About me
I will be investigating how brain development differs between males and females and how this could help explain the sex-bias we observe in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Males are under the influence of different hormones and genes than females. These hormones and genes cause multiple cells in the brain, from neurons to immune cells (called microglia), to behave differently. For example, the function of microglia may differ in males and females which means that they shape networks differently and in turn may increase the risk of developing ASD in males specifically. Neurons themselves can also be modulated by sex hormones such as testosterone and estradiol in different ways. This may lead to, amongst other things, a male-female difference in the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals, a difference in signal processing and an altered GABA-shift. These are all factors that are thought to be involved in ASD. By using in vitro networks of human neurons, microglia and astrocytes and by using ex vivo models of the mouse hippocampus, I will investigate how biological sex influences brain development in neurotypical controls and ASD samples.
