Astroglial cells as neuroendocrine targets in forebrain development: Implications for sex differences in psychiatric disease

Saracatinib, a Src Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, as a Disease Modifier in the Rat DFP Model: Sex Differences, Neurobehavior, Gliosis, Neurodegeneration, and Nitro-Oxidative Stress

“…This could also be the consequence of the increased dose used in females, although they did have equal initial SE severity compared to males. Notably, astrocytes contain a large number of receptors for gonadal hormones, including those for estrogen (ERα and Erβ), which controls the intracellular calcium levels [ 114 , 115 ]. Perhaps hormonal differences between males and females play a role in determining the efficacy of SAR, which requires further studies.…”

Environmental enrichment initiated in adolescence restores the reduced expression of synaptophysin and GFAP in the hippocampus of chronically stressed rats in a sex‐specific manner

“…A growing corpus of evidence supports the involvement of astrocytes in alterations observed in hippocampal volume and markers of synaptic plasticity (Scofield, 2018; Sharma et al., 2019). Astrocytes provide structural support to neurons and play a pivotal role in processes of brain development and plasticity, including synaptogenesis and maintenance of neural circuitry (Rurak et al., 2021). Reduction in astrocytes’ number or density has been associated with smaller hippocampal volume and synaptic dysfunction and is implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and the manifestation of cognitive impairment (Czéh et al., 2006; Sanacora & Banasr, 2013; Sharma et al., 2019; Zhao et al., 2022).…”

Sex differences in developmental patterns of neocortical astroglia: A mouse translatome database

“…Nearly all neuropsychiatric disorders have evidence of gender/sex bias in human populations and are associated with perturbations in cortical development (Bao and Swaab, 2011;Pinares-Garcia et al, 2018). We have previously reviewed the evidence supporting astroglial involvement in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders and considered the implications of circulating gonadal hormones on astroglial cells during neurodevelopment and in the mature brain (Rurak et al, 2021). Importantly, astroglial cells express estrogen receptor a and b, and G-protein coupled estrogen receptors, in addition to androgen and progesterone receptors and show transient and rapid responses to androgens, progesterone, and estrogens, which alter astroglial proliferation, GFAP expression, and glutamate metabolism (Acaz-Fonseca et al, 2016;Johnson et al, 2013).…”