Scientific Publications by FDA Staff

Neural Regen Res 2013 Oct 15;8(29):2763-74

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

He Z, Ferguson SA, Cui L, Greenfield LJ, Paule MG

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 significantly 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 unclear whether estrogen-like compounds and/or sex hormones increase size of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area via an increase in stem cell activity originating from the 3rd ventricle stem cell niche.