Gonadal steroids regulate the number and activational state of mast cells in the medial habenula.

摘要: While mast cells in connective tissues have long been associated with allergic reactions, it is now clear that they are also present within the central nervous system under normal physiological conditions. The cell population increases 10-fold medial habenular region of brain 2 h after pairing doves. first study explored whether this increase was due to exposure gonadal steroids. Light microscopic immunocytochemistry indicates an increased number MC following either testosterone (T) or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) male, 17β estradiol (E) female, but not cholesterol-treated controls. Thus, produced by hormones absence sexual behavior, sexually dimorphic, and does require aromatization androgen. In next study, activational state determined using electron microscopy. Cells were categorized into five states: (I) resting; (II) initiation degranulation; (I...