Sexual Dimorphism in the Brain of the Monogamous California Mouse (Peromyscus californicus).

ABSTRACT: Sex differences in behavior and morphology are usually assumed to be stronger in polygynous species compared to monogamous species. A few brain structures have been identified as sexually dimorphic in polygynous rodent species, but it is less clear whether these differences persist in monogamous species. California mice are among the 5% or less of mammals that are considered to be monogamous and as such provide an ideal model to examine sexual dimorphism in neuroanatomy. In the present study we compared the volume of hypothalamic- and limbic-associated regions in female and male California mice for sexual dimorphism. We also used tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry to compare the number of dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in female and male California mice. A

SUBMITTER: Campi KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3915401 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature