Cesarean birth elicits long-term effects on vasopressin and oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of mice.

Birth is an extraordinary event for placental mammals and occurs at a time when key developmental processes are shaping the brain. Remarkably, little is known about the contributions of birth to brain development and whether birth mode (vaginal vs. Cesarean) alters neurodevelopmental trajectories.

DNA Methylation and Demethylation Underlie the Sex Difference in Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Arcuate Nucleus.

Introduction: Neurons expressing estrogen receptor (ER) ɑ in the arcuate (ARC) and ventromedial (VMH) nuclei of the hypothalamus sex-specifically control energy homeostasis, sexual behavior, and bone density. Females have more ERɑ neurons in the VMH and ARC than males, and the sex difference in the VMH is eliminated by neonatal treatment with testosterone or a DNA methylation inhibitor.

Objective: Here, we tested the roles of testosterone and DNA methylation/demethylation in development of ERɑ in the ARC.