Sexual dimorphism of the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in the rat locus ceruleus.
Sex differences in the noradrenaline synthesizing neurons of the locus ceruleus (LC) in rat brain were investigated immunocytochemically using an antibody to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase. Female adult rats contained a greater structural volume and average somatic area in the anterior intermediate region of the nucleus compared with males. Whether this difference is related to the endocrine status of the animals, and consequently a functionally distinct population of neurons, is yet to be determined.
Luque
J M
JM
Departamento de Psicobiología, U.N.E.D., Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain.
de Blas
M R
MR
Segovia
S
S
Guillamón
A
A
D000818:Animals; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase