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Astrocytes in the Amygdala
Author(s) -
Johnson Ryan Taylor,
Breedlove Marc,
Jordan Cynthia L
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.300.2
Subject(s) - amygdala , neuroscience , biology , sexual dimorphism , neuroplasticity , endocrinology
The amygdala is connected to numerous brain regions and is involved in complex behaviors such as survival and reproduction. This highly conserved brain region is sexually dimorphic in several species with the most dramatic differences found in the medial subregion. Neuroendocrine research has repeatedly demonstrated the plasticity of the medial amygdala across the lifespan. Astrocytes are a type of glial cell involved in synapse formation and functioning, and in several brain nuclei, astrocytes change morphology in response to gonadal hormones, leading to alterations in surrounding neurons. We have begun investigating astrocytes in the medial postero‐dorsal amygdala and our results reveal interesting sex and hemisphere differences in this dynamic brain region. Furthermore, our use of testicular feminized mutant rats demonstrates that functional androgen receptors may be necessary for formation of these differences. Grant Funding Source: NIH