Neurogenesis in the neonatal rat hippocampus is regulated by sexually dimorphic epigenetic modifiers

Abstract

Highlights Neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus peaks in the early postnatal period and in the laboratory rat is significantly greater in males than females. Here we report divergent regulation of cell genesis in the neonatal dentate gyrus. DNA methylation is a critical regulator of the higher rates of proliferation in males. Conversely, histone acetylation is essential for cell genesis in females.

Keywords

• Neurogenesis
• Hippocampal formation
• Sex differences
• Epigenetics
• Development