title: Sex chromosome complement determines sex differences in aromatase expression and regulation in the stria terminalis and anterior amygdala of the developing mouse brain.
abstract: Aromatase, which converts testosterone in estradiol, is involved in the generation of brain sex dimorphisms. Here we used the "four core genotypes" mouse model, in which the effect of gonadal sex and sex chromosome complement is dissociated, to determine if sex chromosomes influence the expression of brain aromatase. The brain of 16 days old XY mouse embryos showed higher aromatase expression in the stria terminalis and the anterior amygdaloid area than the brain of XX embryos, independent of gonadal sex. Furthermore, estradiol or dihydrotestosterone increased aromatase expression in cultures of anterior amygdala neurons derived from XX embryos, but not in those derived from XY embryos. This effect was also independent of gonadal sex. The expression of other steroidogenic molecules, estrogen receptor-α and androgen receptor was not influenced by sex chromosomes. In conclusion, sex chromosomes determine sex dimorphisms in aromatase expression and regulation in the developing mouse brain.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina; Departamento de Biología Bucal, Facultad de Odontología - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carla D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cisternas
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tome
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ximena E
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Caeiro
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Florencia M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Dadam
authors.affiliation: Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Garcia-Segura
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina; Departamento de Biología Bucal, Facultad de Odontología - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: jcambiasso@immf.uncor.edu.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cambiasso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D066276:Corticomedial Nuclear Complex / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006066:Gonads / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology; D012730:Sex Chromosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D001141:Aromatase
keywords: 17β-estradiol; Androgen receptor; Aromatase; Dihydrotestosterone; Estrogen receptor; Neurosteroids; Sex chromosomes; Sexual differentiation; Steroidogenesis; “Four core genotypes”