Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2013, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (29): 2763-2774.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.29.008

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Development of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area and the influence of estrogen-like compounds

Zhen He1, 2, Sherry Ann Ferguson1, Li Cui2, Lazar John Greenfield2, Merle Gale Paule1   

  1. 1 Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA
    2 Department of Neurology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72005, USA
  • Received:2013-06-25 Revised:2013-08-29 Online:2013-10-15 Published:2013-10-15
  • Contact: Zhen He, M.D., Ph.D., Office Room 53D-203N, Division of Neurotoxicology, HFT-132, National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA, zhen.he@fda.hhs.gov.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the National Center for Toxicological Research/FDA (Protocol P00710 to He Z and Protocol P00706 to Ferguson SA). Cui L was supported by UAMS Hornick Award to her and NIH Grant R01-NS049389 and UAMS institutional funds to Greenfield LJ.

PDF

1605

Abstract:

One of the well-defined sexually dimorphic structures in the brain is the sexually dimorphic nucleus, a cluster of cells located in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus. The rodent sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area can be delineated histologically using conventional Nissl staining or immunohistochemically using calbindin D28K immunoreactivity. There is increasing use of the calbindin D28K-delineated neural cluster to define the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area in rodents. Several mechanisms are proposed to underlie the processes that contribute to the sexual dimorphism (size difference) of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area. Recent evidence indicates that stem cell activity, including proliferation and migration presumably from the 3rd ventricle stem cell niche, may play a critical role in the postnatal development of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area and its distinguishing sexually dimorphic feature: a signifi-cantly larger volume in males. Sex hormones and estrogen-like compounds can affect the size of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area. Despite considerable research, it remains un-clear whether estrogen-like compounds and/or sex hormones increase size of the sexually dimor-phic nucleus of the preoptic area via an increase in stem cell activity originating from the 3rd ventricle stem cell niche.

Key words: neural regeneration, review, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, calbindin D28K, estrogen-like compound, bisphenol A, neural stem cells, grants-supported paper, neuroregeneration