Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
Although the literature reports a higher incidence of anxiety disorders in women, the majority of basic research has focused on male rodents, thus resulting in a lack of knowledge on the neurobiology of anxiety in females. Bridging this gap is crucial for the design of effective translational interv...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Neural Plasticity |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5026713 |
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| author | Alessandra Aparecida Marques Mário Cesar do Nascimento Bevilaqua Alberto Morais Pinto da Fonseca Antonio Egidio Nardi Sandrine Thuret Gisele Pereira Dias |
| author_facet | Alessandra Aparecida Marques Mário Cesar do Nascimento Bevilaqua Alberto Morais Pinto da Fonseca Antonio Egidio Nardi Sandrine Thuret Gisele Pereira Dias |
| author_sort | Alessandra Aparecida Marques |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although the literature reports a higher incidence of anxiety disorders in women, the majority of basic research has focused on male rodents, thus resulting in a lack of knowledge on the neurobiology of anxiety in females. Bridging this gap is crucial for the design of effective translational interventions in women. One of the key brain mechanisms likely to regulate anxious behavior is adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). This review paper aims to discuss the evidence on the differences between male and female rodents with regard to anxiety-related behavior and physiology, with a special focus on AHN. The differences between male and female physiologies are greatly influenced by hormonal differences. Gonadal hormones and their fluctuations during the estrous cycle have often been identified as agents responsible for sexual dimorphism in behavior and AHN. During sexual maturity, hormone levels fluctuate cyclically in females more than in males, increasing the stress response and the susceptibility to anxiety. It is therefore of great importance that future research investigates anxiety and other neurophysiological aspects in the female model, so that results can be more accurately applicable to the female population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7407abe610d493b922f5d04bffd214d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-5904 1687-5443 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neural Plasticity |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7407abe610d493b922f5d04bffd214d2025-02-03T01:26:48ZengWileyNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432016-01-01201610.1155/2016/50267135026713Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal NeurogenesisAlessandra Aparecida Marques0Mário Cesar do Nascimento Bevilaqua1Alberto Morais Pinto da Fonseca2Antonio Egidio Nardi3Sandrine Thuret4Gisele Pereira Dias5Translational Neurobiology Unit, Laboratory of Panic and Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Venceslau Brás, 71 Fundos, Praia Vermelha, 22290-140 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilTranslational Neurobiology Unit, Laboratory of Panic and Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Venceslau Brás, 71 Fundos, Praia Vermelha, 22290-140 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilPhysics Institute, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Athos da Silveira Ramos, Cidade Universitária, 21941-916 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilTranslational Neurobiology Unit, Laboratory of Panic and Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Venceslau Brás, 71 Fundos, Praia Vermelha, 22290-140 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilLaboratory of Adult Neurogenesis and Mental Health, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 9RT, UKTranslational Neurobiology Unit, Laboratory of Panic and Respiration, Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Venceslau Brás, 71 Fundos, Praia Vermelha, 22290-140 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilAlthough the literature reports a higher incidence of anxiety disorders in women, the majority of basic research has focused on male rodents, thus resulting in a lack of knowledge on the neurobiology of anxiety in females. Bridging this gap is crucial for the design of effective translational interventions in women. One of the key brain mechanisms likely to regulate anxious behavior is adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN). This review paper aims to discuss the evidence on the differences between male and female rodents with regard to anxiety-related behavior and physiology, with a special focus on AHN. The differences between male and female physiologies are greatly influenced by hormonal differences. Gonadal hormones and their fluctuations during the estrous cycle have often been identified as agents responsible for sexual dimorphism in behavior and AHN. During sexual maturity, hormone levels fluctuate cyclically in females more than in males, increasing the stress response and the susceptibility to anxiety. It is therefore of great importance that future research investigates anxiety and other neurophysiological aspects in the female model, so that results can be more accurately applicable to the female population.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5026713 |
| spellingShingle | Alessandra Aparecida Marques Mário Cesar do Nascimento Bevilaqua Alberto Morais Pinto da Fonseca Antonio Egidio Nardi Sandrine Thuret Gisele Pereira Dias Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis Neural Plasticity |
| title | Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis |
| title_full | Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis |
| title_fullStr | Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis |
| title_short | Gender Differences in the Neurobiology of Anxiety: Focus on Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis |
| title_sort | gender differences in the neurobiology of anxiety focus on adult hippocampal neurogenesis |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/5026713 |
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