title: Sexually dimorphic expression of the NGF receptor gene in the developing rat brain.
abstract: To define relations between trophic molecules and known sexually dimorphic traits in brain, we examined possible sex differences in nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF receptor (NGF-R) gene expression in the rat cholinergic basal forebrain (BF)-hippocampal system. Hippocampal NGF mRNA levels did not differ between sexes; in contrast, BF NGF-R mRNA levels were greater in neonatal females than males, paralleling the known dimorphic development of cholinergic enzyme activity. Cerebellar NGF-R mRNA levels were also dimorphic in the neonate, suggesting that sex-specific influences may regulate trophic receptor gene expression in diverse brain systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Kornack
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor