Abstract

The long term goal of this project is to determine the role played by amino acid transmitters in the development of sexually differentiated brain processes. Research in rats has demonstrated that gonadal steroids exert broad influences on amino acid transmission and these transmitters are in turn integral regulatory components of various reproductive parameters including patterns of gonadotropin secretion and sex-typical behaviors. There are sex differences in aspects of amino acid transmission in adult rat brain but whether these differences are the result of sexual differentiation of the brain during the sensitive perinatal period is unknown. Furthermore, whether amino acid transmitters play a role in the differentiation process per se, has not been investigated.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29MH052716-03
Application #
2392961
Study Section
Psychobiology, Behavior, and Neuroscience Review Committee (PBN)
Project Start
1995-04-01
Project End
2000-03-31
Budget Start
1997-04-01
Budget End
1998-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Maryland Baltimore
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
003255213
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21201

  Publications

McCarthy, Margaret M; Nugent, Bridget M; Lenz, Kathryn M (2017) Neuroimmunology and neuroepigenetics in the establishment of sex differences in the brain. Nat Rev Neurosci 18:471-484
McCarthy, Margaret M; Arnold, Arthur P (2011) Reframing sexual differentiation of the brain. Nat Neurosci 14:677-83
Holder, Mary K; Hadjimarkou, Maria M; Zup, Susan L et al. (2010) Methamphetamine facilitates female sexual behavior and enhances neuronal activation in the medial amygdala and ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. Psychoneuroendocrinology 35:197-208
Nugent, Bridget M; Wright, Christopher L; Zup, Susan L et al. (2009) Masculinization induced by neonatal exposure to PGE(2) or estradiol alters c-fos induction by estrous odors in adult rats. Physiol Behav 96:383-8
Wright, Christopher L; McCarthy, Margaret M (2009) Prostaglandin E2-induced masculinization of brain and behavior requires protein kinase A, AMPA/kainate, and metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling. J Neurosci 29:13274-82
McCarthy, M M; Besmer, H R; Jacobs, S C et al. (1997) Influence of maternal grooming, sex and age on Fos immunoreactivity in the preoptic area of neonatal rats: implications for sexual differentiation. Dev Neurosci 19:488-96
Davis, A M; Grattan, D R; Selmanoff, M et al. (1996) Sex differences in glutamic acid decarboxylase mRNA in neonatal rat brain: implications for sexual differentiation. Horm Behav 30:538-52