Major molecular differences between mammalian sexes are involved in drug metabolism and renal function.
Many anatomical differences exist between males and females; these are manifested on a molecular level by different hormonal environments. Although several molecular differences in adult tissues have been identified, a comprehensive investigation of the gene expression differences between males and females has not been performed. We surveyed the expression patterns of 13,977 mouse genes in male and female hypothalamus, kidney, liver, and reproductive tissues. Extensive differential gene expression was observed not only in the reproductive tissues, but also in the kidney and liver. The differentially expressed genes are involved in drug and steroid metabolism, osmotic regulation, or as yet unresolved cellular roles. In contrast, very few molecular differences were observed between the male and female hypothalamus in both mice and humans. We conclude that there are persistent differences in gene expression between adult males and females. These molecular differences have important implications for the physiological differences between males and females.
Rinn
John L
JL
Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. john.rinn@yale.edu
Rozowsky
Joel S
JS
Laurenzi
Ian J
IJ
Petersen
Petur H
PH
Zou
Kaiyong
K
Zhong
Weimin
W
Gerstein
Mark
M
Snyder
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D005835:Genitalia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D015843:Serpins; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014156:Transcortin
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C534935:SERPINA6 protein, human; D015843:Serpins; D004247:DNA; D014156:Transcortin