Sex differences in electrophysiological properties of mouse mPOA neurons revealed by in vitro whole-cell recordings

摘要: Abstract The medial preoptic area (mPOA) of the hypothalamus is sexually dimorphic and controls display male mating parental care. Yet, despite extensive characterization sex differences in mPOA, we know surprisingly little about whether or how female mPOA neurons differ electrophysiologically, which relate more directly to neuronal firing behavioral pattern generation. In this study, performed whole-cell patch clamp recordings acute brain slices cut from virgin adult mice, compared total 29 electrophysiological parameters between neurons. We find that resting membrane potential (Vm), input resistance (Rm), time constant (τm), threshold (Vth) minimum current (rheobase) required generate an action significantly a cell-type dependent manner. Nonetheless, there evidence for profuse excitability, except higher probability rebound males. Depletion gonadal hormones adulthood partially de-masculinizes parameters, suggesting some these may establish during development. Furthermore, as demonstration relevance differences, show pharmacologic blockage currents mediated by T-type Ca2+ channel, underlie tends be larger neurons, result deficits mating. summary, have identified key properties likely contribute behaviors. Significance Statement Sex represents important biological variable impact individual’s behaviors, physiology disease susceptibility. Indeed, nervous system manifest across many different levels scales. throughout previous multifaceted investigations on brain, characterizations, could potentially bridge cellular molecular with functions remains scant. Here, focusing evolutionarily conserved nucleus, investigated its modulation males via vitro clamp. As result, novel behaviors physiological functions.