Na. Borisova et al., ANDROGEN-DEPENDENT SEX-DIFFERENCES IN THE HYPOTHALAMIC SEROTONINERGICSYSTEM, European journal of endocrinology, 134(2), 1996, pp. 232-235
This study has attempted to fulfil our knowledge on the sex difference
s in the hypothalamic serotoninergic (5-HT) system in adult rats, and
also to evaluate the role of neonatal androgens in the appearance of t
his sexual dimorphism. Such integrative characteristics of the 5-HT sy
stem as 5-HT content and specific uptake were estimated and compared i
n the anterior and middle hypothalami in intact adult females and male
s, as well as in neonatally castrated adult males. According to our da
ta, the 5-HT content and [H-3]5-HT specific uptake both in the anterio
r and middle hypothalami of intact females exceeded significantly thos
e in intact males. Neonatal castration of males resulted in an increas
e 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 provide
s new information on the sex differences in the hypothalamic 5-HT syst
em, which are apparently related to the neonatal masculinization of th
e hypothalamus.