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Sexual Differentiation of the Human Hypothalamus

  • Chapter
Pediatric Gender Assignment

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 511))

Abstract

In analogy with observations in many mammalian species the human brain might well undergo sexual differentiation during its development due to organizing effects of sex hormones. Such a structural organization might be the basis for functional sex differences (Pilgrim and Reisert, 1992; Anderson et al, 1986; Pilgrim and Hutchison, 1994) and sex differences in neurological or psychiatric diseases (Table I). In fact, remarkably little attention has been paid so far to the possible structural basis of the often pronounced sex differences in the incidence of such diseases (Swaab and Hofman, 1995). The proportions of cases range from more than 75% female in Rett syndrome, anorexia nervosa and bulimia to more than 75% male in dyslexia, sleep apnoea, Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome, and Kleine-Levin syndrome (Table I). Not only might the number of cases of disorders show clear sex differences, but the signs and symptoms and the course of the disease might differ as well. Males not only suffer from schizophrenia 2.7 times more often than females, they are also prone to a more severe form of this disorder, experience an earlier onset, and exhibit more structural brain abnormalities. In addition, relapses are more severe, and their response to neuroleptic medication is less favorable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School Neurosciences Amsterdam, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Meibergdreef 33, Amsterdam, AZ 1105, Netherlands

    Dick F. Swaab, Wilson C. J. Chung, Frank P. M. Kruijver, Michael A. Hofman & Tatjana A. Ishunina

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

    Wilson C. J. Chung

  3. Department of Histology and Embryology, Kursk State Medical University, Kursk, Russia

    Tatjana A. Ishunina

Authors
  1. Dick F. Swaab
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  2. Wilson C. J. Chung
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  3. Frank P. M. Kruijver
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  4. Michael A. Hofman
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  5. Tatjana A. Ishunina
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Stephen A. Zderic , Douglas A. Canning , Michael C. Carr  & Howard McC. Snyder III. , ,  & 

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Swaab, D.F., Chung, W.C.J., Kruijver, F.P.M., Hofman, M.A., Ishunina, T.A. (2002). Sexual Differentiation of the Human Hypothalamus. In: Zderic, S.A., Canning, D.A., Carr, M.C., Snyder, H.M. (eds) Pediatric Gender Assignment. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 511. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0621-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0621-8_6

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