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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Sex Stratified Neuronal Cultures to Study Ischemic Cell Death Pathways

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Published on: December 9, 2013

Environmental experiences shape sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits and behaviour.

Sonu Peedikayil-Kurien¹, Hagar Setty¹, Meital Oren-Suissa¹

¹Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.

The FEBS Journal

|December 30, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Sex and experience interact to shape sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits. These circuits, influenced by transcription factors and receptor expression, adapt to environmental changes for survival.

Keywords:

behaviour experience neuronal circuits plasticity sexual dimorphism

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Genetics
Evolutionary Biology

Background:

Sexual dimorphism influences traits crucial for fitness and survival.
Neuronal circuits are highly sensitive to environmental factors and experiences.
Sexual dimorphism in neuronal circuits manifests at multiple levels, including activity, connectivity, and molecular profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

To review common principles governing experience-dependent sexually dimorphic circuits in vertebrates and invertebrates.
To explore the interplay between predetermined sexual dimorphism and adaptive plasticity in neuronal circuits.
To identify gaps in current knowledge and propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits.
Analysis of molecular and circuit-level mechanisms underlying experience-dependent adaptations.
Comparative study across vertebrate and invertebrate models.

Main Results:

Sexually dimorphic neuronal circuits are regulated by sex-biased transcription factors, influencing connectivity and synaptic properties.
Dimorphic receptor expression patterns are critical for sensory encoding in response to experience.
Neuronal circuits exhibit a balance between predetermined dimorphism and fluidity for adaptation.

Conclusions:

Sexual identity and experience jointly shape behavior for maximal survival.
Understanding experience-dependent sexual dimorphism has potential for sex-specific therapeutic strategies.
Further research is needed to elucidate novel aspects of sexual dimorphism in neuronal circuits.