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Physiology & Behavior Feb 2023Sex differences between males and females can be detected early in life. They are present also later even to a much greater extent affecting our life in adulthood and a... (Review)
Review
Sex differences between males and females can be detected early in life. They are present also later even to a much greater extent affecting our life in adulthood and a wide spectrum of physical, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral characteristics. Moreover, sex differences matter also in individual's health and disease. In this article, we reviewed at first the sex differences in brain organization and function with respect to the underlying biological mechanisms. Since the individual functional differences in the brain, in turn, shape the behavior, sex-specific psychological/behavioral differences that can be observed in infants but also adults are consequently addressed. Finally, we briefly mention sex-dependent variations in susceptibility to selected disorders as well as their pathophysiology, diagnosis, and response to therapy. The understanding of biologically determined variability between males and females can have important implications, especially in gender-specific health care. We have the impression that it is very important to emphasize that sex matters. Males and females are differently programmed by nature, and it must be respected. Even though we as males and females are not the same, we would like to emphasize that we are still equal and together form a worthy colorful continuum.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Female; Sex Characteristics; Brain; Individuality
PubMed: 36423797
DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114038 -
Aging Mar 2022
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 35278287
DOI: 10.18632/aging.203950 -
Circulation Journal : Official Journal... Jul 2022
Topics: Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics; Sex Factors; Stroke
PubMed: 35110430
DOI: 10.1253/circj.CJ-21-1072 -
American Journal of Respiratory Cell... Apr 2020
Topics: Diet; Dietary Fiber; Female; Lung; Male; Ozone; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 32049568
DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2020-0042ED -
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and... Dec 2018Biologic sex influences many variables that are important to brain health in general, and to stroke or cerebral ischemia in particular, such as general health status,... (Review)
Review
Biologic sex influences many variables that are important to brain health in general, and to stroke or cerebral ischemia in particular, such as general health status, cerebrovascular anatomy and function, unique risk factors such as pregnancy and preeclampsia, symptomatology, and therapeutic response. A more complete understanding of the scale and depth of sexual dimorphism in the brain and the role of more general sex-based factors is crucial to reducing the burden of stroke in women and men. This focused review highlights recent findings in stroke, including sex differences in epidemiology, risk factor reduction, comparative use of stroke therapeutics in both sexes, the importance of frailty in women, and the biologic basis for sex differences in stroke. Such findings show tremendous promise for the future of personalized medicine in stroke prevention and treatment.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics; Stroke
PubMed: 30114967
DOI: 10.1177/0271678X18793324 -
Neuropsychopharmacology : Official... Feb 2021The mesolimbic dopamine system-which originates in the ventral tegmental area and projects to the striatum-has been shown to be involved in the expression of... (Review)
Review
The mesolimbic dopamine system-which originates in the ventral tegmental area and projects to the striatum-has been shown to be involved in the expression of sex-specific behavior and is thought to be a critical mediator of many psychiatric diseases. While substantial work has focused on sex differences in the anatomy of dopamine neurons and relative dopamine levels between males and females, an important characteristic of dopamine release from axon terminals in the striatum is that it is rapidly modulated by local regulatory mechanisms independent of somatic activity. These processes can occur via homosynaptic mechanisms-such as presynaptic dopamine autoreceptors and dopamine transporters-as well as heterosynaptic mechanisms, such as retrograde signaling from postsynaptic cholinergic and GABAergic systems, among others. These regulators serve as potential targets for the expression of sex differences in dopamine regulation in both ovarian hormone-dependent and independent fashions. This review describes how sex differences in microcircuit regulatory mechanisms can alter dopamine dynamics between males and females. We then describe what is known about the hormonal mechanisms controlling/regulating these processes. Finally, we highlight the missing gaps in our knowledge of these systems in females. Together, a more comprehensive and mechanistic understanding of how sex differences in dopamine function manifest will be particularly important in developing evidence-based therapeutics that target this system and show efficacy in both sexes.
Topics: Corpus Striatum; Dopamine; Female; Humans; Male; Presynaptic Terminals; Sex Characteristics; Ventral Tegmental Area
PubMed: 33318634
DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00915-1 -
Molecular Metabolism Sep 2018
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Sex Characteristics; Sex Factors
PubMed: 30032908
DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2018.06.011 -
Neuron Dec 2011Sex differences in the brain are real and clinically important but often grossly distorted in popular discourse. Considering the public's deep fascination with sex... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Sex differences in the brain are real and clinically important but often grossly distorted in popular discourse. Considering the public's deep fascination with sex difference research and its impact on issues from mental health to education and workplace equity, neuroscientists should pay greater heed to its misappropriation and to studying how gender enculturation shapes neural function.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Cultural Characteristics; Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 22196326
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2011.12.001 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2023
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics; Immune System
PubMed: 37609074
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1259382 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Epidemiological studies and clinical observations show evidence of sexual dimorphism in infectious diseases. Women are at less risk than men when it comes to developing... (Review)
Review
Epidemiological studies and clinical observations show evidence of sexual dimorphism in infectious diseases. Women are at less risk than men when it comes to developing most infectious diseases. However, understanding these observations requires a gender approach that takes into account an analysis of both biological and social factors. The host's response to infection differs in males and females because sex differences have an impact on hormonal and chromosomal control of immunity. Estradiol appears to confer protective immunity, while progesterone and testosterone suppress anti-infectious responses. In addition, genetic factors, including those associated with sex chromosomes, also affect susceptibility to infections. Finally, differences in occupational activities, lifestyle, and comorbidities play major roles in exposure to pathogens and management of diseases. Hence, considering sexual dimorphism as a critical variable for infectious diseases should be one of the steps taken toward developing personalized therapeutic approaches.
Topics: Communicable Diseases; Female; Humans; Male; Sex Characteristics
PubMed: 34367158
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.698121