Three-Dimensional Analysis of Sex- and Gonadal Status-Dependent Microglial Activation in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease

    January 2023 in “ Pharmaceuticals ”
    Amandine Isenbrandt, Katherine Coulombe, Marc Morissette, Mélanie Bourque, Jérôme Lamontagne-Proulx, Thérèse Di Paolo, Denis Soulet
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    TLDR Sex and sex hormones can affect brain inflammation in Parkinson's disease, with male mice being more affected and female mice showing a protective effect.
    The study "Three-Dimensional Analysis of Sex- and Gonadal Status- Dependent Microglial Activation in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease" involved 150 mice and investigated the impact of sex and gonadal hormones on microglial activation in Parkinson's disease (PD). The researchers found that microglial density and proliferation were increased by the PD model only in male mice and were prevented by Dutasteride in normal males. Dutasteride also prevented the significant loss of dopamine neurons caused by the PD model in normal males. Female mice were less affected by PD toxicity, regardless of their gonadal status, suggesting a protective effect of female biological sex. The study concluded that both biological sex and sex hormones can modulate microglial activation in PD.
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