developmental sex differences in nicotinic currents of prefrontal layer vi neurons in mice and rats发展的性别差异在前额第六层神经元烟碱电流在小鼠和大鼠.pdfVIP

Developmental Sex Differences in Nicotinic Currents of Prefrontal Layer VI Neurons in Mice and Rats 1 1 2 1,3 Nyresa C. Alves , Craig D. C. Bailey , Raad Nashmi , Evelyn K. Lambe * 1 Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2 Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Abstract Background: There is a large sex difference in the prevalence of attention deficit disorder; yet, relatively little is known about sex differences in the development of prefrontal attention circuitry. In male rats, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors excite corticothalamic neurons in layer VI, which are thought to play an important role in attention by gating the sensitivity of thalamic neurons to incoming stimuli. These nicotinic currents in male rats are significantly larger during the first postnatal month when prefrontal circuitry is maturing. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether there are sex differences in the nicotinic currents in prefrontal layer VI neurons during development. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using whole cell recording in prefrontal brain slice, we examined the inward currents elicited by nicotinic stimulation in male and female rats and two strains of mice. We found a prominent sex difference in the currents during the first postnatal month when males had significantly greater nicotinic currents in layer VI neurons compared to females. These differences were apparent with three agonists: acetylcholine, carbachol, and nicotine. Furthermore, the