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334000

Sexual Dimorphism of Dopaminergic Neurons and Microglia in The Basal Ganglia of Adult Mice

Article

Last updated: 03 Jan 2025

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Tags

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Abstract

Differences between male and female brains are correlated with sex-specific variation in behaviour and vulnerability to neuropsychiatric diseases. The basal ganglia play a pivotal role in regulating motor and executive functions as well as emotions. Although the basal ganglia contain a high density of receptors for sex hormones, scarce data are available about the sexual dimorphism of cell populations within the basal ganglia. The present study aims to investigate sex-specific differences in two cell populations within the basal ganglia including the dopaminergic neurons and the microglia. Thus, we assessed the optical density of the dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra and their projections to the caudate-putamen and globus pallidus by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry as well as the density and morphology of IBA-1-expressing microglia in adult (3-months-old) male and female mice. We demonstrated that the substantia nigra contains a higher density of dopaminergic neurons in female mice, with more intensively stained projections in caudate-putamen and globus pallidus. The female substantia nigra and globus pallidus showed an increased number of microglia. Additionally, the microglia exhibited an activated morphology with increased complexity in the female globus pallidus. Our data provide novel anatomical and structural evidence for sex-dependent differences in basal ganglia neuronal circuits and, consequently, the susceptibility to neurological disorders, e.g., Parkinson's disease. This may help a better understanding of the neuropathological diversities and may allow for the design of personalised therapeutic approaches for better treatment outcomes in males and females.

DOI

10.21608/eajbsd.2024.334000

Keywords

Basal Ganglia, Dopaminergic neurons, microglia, Sexual dimorphism

Authors

First Name

Amira

Last Name

Ali

MiddleName

A. H.

Affiliation

Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University

Email

amira.aminhassan.ali@gmail.com

City

Mansoura

Orcid

-

First Name

Soha

Last Name

Hassan

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Suez University, P.O. Box: 43221, Suez, Egypt.

Email

soha.hassan@suezuniv.edu.eg

City

Suez

Orcid

0000-0001-8566-4727

First Name

Mona

Last Name

Abdel-Kareem

MiddleName

A.

Affiliation

Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University

Email

mona_abdelkariem2014@med.kfs.edu.eg

City

Kafrelsheikh

Orcid

0000-0001-7889-7741

Volume

16

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

45189

Issue Date

2024-06-01

Receive Date

2023-09-27

Publish Date

2024-01-07

Page Start

11

Page End

26

Print ISSN

2090-0775

Online ISSN

2090-0848

Link

https://eajbsd.journals.ekb.eg/article_334000.html

Detail API

https://eajbsd.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=334000

Order

334,000

Type

Original Article

Type Code

685

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, D. Histology & Histochemistry

Publication Link

https://eajbsd.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Sexual Dimorphism of Dopaminergic Neurons and Microglia in The Basal Ganglia of Adult Mice

Details

Type

Article

Created At

24 Dec 2024