Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Morphology of Hypothalamus and Its Connections pp 291–307Cite as

Synaptogenesis and Neuronal Plasticity to Gonadal Steroids: Implications for the Development of Sexual Dimorphism in the Neuroendocrine Brain

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Neuroendocrinology ((CT NEUROENDOCRI,volume 7))

Abstract

Sex differences in adult neuroendocrine and behavioral responses largely depend on differences in the organization of the brain. Many of these are brought about by the exposure of undifferentiated brain to perinatal gonadal hormones, especially aromatizable androgen or estrogen (Goy and McEwen 1980; MacLusky and Naftolin 1981; Arai et al. 1983). Recent studies indicate that sex steroid hormones modulate and promote neuronal maturation and neurite growth in certain brain regions (Toran-Allerand 1984). Synaptogenesis can also be facilitated by estrogenic action in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARCN) and medial amygdaloid nucleus (MAN) during early postnatal development (Arai 1981). These organizational effects of gonadal steroids appear to be regionally specific and correlated with the presence and topographic localization of the sex steroid receptor-containing neurons (Goy and McEwen 1980).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Altman J, Bayer SA (1978) Development of the diencephalon in the rat. I. Autoradiographic study of the time of origin and settling patterns of neurons of the hypothalamus. J Comp Neurol 182:945–978

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arai Y (1981) Synaptic correlates of sexual differentiation. Trends Neurosci 4:291–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arai Y, Matsumoto A (1978) Synapse formation of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus during post-natal development in the female rat and its modification by neonatal estrogen treatment. Psychoneuroendocrinology 3:31–45

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arai Y, Mori T, Suzuki Y, Bern HA (1983) Long-term effects of perinatal exposure to sex steroids and diethylstilbestrol on the reproductive system of male mammals. Int Rev Cytol 84:235–268

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arai Y, Matsumoto A, Nishizuka M, Murakami S (1986) Neurotropic action of estrogen on the developing brain: effect on newborn preoptic and amygdaloid tissues grafted into the brain or into the eye. In: Dörner G (ed) Systemic hormones, neurotransmitters and brain development. Karger, Basel (to be published)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arimatsu Y (1983) Short-and long-lasting influences of neonatal sex steroids on α-bungarotoxin binding capacity in the mouse amygdala. Neurosci 9:873–877

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arimatsu Y, Seto A, Amano T (1981) Sexual dimorphism in α-bungarotoxin binding capacity in the mouse amygdala. Brain Res 213:432–437

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arimatsu Y, Kondo S, Kojima M (1985) Enhancement by estrogen treatment of α-bungarotoxin binding in fetal mouse amygdala cell reaggregated in vitro. Neurosci Res 2:211–220

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arnold AP, Gorski RA (1984) Gonadal steroid induction of structural sex differences in the central nervous system. Annu Rev Neurosci 7:423–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayuob DM, Greenough WT, Juraska JM (1983) Sex differences in dendritic structure in the preoptic area of the juvenile macaque monkey brain. Science 219:197–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleier R, Byne W, Siggelkow I (1982) Cytoarchitectonic sexual dimorphisms of the medial preoptic and anterior hypothalamic areas in guinea pig, rat, hamster, and mouse. J Comp Neurol 212:118–130

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brawer JR, Naftolin F, Martin J, Sonnenschein C (1978) Effects of a single injection of estradiol valerate on the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and on reproductive function in the female rat. Endocrinology 103:501–512

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brawer JR, Ruf KB, Naftolin F (1980) Effects of estradiol-induced lesions of the arcuate nucleus on gonadotropin release in response to preoptic stimulation in the rat. Neuroendocrinology 30:144–149

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carrer HA, Aoki A (1982) Ultrastructural changes in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus of ovariectomized rats after estrogen treatment. Brain Res 240:221–233

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clough RW, Rodriguez-Sierra JF (1983) Synaptic changes in the hypothalamus of the prepubertal female rat administered estrogen. Am J Anat 167:205–214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen R, Pfaff DW (1981) Ultrastructure of neurons of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus in ovariectomized rats with or without estrogen treatment. Cell Tissue Res 217:451–470

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Commins D, Yahr P (1984) Adult testosterone levels influence the morphology of a sexually dimorphic area in the mongolian gerbil brain. J Comp Neurol 224:132–140

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Voogd TJ, Nixdorf B, Nottebohm F (1982) Recruitment of additional synapses into a brain network takes extra brain space. Soc Neurosci Abstr 8:140

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vries GJ, Buijs RM, Van Leeuwen FW (1984) Sex differences in vasopressin and other neurotransmitter system in the brain. In: De Vries GJ, De Bruin JPC, Uyling HBM, Corner MA (eds) Sex differences in the brain. The relation between structure and function. Prog Brain Res 61:185–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Döhler KD, Coquelin A, Davis F, Hines M, Shryne JE, Gorski RA (1982) Differentiation of the sexually dimorphic nucleus in the preoptic area of the rat brain is determined by the perinatal hormone environment. Neurosci Lett 33:295–298

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Segura LM, Baetens D, Naftolin F (1986) Synaptic remodelling in arcuate nucleus after injection of estradiol valerate in adult female rats. Brain Res 366:131–136

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gorski RA (1984) Critical role for the medial preoptic area in the sexual differentiation of the brain. In: De Vries GJ, De Bruin JPC, Uyling HBM, Corner MA (eds) Sex differences in the brain. The relation between structure and function. Prog Brain Res 61:129–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorski RA, Gordon JH, Shryne JE, Southam AM (1978) Evidence for a morphological sex difference within the medial preoptic area of the rat brain. Brain Res 148:333–346

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goy RW, McEwen BS (1980) Sexual differentiation of the brain. MIT Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenough WT, Carter CS, Steerman C, DeVoogd TJ (1977) Sex differences in dendritic patterns in hamster preoptic area. Brain Res 126:63–72

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guldner FH (1982) Sex dimorphism of axo-spine synapses and postsynaptic density material in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat. Neurosci Lett 28:145–150

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gürdjian ES (1927) The diencephalon of the albino rat. J Comp Neurol 43:1–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hines M, Davies FC, Coquelin A, Goy RW, Gorski RA (1985) Sexually dimorphic regions in the medial preoptic area and the bed nucleus of the stria terminals of the guinea pig brain: a description and an investigation of their relationship to gonadal steroids in adulthood. J Comp Neurol 144:193–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Ifft JD (1972) An autoradiographic study of the time of final division of neurons in rat hypothalamic nuclei. J Comp Neurol 144:193–204

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson CD, Gorski RA (1981) Neurogenesis of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area of the rat. J Comp Neurol 196:519–524

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • König JFR, Klippel RA (1963) The rat brain: A stereotaxic atlas of the forebrain and lower parts of the brain stem: Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence JM, Raisman G (1980) Ontogeny of synapses in a sexually dimorphic part of the preoptic area in the rat. Brain Res 183:466–471

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Le Blond CB, Morris S, Karakiulakis G, Powell R, Thomas PJ (1982) Development of sexual dimorphism in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat. J Endocrinol 95:137–145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mac Lusky NJ, Naftolin F (1981) Sexual differentiation of the central nervous system. Science 211:1294–1303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1976 a) Developmental changes in synaptic formation in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of female rats. Cell Tissue Res 169:143–156

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1976 b) Effect of estrogen on early postnatal development of synaptic formation in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of female rats. Neurosci Lett 2:79–82

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1977) Precocious puberty and synaptogenesis in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) treated immature female rats. Brain Res 129:275–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1979) Synaptogenic effect of estrogen on the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of the adult female rats. Cell Tissue Res 198:427–433

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1980) Sexual dimorphism in “wiring pattern” in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and its modification by neonatal hormonal environment. Brain Res 190:238–242

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1981 a) Effect of androgen on sexual differentiation of synaptic organization in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus: an ontogenetic study. Neuroendocrinology 33:166–169

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1981 b) Neuronal plasticity in the deafferented hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of adult female rats and its enhancement by treatment with estrogen. J Comp Neurol 197:197–205

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1983 a) Sex difference in volume of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus in the rat. Endocrinol Jpn 30:277–280

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1983 b) Synaptic changes in the hypothalamus of old rats. In: Endroczi E, de Wied D, Angelucci L, Scapagnini U (eds) Integrative neurohumoral mechanisms. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 401–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1985) Estrogen stimulates neuronal plasticity in the deafferented hypothalamic arcuate nucleus in aged female rats. Neurosci Res 2:412–418

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1986) Male-female difference in synaptic organization of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus in the rat. Neuroendocrinology 42:232–236

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mizukami S, Nishizuka M, Arai Y (1983) Sexual difference in nuclear volume and its ontogeny in the rat amygdala. Exp Neurol 79:569–575

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishizuka M, Arai Y (1981 a) Sexual dimorphism in synaptic organization in the amygdala and its dependence on neonatal hormone environment. Brain Res 212:31–38

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishizuka M, Arai Y (1981 b) Organizational action of estrogen on synaptic pattern in the amygdala: implications for sexual differentiation of the brain. Brain Res 213:422–426

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishizuka M, Arai Y (1982) Synapse formation in response to estrogen in the medial amygdala developing in the eye. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 79:7024–7026

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfaff DW (1980) Estrogens and brain function. Neural analysis of a hormone-controlled mammalian reproductive behavior. Springer, New York Heidelberg Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfaff DW, Keiner M (1973) Atlas of estradiol-concentrating cells in the central nervous system of the female rats. J Comp Neurol 151:121–158

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raisman G (1969) Neuronal plasticity in the septal nuclei of the adult rat. Brain Res 14:25–48

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raisman G, Field PM (1973) Sexual dimorphism in the neuropil of the preoptic area of the rat and its dependence on neonatal androgen. Brain Res 54:1–29

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruf KB (1982) Synaptogenesis and puberty. In: Ruf KB, Tolis G (eds) Front Horm Res 10. Advances in neuroendocrine physiology. Karger, Basel, pp 65–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakuma Y (1984) Influences of neonatal gonadectomy or androgen exposure on the sexual differentiation of the rat ventromedial hypothalamus. J Physiol (Lond) 349:273–286

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakuma Y, Pfaff DW (1981) Electrophysiological determination of projections from ventromedial hypothalamus to midbrain central gray: differences between female and male rats. Brain Res 225:184–188

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schippers H, Brawer JR, Nelson JF, Finch CE (1981) Role of the gonads in the histologic aging of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Biol Reprod 25:413–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simerly RB, Swanson LW, Gorski RA (1984) Demonstration of a sexual dimorphism in the distribution of serotonin-immunoreactive fibers in the medial preoptic nucleus of the rat. J Comp Neurol 225:151–166

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swaab DF, Fliers E (1985) A sexually dimorphic nucleus in the human brain. Science 228:1112–1115

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terasawa E, Wiegand SJ, Bridson WE (1980) A role for the medial preoptic nucleus on afternoon of proestrus in female rats. Am J Physiol 238:533–539

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobet SA, Gallagher CA, Zahniser DJ, Cohen MH, Baum MJ (1983) Sexual dimorphism in the preoptic/anteriorhypothalamic area of adult ferrets. Endocrinology [Suppl] 112:240

    Google Scholar 

  • Toran-Allerad CD (1976) Sex steroids and the development of the newborn mouse hypothalamus and preoptic area in vitro: implications for sexual differentiation. Brain Res 106:407–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toran-Allerand CD (1984) On the genesis of sexual differentiation of the central nervous system: morphogenic consequences of steroid exposure and possible role of α-fetoprotein. In: De Vries GJ, De Bruin JPC, Uyling HBM, Corner MA (eds) Sex differences in the brain. The relation between structure and function. Prog Brain Res 61:63–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Toran-Allerand CD, Hashimoto K, William T, Greenough WT, Saltarelli M (1983) Sex steroids and the development of the newborn mouse hypothalamus and preoptic area in vitro: effects of estrogen on dendritic differentiation. Brain Res 7:97–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuruno Y, Kawano H, Nishiyama T, Hisano S, Daikoku S (1983) Substance P-like immunoreactive neurons in the tuberoinfundibular area of rat hypothalamus. Light and electron microscopy. Brain Res 289:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuruno Y, Hisano S, Okamura Y, Tsukamoto N, Daikoku S (1984) Hypothalamic substance P-containing neurons. Sex-dependent topographical differences and ultrastructural transformations associated with stages of the estrous cycle. Brain Res 305:331–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchibori M, Kawashima S (1985) Effects of sex steroids on the growth of neuronal processes in neonatal rat hypothalamus-preoptic area and cerebral cortex in primary culture. Int J Dev Neurosci 3:169–176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Houten M, Brawer JR (1978) Regional variations in glia and neuropil within the hypothalamic nucleus. J Comp Neurol 179:719–738

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weisz J, Ward IL (1980) Plasma testosterone and progesterone titers of pregnant rats, their male and female fetuses, and neonatal offspring. Endocrinology 106:306–316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wiegand SJ, Terasawa E, Bridson WE (1978) Persistent estrus and blockade of progesterone-induced LH release follows lesions which do not damage the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Neuroendocrinology 102:1645–1648

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamanouchi K, Matsumoto A, Arai Y (1985) Neural and hormonal control of lordosis behavior in the rat. Zool Sci 2:617–627

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyoku, Tokyo 113, Japan

    Y. Arai, A. Matsumoto & M. Nishizuka

Authors
  1. Y. Arai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Matsumoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Nishizuka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmakologisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 6900, Heidelberg, Germany

    Detlev Ganten M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Rockefeller University, York Avenue, and 66th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Donald Pfaff Ph.D.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1986 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Arai, Y., Matsumoto, A., Nishizuka, M. (1986). Synaptogenesis and Neuronal Plasticity to Gonadal Steroids: Implications for the Development of Sexual Dimorphism in the Neuroendocrine Brain. In: Ganten, D., Pfaff, D. (eds) Morphology of Hypothalamus and Its Connections. Current Topics in Neuroendocrinology, vol 7. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71461-0_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71461-0_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-71463-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-71461-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation