Sex differences, but no seasonal variations in the hippocampus of food-caching squirrels: a stereological study

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_279E03F823B0
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Sex differences, but no seasonal variations in the hippocampus of food-caching squirrels: a stereological study
Journal
Journal of Comparative Neurology
Author(s)
Lavenex P., Steele M.A., Jacobs L.F.
ISSN
0021-9967 (Print)
1096-9861 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0021-9967
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2000
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
425
Number
1
Pages
152-166
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Recent studies have described sex differences in the relative size of the hippocampus that are associated with sex differences in space use in birds and short-lived mammals. A correlation between spatial learning and increased hippocampal volume has also been demonstrated in food-caching animals. Such results suggest that sexually dimorphic spatial learning (sex differences in space use during the breeding season) and seasonal variations in food-caching behavior (spatial memory for cache locations) might correlate with morphological changes in the hippocampus of adult long-lived mammals. We used modern stereological techniques to examine the volume and neuron number of the structures forming the hippocampal complex (dentate gyrus, CA3, and CA1) of wild adult eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) throughout the year. We observed differences in brain size between samples collected at different times of the year (October, January, and June). Our analysis showed sex differences, but no seasonal variations, in the volume of CA1 stratum oriens and stratum radiatum. There were no sex differences or seasonal variations in the relative volume or the number of neurons of any other layer of the structures forming the hippocampal complex. These results confirm the existence of sex differences in the structure of the hippocampus; however, this sexual dimorphism does not vary seasonally in adulthood and is likely to result from developmental processes. These results do not support the hypothesis that seasonal variations in food-caching behavior might correlate with morphological changes, such as variations in volume or neuron number, in the hippocampal complex of adult long-lived mammals.
Keywords
Age Factors, Animals, Behavior, Animal/physiology, Cell Count, Dentate Gyrus/cytology, Dentate Gyrus/physiology, Feeding Behavior/physiology, Female, Male, Neuronal Plasticity/physiology, Neurons/cytology, Regression Analysis, Sciuridae/physiology, Seasons, Sex Characteristics
Pubmed
Create date
13/10/2014 19:01
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:06
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