Relating sex-bias in human cortical and hippocampal microstructure to sex hormones

Bibliographic Details
Title: Relating sex-bias in human cortical and hippocampal microstructure to sex hormones
Authors: Svenja Küchenhoff, Şeyma Bayrak, Rachel G. Zsido, Amin Saberi, Boris C. Bernhardt, Susanne Weis, H. Lina Schaare, Julia Sacher, Simon Eickhoff, Sofie L. Valk
Source: Nature Communications, Vol 15, Iss 1, Pp 1-19 (2024)
Publisher Information: Nature Portfolio, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Science
More Details: Abstract Determining sex-bias in brain structure is of great societal interest to improve diagnostics and treatment of brain-related disorders. So far, studies on sex-bias in brain structure predominantly focus on macro-scale measures, and often ignore factors determining this bias. Here we study sex-bias in cortical and hippocampal microstructure in relation to sex hormones. Investigating quantitative intracortical profiling in-vivo using the T1w/T2w ratio in 1093 healthy females and males of the cross-sectional Human Connectome Project young adult sample, we find that regional cortical and hippocampal microstructure differs between males and females and that the effect size of this sex-bias varies depending on self-reported hormonal status in females. Microstructural sex-bias and expression of sex hormone genes, based on an independent post-mortem sample, are spatially coupled. Lastly, sex-bias is most pronounced in paralimbic areas, with low laminar complexity, which are predicted to be most plastic based on their cytoarchitectural properties. Albeit correlative, our study underscores the importance of incorporating sex hormone variables into the investigation of brain structure and plasticity.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2041-1723
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2041-1723
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51459-7
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/4342bdd9e41341b998a64fe8e23d7388
Accession Number: edsdoj.4342bdd9e41341b998a64fe8e23d7388
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:20411723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-51459-7
Published in:Nature Communications
Language:English