Analysis of sexually dimorphic nucrelus for understanding the sex of brain

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07257
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48020:Physiology-related
• Research Institution: Saitama University
• Principal Investigator: Tsukahara Shinji 埼玉大学, 理工学研究科, 教授 (90318824)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 性差 / 性分化 / 性的二型 / 脳 / 社会行動 / 性ホルモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project was performed to determine the role of calbindin neurons, a sexually dimorphic cell group of the brain, in the physiology of mice, and the mechanisms responsible for establishing brain sexual dimorphism. We found that calbindin neurons are involved in the control of social behaviors. Specifically, our data suggest that calbindin neurons in the male brain regulate sexually motivated behavior and have a function that is required for male mice to display an appropriate social behavior toward conspecific. In addition, we identified a male-specific population of calbindin neurons. The emergence of the male-specific calbindin neurons requires the actions of testicular androgens during the postnatal and pubertal periods.

Free Research Field

行動神経内分泌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳の性差は、実験動物だけでなくヒトにも存在する。本研究の成果は、脳の性分化機構を解明するという学術的目標の達成に貢献するだけでなく、ヒトの脳の性差の理解に資する科学的知見を提供するものである。本研究の成果を社会に発信することで、こころの性と性の多様性に関する理解が深まることが期待される。