Sex-specific effects
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Sex-Specific Effects
Testosterone and Behavior
explains that testosterone exposure in utero and in adulthood is crucial for typical male reproductive behavior. In rats, testosterone increases the size of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (Sdn POA), influencing behaviors such as mounting in males. Females, exposed to high testosterone levels in utero, exhibit more rough and tumble play and prefer boys' toys and activities more frequently than their peers. Females are also more sensitive to increases in testosterone compared to males, leading to greater behavioral changes when exposed to higher levels 1.
Brain Injury Response
Tommy Wood discusses sex differences in response to brain injury, particularly oxidative stress. In rodent studies, males are more susceptible to oxidative stress, possibly benefiting more from antioxidants like astaxanthin. Additionally, therapeutic hypothermia shows a greater benefit for females in rat models of perinatal asphyxia. In clinical settings, however, this sex-specific response seems less pronounced in humans, suggesting a complex interaction between sex and treatment efficacy 2.
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