Galanin neurons in the intermediate nucleus (InM) of the human hypothalamus in relation to sex, age, and gender identity.

The intermediate nucleus (InM) in the preoptic area of the human brain, also known as the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA) and the interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus-1 (INAH-1) is explored here. We investigated its population of galanin-immunoreactive (Gal-Ir) neurons in relation to sex, age, and gender identity in the postmortem brain of 77 subjects. First we compared the InM volume and number of Gal-Ir neurons of 22 males and 22 females in the course of aging.

Estrogen-receptor-beta distribution in the human hypothalamus: similarities and differences with ER alpha distribution.

This study reports the first systematic rostrocaudal distribution of estrogen receptor beta immunoreactivity (ER beta-ir) in the human hypothalamus and adjacent areas in five males and five females between 20-39 years of age and compares its distribution to previously reported ER alpha in the same patients. ER beta-ir was generally observed more frequently in the cytoplasm than in the nucleus and appeared to be stronger in women. Basket-like fiber stainings, suggestive for ER beta-ir in synaptic terminals, were additionally observed in various areas.

Early social stress in female guinea pigs induces a masculinization of adult behavior and corresponding changes in brain and neuroendocrine function.

This study was undertaken to investigate, in guinea pigs, the effects of pre- and early postnatal social stress on the functioning of hormonal-, autonomic-, behavioral-, and limbic-brain systems. Dams had either lived in groups with a constant composition (i.e.

Early social stress in male Guinea-pigs changes social behaviour, and autonomic and neuroendocrine functions.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of pre- and early postnatal social stress on the functioning of hormonal, autonomic and behavioural systems, by studying the distribution of sex hormone receptors in limbic brain systems. Dams had either lived in groups with a constant composition (= stable social environment) or in groups with changing compositions, i.e.

Sex differences in the hypothalamus in the different stages of human life.

Quite a number of structural and functional sex differences have been reported in the human hypothalamus and adjacent structures that may be related to not only reproduction, sexual orientation and gender identity, but also to the often pronounced sex differences in prevalence of psychiatric and neurological diseases. One of the recent focuses of interest in this respect is the possible beneficial effect of sex hormones on cognition in Alzheimer patients. The immunocytochemical localization of estrogen receptors (ER) alpha, beta and androgen receptors has shown that there are indeed numerous targets for sex hormones in the adult human brain.