Gender-related differences in apoptotic pathways after neonatal cerebral ischemia

Neuroscientist. 2008 Feb;14(1):46-52. doi: 10.1177/1073858407308889. Epub 2007 Oct 30.

Abstract

Many central nervous system (CNS) diseases display sexual dimorphism, specifically a predilection for one gender or a gender-dependent response to treatment. Exposure to circulating sex steroids is felt to be a chief contributor to this phenomenon. However, CNS diseases of childhood and of the elderly also demonstrate gender predominance and/or sexual dimorphism response to therapies. In this short update, we provide information concerning one of the most interesting new emerging concepts related to the influence of the sex in the pathogenesis of developmental brain injuries leading to different levels of neuroprotection between genders after cerebral hypoxia-ischemia or ischemia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn / physiology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Brain Ischemia / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Neuroprotective Agents