Sexual dimorphism and aromatase in the rat retina

The present study: (a) determined the effects of both pre- and early postna tal androgen hormonal manipulation on retinal thickness, (b) examined the p resence of the aromatase enzyme by immunocytochemistry in retinal tissue an d (c) quantified aromatase activity in the rat retina. The results suggest that retinal thickness is influenced by perinatal hormone manipulation via aromatizable androgens that have implications for the sex differences seen in visual information processing and performance. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.