Microglia and sexual differentiation of the developing brain: A focus on ontogeny and intrinsic factors.
Sexual differentiation of the brain during early development likely underlies the strong sex biases prevalent in many neurological conditions. Mounting evidence indicates that microglia, the innate immune cells of the central nervous system, are intricately involved in these sex-specific processes of differentiation. In this review, we synthesize literature demonstrating sex differences in microglial number, morphology, transcriptional state, and functionality throughout spatiotemporal development as well as highlight current literature regarding ontogeny of microglia. Along with vanRyzin et al. in this issue, we explore the idea that differences in microglia imparted by chromosomal or ontogeny-related programming can influence microglial-driven sexual differentiation of the brain, as well as the idea that extrinsic differences in the male and female brain microenvironment may in turn impart sex differences in microglia.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Sex Differentiation
- Sex Characteristics
- Neurons
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Nervous System Diseases
- Microglia
- Male
- Humans
- Brain
- Animals
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Related Subject Headings
- Sex Differentiation
- Sex Characteristics
- Neurons
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Nervous System Diseases
- Microglia
- Male
- Humans
- Brain
- Animals