Epigenetic regulation of sex differences in susceptibility to stress

2017

Under current diagnostics depression and stress related mood disorders have a higher occurrence in women than men. Little is known of the biological mechanisms contributing to these sex differences and how they may impact potential new therapeutics. Here we examine how DNA methylation contributes to sex specific stress vulnerability in adult animals. Mice of both sexes were exposed to variable stress and given a behavioral test battery to examine stress sensitivity. Female mice expressed depressionassociated behavior across all tests stress exposure whereas males were behaviorally resilient. Markers of pre and post-synaptic plasticity and spine morphology were examined using a combination o…