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Selective sexual differentiation of neurone populations may contribute to sex‐specific outputs of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus
Author(s) -
Kammel Laura G.,
Correa Stephanie M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/jne.12801
Subject(s) - biology , sexual differentiation , phenotype , cell type , hypothalamus , ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus , neuroscience , nucleus , hormone , sex characteristics , cell , endocrinology , genetics , gene
Sex differences among neurones in the ventrolateral region of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHvl) allow for the display of a diversity of sex‐typical behaviours and physiological responses, ranging from mating behaviour to metabolism. Here, we review recent studies that interrogate the relationship between sex‐typical responses and changes in cellular phenotypes. We discuss technologies that increase the resolution of molecular profiling or targeting of cell populations, including single‐cell transcriptional profiling and conditional viral genetic approaches to manipulate neurone survival or activity. Overall, emerging studies indicate that sex‐typical functions of the VMH may be mediated by phenotypically distinct and sexually differentiated neurone populations within the VMHvl. Future studies in this and other brain regions could exploit cell‐type‐specific tools to reveal the cell populations and molecular mediators that modulate sex‐typical responses. Furthermore, cell‐type‐specific analyses of the effects of sexually differentiating factors, including sex hormones, can test the hypothesis that distinct cell types within a single brain region vary with respect to sexual differentiation.