Spatial sexual dimorphism of X and Y homolog gene expression in the human central nervous system during early male development

• Background: Renewed attention has been directed to the functions of the Y chromosome in the central nervous system during early human male development, due to the recent proposed involvement in neurodevelopmental diseases. PCDH11Y and NLGN4Y are of special interest because they belong to gene families involved in cell fate determination and formation of dendrites and axon. Methods: We used RNA sequencing, immunocytochemistry and a padlock probing and rolling circle amplification strategy, to distinguish the expression of X and Y homologs in situ in the human brain for the first time. To minimize influence of androgens on the sex differences in the brain, we focused our investigation to human embryos at 8-11 weeks post-gestation. Results: We found that the X- and Y-encoded genes are expressed in specific and heterogeneous cellular sub-populations of both glial and neuronal origins. More importantly, we found differential distribution patterns of X and Y homologs in the male developing central nervous system. Conclusions: This study has visualized the spatial distribution of PCDH11X/Y and NLGN4X/Y in human developing nervous tissue. The observed spatial distribution patterns suggest the existence of an additional layer of complexity in the development of the male CNS.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Medicinsk genetik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Medical Genetics (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Utvecklingsbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Developmental Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Sex differences

Human embryo development

Female

Male

Gene expression

Protocadherin

Neuroligin

X chromosome

Y chromosome

Brain

Spinal cord

Cortex

Medulla oblongata

Rolling circle amplification

PCDH11X

PCDH11Y

NLGN4X

NLGN4Y

ISLET1

OLIG2

SOX10

NeuN

Biochemistry

biokemi

Biology with specialization in Molecular Biology

Biologi med inriktning mot zoologisk utvecklingsbiologi

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)