Androgen-dependent sex differences in the hypothalamic serotoninergic system

Abstract

Borisova NA, Proshlyakova EV, Sapronova AY, Ugrumov MV. Androgen-dependent sex differences in the hypothalamic serotoninergic system. Eur J Endocrinol 1996;134:232–5. ISSN 0804–4643 This study has attempted to fulfil our knowledge on the sex differences in the hypothalamic serotoninergic (5-HT) system in adult rats, and also to evaluate the role of neonatal androgens in the appearance of this sexual dimorphism. Such integrative characteristics of the 5-HT system as 5-HT content and specific uptake were estimated and compared in the anterior and middle hypothalami in intact adult females and males, as well as in neonatally castrated adult males. According to our data, the 5-HT content and [3H]5-HT specific uptake both in the anterior and middle hypothalami of intact females exceeded significantly those in intact males. Neonatal castration of males resulted in an increase of the 5-HT content and [3H]5-HT uptake in both hypothalamic regions up to their levels in intact females. Thus, the present study provides new information on the sex differences in the hypothalamic 5-HT system, which are apparently related to the neonatal masculinization of the hypothalamus. Michael V Ugrumov, Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov str., Moscow 117808, Russia