Visualizing sexual dimorphism in the brain.
Sexually dimorphic behaviors are likely to involve neural pathways that express the androgen receptor (AR). We have genetically modified the AR locus to visualize dimorphisms in neuronal populations that express AR. Analysis of AR-positive neurons reveals both known dimorphisms in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis as well as novel dimorphic islands in the basal forebrain with a clarity unencumbered by the vast population of AR-negative neurons. This genetic approach allows the visualization of dimorphic subpopulations of AR-positive neurons along with their projections and may ultimately permit an association between neural circuits and specific dimorphic behaviors.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, 701W 168th St., HHSC 1014, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Nirao M
NM
Shah
David J
DJ
Pisapia
Silas
S
Maniatis
Monica M
MM
Mendelsohn
Adriana
A
Nemes
Richard
R
Axel
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology
D011944:Receptors, Androgen