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PubMed1976

Puberal status and sex differences: activity and maze behavior in rats.

This study assessed sex differences in spontaneous wheel running and maze performance in relation to puberal status in rats. No sex differences were found prepuberally in either task whereas, postpuberally, females exceeded males in wheel running and males made fewer maze errors than females. Postpuberal males and females were less active than independent groups of prepuberal males and females, respectively. Although mature females made more errors than prepuberal females, no differences were found between independent groups of pre- and postpuberal males.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Sex differences in cancellous and cortical bone strength, bone mineral content and bone density.

The purpose of this study was to examine sex differences in cancellous and cortical bone strength, bone mineral content (BMC) and bone density of excised cadaver vertebral and phalangeal bones. The samples were age-matched. Bone strength was measured as the mechanical force required to crush or break the bones. Two parameters of bone strength were used on the vertebrae; the force at the first deviation from linearity and the mean force during the consolidation before final failure. The force at first deviation from linearity was not significantly different between the sexes, but there was a significant difference in the consolidation force. The mean men's phalangeal strength was twice that of the women's. BMC and BMC/BW of both types of bone were statistically different between the sexes. Radiographic photodensity measures on the vertebrae showed no sex differences. Cortical diameters of the finger bones were significantly greater in males.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Veridicality of cognitive mapping of stressor effects: sex differences.

In order to examine the veracity of judgment-questionnaire data regarding the effects of confronting a stressor in various contexts, judgments based on the imagined consequences of these encounters were scaled for both male and female subjects using individual-differences multidimensional scaling analyses. A parallel experiment was then carried out where a second group of subjects were directly exposed to the spectrum of stressor-context combinations previously judged. The two experiments substantially differed with respect to the inferences suggested by their results: while there were no apparent sex differences in the configuration of judgment responses, there were appreciable sex differences in response to the direct stress; other effects were predicted according to the judgment-scaling results but were not obtained upon direct stressor exposure. The study extended past results of equivocal veracity of conclusions drawn from personality questionnaires, ratings and inventories to the domain of stress reactions. The role of antecedent cognitive structuring of threatening situations along stress-relevant dimensions in determining response to direct threat was discussed. Discussion also focused on the configuration of sex differences over the several measures of response to the direct stressor. It was suggested that the stressor was more potent for females leading to increased cognitive coping efforts on their part. The effect of these efforts was the eventual reduction of their subjective stress to the level of that displayed by males.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1978

Sex differences in concordance rates for schizophrenia: finding or artifact?

The literature on schizophrenia has reported a trend toward higher concordance rates for females in both monozygotic and dizygotic same-sexed twins. The validity of this finding is open to question. Rosenthal (1961 and 1962) pointed out that females are more likely than males to become inhabitants of chronic wards. Most of the studies reporting a sex difference used resident hospital populations. Gottesman and Shields (1972) noted that the sex difference disappeared when samples were based upon consecutive admissions. Sex differences have vanished in recent studies both as a result of changing research methods and the changing role of women in society.

Diseases in Twins↗
PubMed1992

Absence of sex differences in size of the genital ducts of the rat prior to embryonic day 15.5-16.0.

Sexual dimorphisms of the rat brain are generally believed to be brought about by the presence of testosterone during a critical period starting at embryonic day (ED) 17/18. In contrast, sex differences of diencephalic and mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons were observed to develop in cell cultures raised from ED 14 rat brains. This was interpreted as evidence indicating that sexual differentiation of certain neural systems may occur independently of gonadal hormones. To substantiate this claim, it was felt necessary to examine the rat embryo for clues to a possible existence of sex differences in hormonal environment prior to ED 17. Morphometry was applied to compare the development of male and female Wolffian and Müllerian ducts, both primary targets of hormones secreted from the male gonad. Diameters of serially cross-sectioned Wolffian and Müllerian ducts were measured in rats of ED 15.0 to ED 16.5. Females had thicker Müllerian ducts from ED 15.5 on. The first step of differentiation in males was the widening of the lumen and a slight increase of the outer diameter of the Wolffian duct at ED 16.0. The size differences of both ducts were most obvious in the vicinity of the lower half of the gonad. Except in Wolffian ducts of ED 16.5, sex differences were absent in the caudal parts of the ducts. It appears that gonadal androgen and Müllerian inhibiting substance do not affect the development of their classical target organs prior to ED 16.0 and ED 15.5, respectively. Furthermore, the first effects are paracrine in nature. There is no evidence for sex differences in systemic androgen environment until ED 16.5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Sex differences in physical dependence on pentobarbital in four inbred strains of rats.

1. In Lewis (LEW), Fischer 344 (F344), Spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, pentobarbital (PB)-induced sleep time was much longer in female than in male rats. 2. At the time of awakening, brain levels of PB were significantly higher in the female F344 than in the male rats, but there was no sex differences in other strains. 3. Each strain of rats was treated with PB-admixed food for 47 days. There were significant sex differences in mean drug intake of the SHR and LEW strains, but not the WKY and F344 strains during the final concentration. 4. Only female rats exhibited moderate to severe motor impairment by PB. 5. After PB treatment ended, various signs of PB withdrawal occurred in female, but not male, rats. These marked sex differences were observed in all four inbred strains. 6. The sex differences in physical dependence on PB may be due mainly to differences in rates of drug metabolism for the LEW, SHR and WKY rats, and to differences in CNS sensitivity for the F344 rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

The effects of response bias on sex differences in a psychiatric population.

A sample of 58 male and 84 female new admissions to a psychiatric facility was interviewed to identify sex differences in personal and social functioning. Female subjects were found to score significantly higher on intrapsychic distress scales while male subjects scored higher on scales measuring antisocial behavior. Using analysis of covariance, keeping the L- or Lie scale of the MMPI constant, all measures which had previously shown significant sex differences now became nonsignificant. This finding suggests that reported sex differences may be accounted for by response bias.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Sex differences in Necturus urinary bladders.

We describe morphological sex differences in urinary bladders of the urodele amphibian Necturus maculosus. The mucosal epithelial cells of bladders from males were tall and contained considerable PAS-positive material. In scanning electron micrographs of the mucosal surface, epithelial cells from male bladders were well demarcated and were capped with microplicae or with long cilia. The mucosal epithelial cells of bladders from females were low and contained only a small amount of PAS-positive material; in scanning electron micrographs cell boundaries could not be distinguished and no cilia or microplicae were present. Bladders from males had higher transepithelial potential difference and lower water content than bladders from females. Urine analyses were not significantly different in the two sexes. It is suggested that response to androgens in the male accounts for the observed differences.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The development of sex differences in the adrenal morphology and responsiveness in stress of rats from birth to the end of life.

The appearance and development of sex difference in the adrenal cortex of rats have been studied. Morphological and secretory differences between the adrenal cortex of female and male rats begin on the 40th day of postnatal life, when females respond in stress by a greater increase in plasma corticosterone concentration. The sex difference becomes fully manifest at the age of 55 days (females have heavier absolute and relative adrenal glands and respond to stressful stimuli by a greater increase in adrenal and plasma corticosterone concentrations). At the age of 11 to 23 months the adrenal corticosterone concentrations in stress are equal in both sexes, and the absolute adrenal weights are similar from 18.5 months until death. The body weight gain is equal in both sexes during the first 50 days of life and greater in males from day 50 to 1 year of age. After this age the body weight of males remains almost the same (315 to 322 g)8 while females continue gaining weight until the end of life (196 to 231 g). This possible causal relationship between the rhythm of growth and sex difference in the adrenal glands in rats is discussed.

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed2028

Parental son preference in childhood and sex differences in the risk of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older adults.

INTRODUCTION: Sex differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are examined through biological and clinical factors, with less attention to early-life social exposures. This study examined associations of childhood parental son preference with CVD risk, sex differences, and mediation by modifiable risk factors. METHODS: This cohort analysis included China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study participants aged ≥45 years without baseline CVD. Parental son preference was assessed retrospectively in 2014; incident CVD was self-reported physician-diagnosed heart disease or stroke through 2020. Sampling-weighted, community-clustered Cox models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% CIs. Sex was prespecified as an effect modifier; mediation by 13 risk factors used inverse-odds-ratio weighting. Data were collected from 2011 to 2020 and analyzed from 2025 to 2026. RESULTS: Among 8,079 participants (mean age, 57.5 years; 4,216 women [52.2%]), 1,820 (22.5%) reported parental son preference. Son preference was associated with higher CVD risk overall (aHR 1.23 [95% CI 1.04, 1.46]) and among women (aHR 1.25 [95% CI 1.03, 1.53]); among men, the estimate was 1.16 (95% CI 0.87, 1.56), with limited heterogeneity by sex (ratio of aHRs 1.06 [95% CI 0.72, 1.58]). Among women, risk was concentrated in the highest paternal (aHR 1.47 [95% CI 1.14, 1.90]) and maternal (aHR 1.50 [95% CI 1.12, 1.99]) preference categories. Modifiable risk factors mediated 5.8% (95% CI 1.9%, 9.7%) of the association among women, mainly through socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. CVD risk was highest with both son preference and high risk-factor burden overall (aHR 1.97 [95% CI 1.43, 2.73]) and among women (aHR 2.23 [95% CI 1.61, 3.10]). CONCLUSIONS: Parental son preference was associated with higher incident CVD risk, with the largest estimates in the highest paternal or maternal categories among women. Modifiable risk factors explained a modest proportion, supporting life-course cardiovascular prevention that considers sex-differentiated childhood environments alongside risk-factor modification.

cardiovascular disease↗
PubMed1977

Sex differences in parent-infant interaction during free play, departure, and separation.

20 18-month-olds were observed with their mothers and 20 with their fathers in laboratory free-play, departure, and separation situations. Parent and infant behaviors were allowed to vary naturally. Although there were no parent sex or infant sex differences in infants' free-play behavior, there were parent sex X infant sex differences in parental free-play behaviors. Parents talked to, sat on the floor more with, and tended to share play more with same-sexed than opposite-sexed infants, and the patterning of free-play behaviors was different for mothers and fathers. During departure, fathers talked to the infants more than mothers. Infants were more distressed in the absence of same-sexed than opposite-sexed parents. There were infant sex X parent sex differences in the relationships between separation distress and parental free-play and departure behaviors. The implications of these findings for understanding differential roles of mothers and fathers, the development of sex differences, and the determinants of separation distress are discussed.

Father-Child Relations↗
PubMed1975

Sex differences in reflex tachycardia induced by hypotensive drugs in unanesthetized rats.

Possible sex differences in autonomic regulation of the heart were studied by injecting standard hypotensive doses of histamine or bradykinin to induce reflex tachycardia in awake rats. Although depressor responses to both drugs were unaltered, the tachycardia was greatly reduced by beta-adrenergic blockade with propranolol and abolished almost completely after combined blockade with propranolol and atropine. These findings indicate that the tachycardia was mostly due to increased sympathetic stimulation wiht a minor contribution from parasympathetic withdrawal. With large doses of bradykinin, direct myocardial stimulation also seemed likely, since some residual tachycardia remained even after combined blockade. Reflex tachycardia was generally more pronounced in male than in female rats. Because males had lower base-line heart rates and more tachycardia that was resistant to beta-adrenergic blockade than females, autonomic regulation was concluded to be predominantly parasympathetic in males and sympathetic in females. Whereas the exact cause of these variations in chronotropic regulation is unknown, it was considered possible that differences in sex hormones may have affected sensitivity of some component of the reflex arc.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Sex differences in the perception of touching.

Sex differences in the perception of touching were investigated by having 25 male and 25 female college students rate how likeable a touch would be under different conditions. The women produced a more favorable affect than the men when they touched, and women were perceived as liking to be touched more than men. Perception of touching in general was correlated positively with Self-esteem for men, negatively with Machiavellianism for women, and positively with Trust for women. Results were discussed in terms of traditional sex-typing of touching behavior.

Affect↗
PubMed1976

Sex difference of multiple sclerosis in Japan.

Sex differences in the clinical course of multiple sclerosis were investigated in 947 patients with multiple sclerosis collected from all over Japan through the nationwide survey undertaken by the Multiple Sclerosis Research Committee of Japan from 1972 through 1973. A course of remissions and exacerbations, more frequent involvement of optic nerves, and more severe motor and visual disability were present in a higher proportion of women than men. These features corresponded to those which have been considered to characterize Oriental multiple sclerosis patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Sex differences as related to measurement of emotional arousal.

This study examined two categories of stress as a possible factor in previously mixed findings with regard to sex differences. Imagined physical stress and mental stress were induced by having Ss listen to tape-recorded descriptions of a car accident or taking a final exam. A self-report checklist was used to obtain ratings of anxiety, hostility and depression, and a Likert-type scale was employed to get Ss' estimates of their own emotional reactions. All Ss showed marked increase in emotionality scores after scene presentations. The results did not support the view that there are sex differences in responding due to different stressful conditions. However, females tended to express more emotionality than males to the stressful scenes. These differences were discussed in view of in vivo vs. in vitro presentation of stressful stimuli and the obtainment of sex differences as a function of where the measurement instrument falls on a subtle-obvious dimension.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1992

Male and female morbidity in general practice: the nature of sex differences.

Outcomes from large scale health surveys suggest women's morbidity and medical care utilization to be higher than men's. Survey findings have often been questioned on methodological grounds, a main criticism being the subjective nature of the data on which the alleged sex differences are based. Moreover, health differences vary with the type of illness (behavior) that is assessed. Instead of asking subjects about their illness experiences, we performed analyses on data derived from a continuous registration of morbidity as presented in four general practices in the Netherlands. Information was obtained on physician diagnoses of 4723 male and 4963 female patients of all ages enlisted in the four practices from 1984 to 1988. To gain insight in the nature of sex differences, four diagnostic categories were distinguished (sex specific conditions, trauma, symptoms without disease, and prevention and diagnostics). Data on mean number of diagnoses, sex ratio's and proportions of overall morbidity are presented for separate age-groups. In addition, the contribution of each diagnostic category to overall female excess morbidity was computed, for age-groups. Results show that over 40% of the significantly higher overall female morbidity is accounted for by gynaecological and obstetrical diagnoses, and more than a quarter could be explained by prevention and diagnostics. In contrast with the often alleged female excess of 'vague' or psychosomatic symptoms, these accounted for less than 20% of the overall sex difference.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Sex difference in the excretion of zenarestat in mice, rats, dogs and humans.

1. Mice show a sex difference in the excretion of zenarestat similar to that seen in rats, but dogs and humans show no significant sex difference. 2. Female rats and mice, and both sexes of dogs and humans, appear to possess an active secretory mechanism in the renal excretion of zenarestat, which is lacking or relatively inactive in male rats and mice.

Adult↗