A Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus in the Human Brain
Abstract
A sexually dimorphic cell group is described in the preoptic area of the human hypothalamus. Morphometric analysis revealed that the volume of this nucleus is 2.5 ± 0.6 times (mean ± standard error of the mean) as large in men as in women, and contains 2.2 ± 0.5 times as many cells. Between the ages of 10 and 93 years, the nucleus decreases greatly in volume and in cell number. Although no function has yet been established for this nucleus, it is located within an area that is essential for gonadotropin release and sexual behavior in other mammals.
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Information
Published In
Science
Volume 228 • Issue 4703 • 31 May 1985
Pages: 1112 - 1115
History
Published online: 31 May 1985
Copyright
© 1985.
