According to the Mayo Clinic, about twice as many women as men experience depression. Additionally, male and female brains respond to stress differently, and A.J. Robinson, PhD, associate professor in the MSU College of Natural Science, is investigating the linkage between testosterone and increasing resilience.
“Through earlier research, we found there is a specific brain circuit in the hippocampus that is more excitable in female mice than in males. That circuit is regulated by testosterone,” said Dr. Robinson.
By identifying how testosterone affects neurons in the circuit, researchers can develop and leverage novel targets to treat depression in both sexes, according to the release.
“Now, we want to know how testosterone is causing this change in the brain circuitry. If we can figure that out, maybe one of those things is something we can use to create a female or male-specific pharmacological treatment for depression,” Dr. Robinson said.
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