Role of X-linked genes on sex differences in neurogenin 3 expression in developing hypothalamic neurons

Abstract

Our previous findings indicate that sex chromosome complement regulates the generation of sex differences in mouse hypothalamic neuronal development. Higher expression of neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) in XX neurons mediates sex differences in the rate of neuronal differentiation. Since Ngn3 is located in chromosome 10, these sex differences should be consequence of differences in the expression of X or Y chromosome genes that result from the inherent sex difference in the number (two copies of X) and/or type (presence or absence of Y) of sex chromosomes. We tested the hypothesis that X genes that escape X-inactivation are involved in regulation of sex differences in autosomal expression of Ngn3 and axonal length of hypothalamic neurons. To deal with this aim we evaluated the expression of Ddx3x, Eif2s3x, Kdm5c, Kdm6a, Mid1 and Usp9x in primary neuronal cultures from E14 male and female mice.