MALE-FEMALE DIFFERENCE IN CYTOARCHITECTURE OF THE SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC NUCLEUS OF THE PREOPTIC AREA IN RATS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

The cytoarchitecture of the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area(SDN-POA)of male and female rats was studied with Nissl stain and rapid Golgimethod under light microscope.The results were as follows1.The volume of theSDN-POA of the male was markedly 3.1 times larger than that of the female.2.In both sexes,the cell density of the SDN-POA significantly increased as comparedwith that of the surrounding,while the sexual difference of the cell density withinthe SDN-POA was not found.3.There was marked male-female difference in theneu(?)onal organization of the nucleus,in which the number of large cells was signi-ficantly greater in males than in females.4.In males,dendritic trees principallyoriented in dorsolateral,ventrolateral and medial directions.In contrast,dendritictrees in females mainly oriented in dorsal and ventromedial directions.5.The meantotal length of the dendritic tree was larger in males than in females and the dis-tribution of the dendritic tree showed sexual difference in the X axis but not in theY axis.6.The number of the dendritic spine was 2.1 times greater in females thanin males.