Lateralized sex differences in stress-induced dopamine release in the rat.
This study examined the possibility that hemispheric differences in stress-induced brain activation vary as a function of sex. Using in-vivo voltammetry, increases in extracellular dopamine release in response to predator odour and tail pinch stress were recorded bilaterally and simultaneously in either the infralimbic cortex or basolateral amygdala. In both stress-sensitive brain regions, significant sex x hemisphere interactions were observed, with males and females showing greater dopamine activation in right-brain and left-brain structures, respectively. Cortical asymmetries in dopamine release also showed sex-specific correlations with stress-induced neuroendocrine activation. Given the intriguing human parallels, we suggest that differential cerebral lateralization may be highly relevant to the disproportionately high incidence of stress-related disorders such as depression and anxiety seen in women.
Sullivan
Ron M
RM
Department of Psychiatry, Centre de recherche Fernand-Seguin, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ron.sullivan@umontreal.ca
Dufresne
Marc M
MM
Waldron
Jay
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D008032:Limbic System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D004298:Dopamine