The influence of genetic sex on sexual differentiation of diencephalic dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo.
Soma sizes of embryonic male and female tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons were measured in 3 diencephalic regions in situ and in diencephalic dissociated cell cultures. Male neurons were about 30% larger than female neurons both in vitro and in situ. Treatment of cultures with sex steroids did not affect the sex differences. It is concluded that sexual differentiation of dopaminergic neurons may be under primary genetic control.
Abteilung für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Universität Ulm, F.R.G.
W
W
Kolbinger
M
M
Trepel
C
C
Beyer
C
C
Pilgrim
I
I
Reisert
D000818:Animals; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000196:embryology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000502:physiology
D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine