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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Aragorn JonesORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2025.The influence of sex chromosomes and sex hormones on early human brain development is poorly understood. We therefore undertook transcriptomic analysis of 46,XY and 46,XX human brain cortex samples (n = 64) at four different time points between 7.5 and 17 weeks post conception (wpc), in two independent studies. This developmental period encompasses the onset of testicular testosterone secretion in the 46,XY fetus (8wpc). We show differences in sex chromosome gene expression including X-inactivation genes (XIST, TSIX) in 46,XX samples; core Y chromosome genes (n = 18) in 46,XY samples; and two Y chromosome brain specific genes, PCDH11Y and RP11-424G14.1. PCDH11Y (protocadherin11 Y-linked) regulates excitatory neurons; this gene is unique to humans and is implicated in language development. RP11-424G14.1 is a long non-coding RNA. Fewer differences in sex hormone pathway-related genes are seen. The androgen receptor (AR, NR3C4) shows cortex expression in both sexes, which decreases with age. Global cortical sex hormone effects are not seen, but more localized AR mechanisms may be important with time (e.g., hypothalamus). Taken together, our data suggest that limited but potentially important sex differences occur during early human fetal brain development. (Figure presented.)
Author(s): Buonocore F, Suntharalingham JP, Ogunbiyi OK, Jones A, Moreno N, Niola P, Brooks T, Solanky N, Dattani MT, del Valle I, Achermann JC
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Communications Biology
Year: 2025
Volume: 8
Issue: 1
Online publication date: 25/04/2025
Acceptance date: 09/04/2025
Date deposited: 13/05/2025
ISSN (electronic): 2399-3642
Publisher: Nature Research
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08070-3
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08070-3
PubMed id: 40281071
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