Brain cell RNA: Sexual differences in the rat

Sexual differences in the total content of ribosomal RNA, established by cy tophotometric measurements in neurones from selected brain regions, were st udied in rats of the Wistar strain. In females of reproductive age, cyclic changes of RNA were synchronized with their oestrous cycle, the values bein g higher in the oestrous phase than in dioestrus. These changes were observ ed in pyramidal cells of the hippocampus and of the frontal cortex, in cell s of anterior thalamus, of ventromedial and lateral hypothalamus and of tub erculi olfactorii. However, cycling cells were not disclosed in septum and thalamus posterior. A dependence upon the actual level of ovarial hormones was found in ventromedial hypothalamic cells only. In general, the RNA valu es in males of the same age corresponded to values of dioestrous females. T he differences between newborn and 7-day-old pups were not marked enough an d did not allow to define the critical period responsible for initiation of this sexual difference. In senescent rats, this difference persisted. Duri ng the stable phase of long-lasting dioestrus, the total RNA content in cel ls of the frontal cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus was higher in female s than in males of the same age which may suggest a faster reduction of thi s substance in aged males. The prolonged influence of oestrogens in the oes trous phase of the climacteric period (preceding the permanent dioestrus) d ecreased the RNA values in hippocampal and hypothalamic neurones even below the level established during the permanent dioestrus (and thus reached mal e values). On the contrary, in frontal cortical neurones, the female values remained higher in the permanent dioestrus as well as during long-lasting oestrus. A discussion concerns the possible participation of genetic determ ination and of the actual state of ovarial hormones in the manifestation of sexual differences in brain cells of the rat.