Sex differences in stress-related receptors: "Micro" differences with "macro" implications for mood and anxiety disorders
Genre
ReviewJournal
Date
2013-12-01Author
Bangasser, DASubject
1109 NeurosciencesBiomedical
Basic Science
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Neurosciences
Basic Behavioral and Social Science
Depression
Brain Disorders
Behavioral and Social Science
Mental Health
Mental Health
Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/5355
Metadata
Show full item recordDOI
10.1186/2042-6410-4-2Abstract
Stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as unipolar depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), occur more frequently in women than in men. Emerging research suggests that sex differences in receptors for the stress hormones, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and glucocorticoids, contribute to this disparity. For example, sex differences in CRF receptor binding in the amygdala of rats may predispose females to greater anxiety following stressful events. Additionally, sex differences in CRF receptor signaling and trafficking in the locus coeruleus arousal center combine to make females more sensitive to low levels of CRF, and less adaptable to high levels. These receptor differences in females could lead to hyperarousal, a dysregulated state associated with symptoms of depression and PTSD. Similar to the sex differences observed in CRF receptors, sex differences in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function also appear to make females more susceptible to dysregulation after a stressful event. Following hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis activation, GRs are critical to the negative feedback process that inhibits additional glucocorticoid release. Compared to males, female rats have fewer GRs and impaired GR translocation following chronic adolescent stress, effects linked to slower glucocorticoid negative feedback. Thus, under conditions of chronic stress, attenuated negative feedback in females would result in hypercortisolemia, an endocrine state thought to cause depression. Together, these studies suggest that sex differences in stress-related receptors shift females more easily into a dysregulated state of stress reactivity, linked to the development of mood and anxiety disorders. The implications of these receptor sex differences for the development of novel pharmacotherapies are also discussed. © 2013 Bangasser; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.Citation to related work
Springer Science and Business Media LLCHas part
Biology of Sex DifferencesADA compliance
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, including help with reading this content, please contact scholarshare@temple.eduae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/5337