SEX DIFFERENCES IN DEPOLARIZING ACTIONS OF GABAA RECEPTOR ACTIVATION IN RAT EMBRYONIC HYPOTHALAMIC NEURONS

MIR, F.; CARRER, H.F.; CAMBIASSO, M.J.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

0953-816X

GABAA receptor activation exertstrophic actions in immature neurons through depolarization of resting membranepotential. The switch to its classical hyperpolarizing role is developmentallyregulated. Previous results suggest that a hormonally biased sex difference existsat the onset of the switch in hypothalamic neurons. The aim of this work was toevaluate sex differences in GABAA receptor function of hypothalamicneurons before brain masculinisation by gonadal hormones. Hypothalamic cellswere obtained from embryonic day 16 male and female rat foetuses, two days before the peak of testosterone production bythe foetal testis, and grown in vitro for 9 days. Whole-cell andperforated patch-clamp recordings were carried out in order to measure severalelectrophysiological parameters. Our results show that there are more male thanfemale neurons responding with depolarization to muscimol. Additionally, among cellswith depolarizing responses, males have higher and longer-lasting responses thanfemales. These results highlight the relevance of differences in neural cellsex irrespective of exposure to sex hormones.