Table II.
Sex differences in the developing brain, as they relate to the GABAergic system.
| Parameter | Species / Age / brain region | Male vs female | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAD mRNA | Rat Sprague Dawley, dorsomedial nucleus, arcuate nucleus, CA1. | PN1 : M>F; | (Davis et al. 1996) |
| PN15: M=F | |||
| GABAA receptor .1 subunit mRNA | Rat Sprague-Dawley SNR (PN15 and PN30) | M<F | (Ravizza et al. 2003) |
| Number of GABA-ir neurons | Rat Sprague-Dawley striatum (E16 – E21); SNR (PN15, PN30); | M<F | (Ovtscharoff et al. 1992; Galanopoulou et al. 2001; Ravizza et al. 2003) |
| GABAA switch to hyperpolarizing | Sprague-Dawley rats: SNR, SNC, CA1 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus | Earlier in females | (Galanopoulou et al. 2003; Galanopoulou 2006; Kyrozis et al. 2006; Galanopoulou 2008a) |
| KCC2 expression | Sprague-Dawley rats: PN15–30 SNR, PN10 CA1 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus | M<F | (Galanopoulou 2008a) |
| Sprague-Dawley rats: Mediobasal hypothalamic nucleus (neonatal) | M<F | (Perrot-Sinal et al. 2007). | |
| NKCC1 expression or activity | Sprague-Dawley rats: SNR, CA1 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus | bumetanide-sensitive NKCC1-like activity: M>F | (Galanopoulou 2008a) |
| Sprague-Dawley rats: Mediobasal hypothalamic nucleus (neonatal) | mRNA: M>F active protein: M=F | (Perrot-Sinal et al. 2007) | |
| Muscimol effects | Neonatal Rat hypothalamus, CA1 pyramidal neurons | M: increase in pCREB | (Auger et al. 2001) |
| F: decrease in pCREB | |||
| Sprague-Dawley rat SN, (PN15) | M: increase in pCREB-ir, KCC2 mRNA. | (Galanopoulou et al. 2003; Galanopoulou 2006) | |
| F: no effect | |||
| Effects of infusions of GABAA-acting drugs in the SNR | Sprague-Dawley rat SN, (PN15–30) | Sex specific changes in the function of SNR-mediated seizure control | (Veliskova and Moshé 2001) |
| Effects of pre- or perinatal exposure to GABAAergic drugs | Rats, mice | Sex and region specific effects on neurosteroid system, behavior, BDNF levels, accessory olfactory bulb, locus coeruleus, susceptibility to PTZ seizures | (Kellogg et al. 2006) (Sobrian and Nandedkar 1986; Pankaj and Brain 1991; Rodriguez-Zafra et al. 1993; Perez-Laso et al. 1994; Kellogg et al. 2000; Cannizzaro et al. 2001; Christensen et al. 2003; Nicosia et al. 2003) |
| Bicuculline effects on somatostatin. | Rats (periventricular median eminence) | M: stimulates somatostatin release (PN5-PN17, PN75) except for transient inhibitory effects at PN40). | (Murray et al. 1999) |
| F: decreases somatostatin, starting at PN25. | |||
M: males; F: females. PTZ: pentyleneterazole. BDNF: brain derived neurotrophic factor.