Sex on brain

Sex on Brain European Research GroupLecture about sex differences of brain from a

human perspective

Ira RonitHeboldHaraldsen, GID section, Department of Neuro-psychiatry, Centre of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oslo, National Hospital – Rikshospitalet – Oslo, Norway

SOBER GroupSex on Brain European Research Group

Effects of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Receptor blockage on brain development and

behaviour in humans and animals

SOBERSex on Brain European Research

• SOBER 1 = BIG 4 – Human treatment model – Clinical Research• SOBER 2 = Animal model - Brain Biobank – March 2009• SOBER 3 = FMRI Models • SOBER 4 = Human Genom Diagnostics

     

Center for the Study of Human Cognition

FRONTlundosloberkleyexecutivestudies

   

Institute of Environmental Medicine (IMM)

SOBER Board

SOBER I – The Human ProjectEffects of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Receptor blockage

on brain development and behaviour in humans

• Andersson, Stein - Neuropsychologist• BjarkHalvorsen, Therese - Plastic surgeon, urologist• Cohen-Kettenis, Peggy – director• De Cuypere, Griet – director• Diseth, Trond - Child psychiatrist• Due Tønnesen, Paulina - Neuroradiologist• Fjell Anders – Controll group – director• Gross, Anniken - Gynecologist• Gulbrandsen, Kjersti - Psychiatric nurse• Haraldsen, Ira – director• Hellem, Frøydis – Psychologist• Heylens, Gunter - PhD• Kaspara, Solveig - Center coordinator• Kreukels, Baudewintje - Postdoc• Paap, Muirne – PhD• Richter-Appelt, Hertha – director• Nieder, Timo – PhD• Schreiner, Thomas- Endocrinologist• Tønseth, Kim Plastic - Surgeon• Walhovd, Kristine - Controll group – directors

Peggy Cohen Kettenis

SOBER 2An animal model

Effects ofGonadotropin Releasing Hormone Receptor blockage on brain development and behaviour in sheep

The introduction of a new animal model to evaluate sex specific consequences and mechanisms of a common hormone treatment strategy in man

Brain biobank opens on the 28th of March 2009

SOBER 2 - Cochno Farm - Oslo

Kristine von Krogh, Hannah Harjen, DeborahKingsley, Stefan Suetterlin

SOBER 3 - FMRI paradigm

Model development for sex differences in adolescence

Nordstrand og Tåsen skoleNina Tangstrøm, Haakon Engen

Publications• 2008 in print• Hebold Haraldsen et al inTextbookofPsychiatry, Gyldendal, 2008• Tønseth K, Haraldsen IR, Sex reassignment surgery, Den norskelegetidsskriften, 2008

• submitted in 2008• HeboldHaraldsen*, I R. Casper, R. LH, FSH as predictors for cognitivefunction in normal

middle-agedwomen, Psychoneuroendocrinology, submitted in 2008• Paap M, Hebold Haraldsen I R, Sex specificcognitivesolutionstrategies in

earlyonsetgenderidentitydisorderpatients, Neuropsychology, submitted in 2008

• 2009 to submitt first half year• Paap M, Hebold Haraldsen IR,, Prevalence, Diagnostics and comorbidity in

Norwegianearlyonsetgenderidentitydisorderpatients, Psychiatric Research, 2009• Hebold Haraldsen IR, Falch, J. cross sex patternof Ultrasound BMD measurements in in

earlyonsetgenderidentitydisorderpatients, Endocrinology, 2009• Endestad T, Melinder, A, Haraldsen, IR, A FMRI –model to discover sex differences in brain

during adolescentdevelopment• al. et Hebold Haraldsen,Neurocognition in sheeptreated by prenatallyGnRHblockage, in

work, expected in press 2009

2009 – 2014Understanding the time correlated

phenomenon of puberty and sex differences of the brain

• Behaviour and cognitive function of male and female animals/ humans, prior to treatment and after blockage of GnRHR

• Structural changes of the brain between the sexes and the groups (cytoarchitecture, layer thickness and cell density

• Neuronal/glial cell ratio, • Ccell proliferation and neuronal apoptosis • Degree of myelination• Synaptic distribution and integrity, using specific antibody• Architecture of dendritic tree and spine number• Gene expression and distribution of GnRH, ER alpha and beta, and AR

receptors• Expression of hypothalamic oestrodiol receptors, GAD, GnRH, galanin, LH

and FSH receptor immunreactivity and subsequent hormone secretion