Sex- and cycle-dependent changes in spine density and size in hippocampal CA2 neurons

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 12252
• Main Authors: Jabra, Sharif, Rietsche, Michael, Muellerleile, Julia, O'Leary, Aet, Slattery, David A, Deller, Thomas, Fellenz, Meike
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 28.05.2024; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Animals; CA1; CA2; CA2 Region, Hippocampal - metabolism; CA2 Region, Hippocampal - physiology; Dendritic spines; Dendritic Spines - metabolism; Dendritic Spines - physiology; Dentate gyrus; Estrogen; Estrous cycle; Estrous Cycle - physiology; Estrus cycle; Female; Females; Functional plasticity; Hippocampal plasticity; Hippocampus; Hormones; Male; Males; Mice; Neurons - metabolism; Rodents; Sex Characteristics; Sex hormones; Sexual dimorphism; Social interactions; Spine; Stratum radiatum; Structural plasticity; Structure-function relationships; CA1; Structural plasticity; CA3; CA2; Spine; Estrogen; Estrous cycle; Hippocampus
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62951-x

Sex hormones affect structural and functional plasticity in the rodent hippocampus. However, hormone levels not only differ between males and females, but also fluctuate across the female estrous cycle. While sex- and cycle-dependent differences in dendritic spine density and morphology have been found in the rodent CA1 region, but not in the CA3 or the dentate gyrus, comparable structural data on CA2, i.e. the hippocampal region involved in social recognition memory, is so far lacking. In this study, we, therefore, used wildtype male and female mice in diestrus or proestrus to analyze spines on dendritic segments from identified CA2 neurons. In basal stratum oriens, we found no differences in spine density, but a significant shift towards larger spine head areas in male mice compared to females. Conversely, in apical stratum radiatum diestrus females had a significantly higher spine density, and females in either cycle stage had a significant shift towards larger spine head areas as compared to males, with diestrus females showing the larger shift. Our results provide further evidence for the sexual dimorphism of hippocampal area CA2, and underscore the importance of considering not only the sex, but also the stage of the estrous cycle when interpreting morphological data.