of Depression and Stress, Revisited. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:25-35. [PMID: 33865609 PMCID: PMC10197090 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The past decade has produced a plethora of studies examining sex differences in the transcriptional profiles of stress and mood disorders. As we move forward from accepting the existence of extensive molecular sex differences in the brain to exploring the purpose of these sex differences, our approach must become more systemic and less reductionist. Earlier studies have examined specific brain regions and/or cell types. To use this knowledge to develop the next generation of personalized medicine, we need to comprehend how transcriptional changes across the brain and/or the body relate to each other. We provide an overview of the relationships between baseline and depression/stress-related transcriptional sex differences and explore contributions of preclinically identified mechanisms and their impacts on behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Rainville
- Department of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Timothy Lipuma
- Department of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Georgia E Hodes
- Department of Neuroscience, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
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25
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Sewell R, Buchanan CL, Davis S, Christakis DA, Dempsey A, Furniss A, Kazak AE, Kerlek AJ, Magnusen B, Pajor NM, Pyle L, Pyle LC, Razzaghi H, Schwartz BI, Vogiatzi MG, Nokoff NJ. Behavioral Health Diagnoses in Youth with Differences of Sex Development or Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Compared with Controls: A PEDSnet Study. J Pediatr 2021; 239:175-181.e2. [PMID: 34461062 PMCID: PMC8604751 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.08.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the odds of a behavioral health diagnosis among youth with differences of sex development (DSD) or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) compared with matched controls in the PEDSnet database. STUDY DESIGN All youth with a diagnosis of DSD (n = 1216) or CAH (n = 1647) and at least 1 outpatient encounter were extracted from the PEDSnet database and propensity-score matched on 8 variables (1:4) with controls (n = 4864 and 6588, respectively) using multivariable logistic regression. The likelihood of having behavioral health diagnoses was examined using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS Youth with DSD had higher odds of a behavioral health diagnosis (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4-2.1; P < .0001) and neurodevelopmental diagnosis (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4, 2.0; P < .0001) compared with matched controls. Youth with CAH did not have an increased odds of a behavioral health diagnosis (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.9, 1.1; P = .9) compared with matched controls but did have higher odds of developmental delay (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4, 2.4; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS Youth with DSD diagnosis have higher odds of a behavioral health or neurodevelopmental diagnosis compared with matched controls. Youth with CAH have higher odds of developmental delay, highlighting the need for screening in both groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Sewell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Cindy L Buchanan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Shanlee Davis
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Dimitri A Christakis
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior & Development, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Anna Furniss
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Adult & Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research & Delivery, Aurora, CO
| | - Anne E Kazak
- Nemours Children's Health, Department of Pediatrics, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Thomas Jefferson University, Wilmington, DE
| | - Anna J Kerlek
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
| | - Brianna Magnusen
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Institute for Informatics, Columbus, OH
| | - Nathan M Pajor
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Laura Pyle
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
| | - Louise C Pyle
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Hanieh Razzaghi
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Beth I Schwartz
- Nemours Children's Health, Department of Pediatrics and Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wilmington, DE
| | - Maria G Vogiatzi
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Natalie J Nokoff
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO.
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26
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Goodwin SF, Hobert O. Molecular Mechanisms of Sexually Dimorphic Nervous System Patterning in Flies and Worms. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2021; 37:519-547. [PMID: 34613817 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-120319-115237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Male and female brains display anatomical and functional differences. Such differences are observed in species across the animal kingdom, including humans, but have been particularly well-studied in two classic animal model systems, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we summarize recent advances in understanding how the worm and fly brain acquire sexually dimorphic features during development. We highlight the advantages of each system, illustrating how the precise anatomical delineation of sexual dimorphisms in worms has enabled recent analysis into how these dimorphisms become specified during development, and how focusing on sexually dimorphic neurons in the fly has enabled an increasingly detailed understanding of sex-specific behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Goodwin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SR, United Kingdom;
| | - Oliver Hobert
- Department of Biological Sciences and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA;
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27
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Kurth F, Gaser C, Luders E. Development of sex differences in the human brain. Cogn Neurosci 2021; 12:155-162. [PMID: 32902364 PMCID: PMC8510853 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2020.1800617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Sex differences in brain anatomy have been described from early childhood through late adulthood, but without any clear consensus among studies. Here, we applied a machine learning approach to estimate 'Brain Sex' using a continuous (rather than binary) classifier in 162 boys and 185 girls aged between 5 and 18 years. Changes in the estimated sex differences over time at different age groups were subsequently calculated using a sliding window approach. We hypothesized that males and females would differ in brain structure already during childhood, but that these differences will become even more pronounced with increasing age, particularly during adolescence. Overall, the classifier achieved a good performance, with an accuracy of 80.4% and an AUC of 0.897 across all age groups. Assessing changes in the estimated sex with age revealed a growing difference between the sexes with increasing age. That is, the very large effect size of d = 1.2 which was already evident during childhood increased even further from age 11 onward, and eventually reached an effect size of d = 1.6 at age 17. Altogether these findings suggest a systematic sex difference in brain structure already during childhood, and a subsequent increase of this difference during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Kurth
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christian Gaser
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Eileen Luders
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
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28
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Luoto S. Sexual Dimorphism in Language, and the Gender Shift Hypothesis of Homosexuality. Front Psychol 2021; 12:639887. [PMID: 34135808 PMCID: PMC8200855 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.639887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychological sex differences have been studied scientifically for more than a century, yet linguists still debate about the existence, magnitude, and causes of such differences in language use. Advances in psychology and cognitive neuroscience have shown the importance of sex and sexual orientation for various psychobehavioural traits, but the extent to which such differences manifest in language use is largely unexplored. Using computerised text analysis (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count: LIWC 2015), this study found substantial psycholinguistic sexual dimorphism in a large corpus of English-language novels (n = 304) by heterosexual authors. The psycholinguistic sex differences largely aligned with known psychological sex differences, such as empathising–systemising, people–things orientation, and men’s more pronounced spatial cognitive styles and abilities. Furthermore, consistent with predictions from cognitive neuroscience, novels (n = 158) by lesbian authors showed minor signs of psycholinguistic masculinisation, while novels (n = 167) by homosexual men had a female-typical psycholinguistic pattern, supporting the gender shift hypothesis of homosexuality. The findings on this large corpus of 66.9 million words indicate how psychological group differences based on sex and sexual orientation manifest in language use in two centuries of literary art.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severi Luoto
- English, Drama and Writing Studies, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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29
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Warling A, Yavi M, Clasen LS, Blumenthal JD, Lalonde FM, Raznahan A, Liu S. Sex Chromosome Dosage Effects on White Matter Structure in the Human Brain. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:5339-5353. [PMID: 34117759 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex chromosome aneuploidies, a group of neurogenetic conditions characterized by aberrant sex chromosome dosage (SCD), are associated with increased risks for psychopathology as well as alterations in gray matter structure. However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of potential SCD-associated changes in white matter structure, or knowledge of how these changes might relate to known alterations in gray matter anatomy. Thus, here, we use voxel-based morphometry on structural neuroimaging data to provide the first comprehensive maps of regional white matter volume (WMV) changes across individuals with varying SCD (n = 306). We show that mounting X- and Y-chromosome dosage are both associated with widespread WMV decreases, including in cortical, subcortical, and cerebellar tracts, as well as WMV increases in the genu of the corpus callosum and posterior thalamic radiation. We also correlate X- and Y-chromosome-linked WMV changes in certain regions to measures of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Finally, we demonstrate that SCD-driven WMV changes show a coordinated coupling with SCD-driven gray matter volume changes. These findings represent the most complete maps of X- and Y-chromosome effects on human white matter to date, and show how such changes connect to psychopathological symptoms and gray matter anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allysa Warling
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mani Yavi
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Liv S Clasen
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jonathan D Blumenthal
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - François M Lalonde
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Siyuan Liu
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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30
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Bode A, Kushnick G. Proximate and Ultimate Perspectives on Romantic Love. Front Psychol 2021; 12:573123. [PMID: 33912094 PMCID: PMC8074860 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.573123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Romantic love is a phenomenon of immense interest to the general public as well as to scholars in several disciplines. It is known to be present in almost all human societies and has been studied from a number of perspectives. In this integrative review, we bring together what is known about romantic love using Tinbergen’s “four questions” framework originating from evolutionary biology. Under the first question, related to mechanisms, we show that it is caused by social, psychological mate choice, genetic, neural, and endocrine mechanisms. The mechanisms regulating psychopathology, cognitive biases, and animal models provide further insights into the mechanisms that regulate romantic love. Under the second question, related to development, we show that romantic love exists across the human lifespan in both sexes. We summarize what is known about its development and the internal and external factors that influence it. We consider cross-cultural perspectives and raise the issue of evolutionary mismatch. Under the third question, related to function, we discuss the fitness-relevant benefits and costs of romantic love with reference to mate choice, courtship, sex, and pair-bonding. We outline three possible selective pressures and contend that romantic love is a suite of adaptions and by-products. Under the fourth question, related to phylogeny, we summarize theories of romantic love’s evolutionary history and show that romantic love probably evolved in concert with pair-bonds in our recent ancestors. We describe the mammalian antecedents to romantic love and the contribution of genes and culture to the expression of modern romantic love. We advance four potential scenarios for the evolution of romantic love. We conclude by summarizing what Tinbergen’s four questions tell us, highlighting outstanding questions as avenues of potential future research, and suggesting a novel ethologically informed working definition to accommodate the multi-faceted understanding of romantic love advanced in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Bode
- Human Behavioural Ecology Research Group, School of Archaeology and Anthropology, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Geoff Kushnick
- Human Behavioural Ecology Research Group, School of Archaeology and Anthropology, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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31
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Luoto S, Varella MAC. Pandemic Leadership: Sex Differences and Their Evolutionary-Developmental Origins. Front Psychol 2021; 12:633862. [PMID: 33815218 PMCID: PMC8015803 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global societal, economic, and social upheaval unseen in living memory. There have been substantial cross-national differences in the kinds of policies implemented by political decision-makers to prevent the spread of the virus, to test the population, and to manage infected patients. Among other factors, these policies vary with politicians' sex: early findings indicate that, on average, female leaders seem more focused on minimizing direct human suffering caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, while male leaders implement riskier short-term decisions, possibly aiming to minimize economic disruptions. These sex differences are consistent with broader findings in psychology, reflecting women's stronger empathy, higher pathogen disgust, health concern, care-taking orientation, and dislike for the suffering of other people-as well as men's higher risk-taking, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism, and focus on financial indicators of success and status. This review article contextualizes sex differences in pandemic leadership in an evolutionary framework. Evolution by natural selection is the only known process in nature that organizes organisms into higher degrees of functional order, or counteracts the unavoidable disorder that would otherwise ensue, and is therefore essential for explaining the origins of human sex differences. Differential sexual selection and parental investment between males and females, together with the sexual differentiation of the mammalian brain, drive sex differences in cognition and behavioral dispositions, underlying men's and women's leadership styles and decision-making during a global pandemic. According to the sexually dimorphic leadership specialization hypothesis, general psychobehavioral sex differences have been exapted during human evolution to create sexually dimorphic leadership styles. They may be facultatively co-opted by societies and/or followers when facing different kinds of ecological and/or sociopolitical threats, such as disease outbreaks or intergroup aggression. Early evidence indicates that against the invisible viral foe that can bring nations to their knees, the strategic circumspection of empathic feminine health "worriers" may bring more effective and humanitarian outcomes than the devil-may-care incaution of masculine risk-taking "warriors".
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Affiliation(s)
- Severi Luoto
- English, Drama and Writing Studies, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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32
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Rafee S, O'Riordan S, Reilly R, Hutchinson M. We Must Talk about Sex and Focal Dystonia. Mov Disord 2021; 36:604-608. [PMID: 33503303 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In a recent workshop on "Defining research priorities in dystonia,", there was absolutely no reference to sex as a factor in disease pathogenesis. In this viewpoint paper, we argue that the most distinctive aspects of adult onset isolated focal dystonia are the marked sex-related differences demonstrated by epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory studies in patients with adult onset dystonia, particularly in cervical dystonia, the most common presentation. We propose that the future focus of research should be on neurobiological mechanisms underlying the profound sexual dimorphism in this disorder. Targeting research into gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic function, which also shows similar sexual dimorphism, would be most productive in elucidating the pathogenesis of adult onset dystonia. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shameer Rafee
- Department of Neurology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean O'Riordan
- Department of Neurology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Richard Reilly
- Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Hutchinson
- Department of Neurology, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.,School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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33
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Buchholz VN, Mühle C, Kornhuber J, Lenz B. Markers of Prenatal Androgen Exposure Correlate With Online Sexual Compulsivity and Erectile Function in Young Men. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:517411. [PMID: 33889090 PMCID: PMC8055940 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.517411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pornography addiction and sexual dysfunction are increasingly prevalent in young men. Previous studies suggest that prenatal androgen exposure plays a role in addiction and sexual functionality. Here, we tested whether lower second-to-fourth finger length ratio (2D:4D) and later age at spermarche, both putative indicators of higher androgen levels in utero, correlate with online sexual compulsivity (OSC scale of ISST), erectile function (IIEF-5), and ejaculatory control (PEPA) in 4,370 young men (age IQR: 25-26 years) of the Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors. Statistical analyses revealed that lower 2D:4D correlated with higher scores on the OSC scale. Moreover, higher age at spermarche correlated with higher OSC scores and decreased erectile function. Interestingly, OSC severity, but not the frequency of pornography use, correlated negatively with erectile function and ejaculatory control. This is the first study to associate two independent proxies of prenatal testosterone level with OSC. These findings provide novel insight into intrauterine predisposition of sexual behavior and related sexual function in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena N Buchholz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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34
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Acién P, Acién M. Disorders of Sex Development: Classification, Review, and Impact on Fertility. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9113555. [PMID: 33158283 PMCID: PMC7694247 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9113555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, the elements included in both sex determination and sex differentiation are briefly analyzed, exposing the pathophysiological and clinical classification of disorders or anomalies of sex development. Anomalies in sex determination without sex ambiguity include gonadal dysgenesis, polysomies, male XX, and Klinefelter syndrome (dysgenesis and polysomies with a female phenotype; and sex reversal and Klinefelter with a male phenotype). Other infertility situations could also be included here as minor degrees of dysgenesis. Anomalies in sex determination with sex ambiguity should (usually) include testicular dysgenesis and ovotesticular disorders. Among the anomalies in sex differentiation, we include: (1) males with androgen deficiency (MAD) that correspond to those individuals whose karyotype and gonads are male (XY and testes), but the phenotype can be female due to different hormonal abnormalities. (2) females with androgen excess (FAE); these patients have ovaries and a 46,XX karyotype, but present varying degrees of external genital virilization as a result of an enzyme abnormality that affects adrenal steroid biosynthesis and leads to congenital adrenal hyperplasia; less frequently, this can be caused by iatrogenia or tumors. (3) Kallman syndrome. All of these anomalies are reviewed and analyzed herein, as well as related fertility problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Acién
- Department of Gynecology, Miguel Hernández University, San Juan Campus, 03550 San Juan, Alicante, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-670-097-518, +34-965-919-385; Fax: +34-965-919-550
| | - Maribel Acién
- Department of Gynecology, Miguel Hernández University, San Juan Campus, 03550 San Juan, Alicante, Spain;
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Juan University Hospital, San Juan Campus, 03550 San Juan, Alicante, Spain
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35
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Klimek M, Galbarczyk A, Nenko I, Jasienska G. Biomarkers of fetal conditions: Finger ridge-counts, facial fluctuating asymmetry, and digit ratio (2D:4D)-are they correlated in women? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 174:224-231. [PMID: 33098083 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fetal environmental conditions are crucial for life-long health. Direct measurements of developmental conditions are limited in humans; thus, several biomarkers of those conditions have been proposed: that is, finger ridge-counts, level of facial fluctuating asymmetry (FA), and digit ratio (2D:4D). Since all of these biomarkers share a similar gestational time of formation, we hypothesize that their values are significantly correlated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected at the Mogielica Human Ecology Study Site in southern Poland among 234 women. Finger ridge-counts, level of facial FA, and 2D:4D have been measured. The two-step analyses included Pearson's correlations of simple values of the biomarkers and correlations of composite variables calculated based on principal component analysis. RESULTS We did not find any statistically significant correlations between finger ridge-counts, FA, and 2D:4D in women. Similarly, we did not observe any correlations between three composites created from the biomarkers. DISCUSSION Our results indicate that there are no relationships between the biomarkers, suggested as proxies of the quality of prenatal conditions, in a single population. This is the first study analyzing three different markers simultaneously. The lack of correlations may indicate that the tested biomarkers reflect, in fact, different environmental conditions, occurring in separate "critical windows" of development, or that the biomarkers are not valid as proxies of developmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Klimek
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej Galbarczyk
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Ilona Nenko
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grazyna Jasienska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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36
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Zhuang QKW, Galvez JH, Xiao Q, AlOgayil N, Hyacinthe J, Taketo T, Bourque G, Naumova AK. Sex Chromosomes and Sex Phenotype Contribute to Biased DNA Methylation in Mouse Liver. Cells 2020; 9:E1436. [PMID: 32527045 PMCID: PMC7349295 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex biases in the genome-wide distribution of DNA methylation and gene expression levels are some of the manifestations of sexual dimorphism in mammals. To advance our understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to sex biases in DNA methylation and gene expression, we conducted whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) as well as RNA-seq on liver samples from mice with different combinations of sex phenotype and sex-chromosome complement. We compared groups of animals with different sex phenotypes, but the same genetic sexes, and vice versa, same sex phenotypes, but different sex-chromosome complements. We also compared sex-biased DNA methylation in mouse and human livers. Our data show that sex phenotype, X-chromosome dosage, and the presence of Y chromosome shape the differences in DNA methylation between males and females. We also demonstrate that sex bias in autosomal methylation is associated with sex bias in gene expression, whereas X-chromosome dosage-dependent methylation differences are not, as expected for a dosage-compensation mechanism. Furthermore, we find partial conservation between the repertoires of mouse and human genes that are associated with sex-biased methylation, an indication that gene function is likely to be an important factor in this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinwei Kim-Wee Zhuang
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1C7, Canada; (Q.K.-W.Z.); (N.A.)
| | - Jose Hector Galvez
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, Montréal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada;
| | - Qian Xiao
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Najla AlOgayil
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1C7, Canada; (Q.K.-W.Z.); (N.A.)
| | - Jeffrey Hyacinthe
- Department of Quantitative Life Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada;
| | - Teruko Taketo
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
- Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Guillaume Bourque
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1C7, Canada; (Q.K.-W.Z.); (N.A.)
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, Montréal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada;
| | - Anna K. Naumova
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 1C7, Canada; (Q.K.-W.Z.); (N.A.)
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada;
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
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37
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Sex differences in people and things orientation are reflected in sex differences in academic publishing. J Informetr 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2020.101021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Tirado-Muñoz J, Lopez-Rodriguez AB, Fonseca F, Farré M, Torrens M, Viveros MP. Effects of cannabis exposure in the prenatal and adolescent periods: Preclinical and clinical studies in both sexes. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 57:100841. [PMID: 32339546 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among adolescents and young adults, including pregnant women. There is substantial evidence for a significant association between prenatal cannabis exposure and lower birth weight in offspring, and mixed results regarding later behavioural outcomes in the offspring. Adolescent cannabis use, especially heavy use, has been associated with altered executive function, depression, psychosis and use of other drugs later in life. Human studies have limitations due to several confounding factors and have provided scarce information about sex differences. In general, animal studies support behavioural alterations reported in humans and have revealed diverse sex differences and potential underlying mechanisms (altered mesolimbic dopaminergic and hippocampal glutamatergic systems and interference with prefrontal cortex maturation). More studies are needed that analyse sex and gender influences on cannabis-induced effects with great clinical relevance such as psychosis, cannabis use disorder and associated comorbidities, to achieve more personalized and accurate treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Tirado-Muñoz
- Addiction Research Group, IMIM-Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Belen Lopez-Rodriguez
- School of Biochemistry & Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Francina Fonseca
- Addiction Research Group, IMIM-Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Magi Farré
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol and Institut de Recerca Germas Trias (HUGTP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Torrens
- Addiction Research Group, IMIM-Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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