Activation of the G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) has different effects on anxiety in male and female mice

The GPR30, a former orphan GPCR, is a putative membrane estrogen receptor that can activate rapid signaling pathways such as extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) in a variety of cells and may contribute to estrogen's effects in the central nervous system. The distribution of GPR30 in the limbic system predicts a role for this receptor in the regulation of learning and memory and anxiety by estrogens. Though acute G-1 treatment is reported to be anxiogenic in ovariectomised female mice and in gonadally intact male mice, the effect of GPR30 activation is unknown in gonadectomised male mice. In this study, we show that an acute administration of G-1 to gonadectomised male mice, but not female mice, was anxiolytic on an elevated plus maze task, without affecting locomotor activity. In addition, though G-1 treatment did not regulate ERK, it was associated with increased estrogen receptor (ER)alpha phosphorylation in the ventral, but not dorsal, hippocampus of males. In the female, G-1 increased the ERK activation solely in the dorsal hippocampus, independent of state anxiety. This is the first study to report an anxiolytic effect of GPR30 activation in male mice, in a rapid time frame that is commensurate with non-genomic signaling by estrogen.

Efficiency of uniparental male and female care against egg predators in two closely related syntopic harvestmen

Although the benefits of maternal care have been investigated in many species, the caring role of males in species with exclusive paternal care has received less attention. We experimentally quantified the protective role of paternal care in the harvestman Iporangaia pustulosa. Additionally, we compared the effectiveness of paternal care against predation in this species with a syntopic harvestman with maternal care, Acutisoma proximum. We demonstrated that nearly one-third of the unprotected Iporangaia clutches disappeared entirely in 12 days, while the other two-thirds suffered a mean reduction of 55% in egg number. Conversely, 50% of the control clutches did not suffer any reduction, and only one was entirely consumed by predators. We also demonstrated that the mucus coat that covers Iporangaia clutches has an important deterrent role against predation by conspecifics: 58.3% of the clutches without mucus were attacked and three of them were entirely consumed, whereas only three clutches with mucus were attacked, suffering a reduction of up to three eggs. Iporangaia males were as efficient as Acutisoma females in protecting eggs. However, unattended Acutisoma eggs were attacked 20% more frequently than unattended Iporangaia eggs. Unattended Iporangaia eggs are protected by a mucus coat that prevents or decreases predation rate, whereas Acutisoma eggs are more susceptible to predation, probably because they lack this mucus coat. Thus, besides the fact that Iporangaia males efficiently protect the offspring against egg predators, females also contribute to egg protection by providing a mucus coat that deters egg predators. (C) 2009 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Male and female odors induce Fos expression in chemically defined neuronal population

Olfactory information modulates innate and social behaviors in rodents and other species. Studies have shown that the medial nucleus of the amygdala (MEA) and the ventral premammillary, nucleus (PMV) are recruited by conspecific odor stimulation. However, the chemical identity of these neurons is not determined. We exposed sexually inexperienced male rats to female or male odors and assessed Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) in neurons expressing NADPH diaphorase activity (NADPHd, a nitric oxide synthase), neuropeptide Urocortin 3, or glutamic acid decarboxylase rnRNA (GAD-67, a GABA-synthesizing enzyme) in the MEA and PMV. Male and female odors elicited Fos-ir in the MEA and PMV neurons, but the number of Fos-immunoreactive neurons was higher following female odor exposure, in both nuclei. We found no difference in odor induced Fos-ir ill the MEA and PMV comparing fed and fasted animals. Ill the MEA, NADPHd neurons colocalized Fos-ir only in response to female odors. In addition, Urocortin 3 neurons comprise a distinct population and they do not express Fos-ir after conspecific odor stimulation. We found that 80% of neurons activated by male odors coexpressed GAD-67 mRNA. Following female odor, 50% of Fos neurons coexpressed GAD-67 rnRNA. The PMV expresses very little GAD-67, and virtually no colocalization with Fos was observed. We found intense NADPHd activity in PMV neurons, some of which coexpressed Fos-ir after exposure to both odors. The majority of the PMV neurons expressing NADPHd colocalized cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). Our findings suggest that female and male odors engage distinct neuronal populations in the MEA, thereby inducing contextualized behavioral responses according to olfactory cues. In the PMV, NADPHd/CART neurons respond to male and female odors, suggesting a role in neuroendocrine regulation in response to olfactory cues. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Are We Terribly Different? : A case-study of male and female fiction-writing in English

The aim of this study is to find similarities and differences between male and female fiction-writing. The data has been collected from pupils at an upper secondary school in Central Sweden. They were given an extract from a novel by Bernard MacLaverty and from that they were supposed to continue the story.Theories that have evolved during the last centuries claim that the language use between men and women differ in many aspects. Women, it is said, use a more emotional language than men do, while men use more expletives than women. Likewise, the language is said to differ in the use of adverbs, verbs and adjectives. It has also been claimed that men and women have different topic developments and that women write longer sentences than men.The results of the current study show that most of these claims are false, or at least not true in this specific context. In most cases there is little or no difference between the male writing and the female writing. There are also cases where the opposite is true – for example, the female participants write shorter sentences than the male participants. A general conclusion of the study is that the writing between the two groups are quite similar – or at least that similarities are present to a larger extent than differences.

Speaking of gender: teachers' metaphorical constructs of male and female students

This article explores the images and metaphors that teachers use when speaking of their relations with students and examines how these images work to call into play particular constructs of gender relations. Of specific interest is the way teachers use binaries of open/closed, in control/out of control and maturity/immaturity to make sense of feminine and masculine conduct respectively. It is argued that such binary differentiations work not only as descriptors of `truths' concerning student-teacher relations, but also as means of constituting and normalizing particular forms of gender  relations. Implications of such metaphorical constructions for gender reform within schools are considered.

Assessment of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations in male and female multiple sclerosis patients and control volunteers

Populations with insufficient ultraviolet exposure and who consume diets low in vitamin D have low vitamin D status (plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations) and a reported higher incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS). The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃), is an effective anti-inflammatory molecule. No research to date has assessed 1,25(OH)₂D₃ concentrations in individuals with MS. In this study, plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)₂D ₃ and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured in 29 individuals with MS and 22 age- and sex-matched control volunteers. There were no significant differences in plasma PTH, 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ concentrations between individuals with MS and control volunteers. Women with MS had significantly higher 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ concentrations than men with MS (79.1 ±45.4 versus 50.2±15.3 nmol/L, P=0.019 and 103.8± 36.8 versus 70.4±28.7 pmol/L, P=0.019, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)₂D ₃ concentrations in all subjects (r=0.564, P=0.000), but secondary analysis revealed that the correlation was driven by women with MS (r=0.677, P= 0.001). Significant sex differences in vitamin D metabolism were observed and were most marked in individuals with MS, suggesting that vitamin D requirements may differ between the sexes, as well as by underlying disease state.

Sentencing of male and female child sex offenders : Australian study

Research suggests that, in line with the chivalry hypothesis of female offending, a range of mitigatory factors such as mental health problems, substance abuse, and personal experiences of abuse are brought into play when women who offend against children are brought to trial. This is reflected in sentencing comments made by judges and in the sanctions imposed on the offenders, and as a result female offenders are treated differently to male offenders. The current study investigated this in an Australian context. Seven cases of female-perpetrated child sexual abuse were identified over a 6-year period through the Austlii database. Seven cases of male-perpetrated child sex abuse matched as far as possible to these were identified. Court transcripts were then located, and sentencing comments and sanctions imposed were analysed. All offenders were sentenced to imprisonment, but in general the women were more likely than the men to receive less jail time and lower non-parole periods because their personal backgrounds or situation at the time of the offending (i.e., difficulties with intimate relationship, male dependence issues, depression, loneliness and anger) were perceived as worthy of sympathy, and they were considered as likely to be rehabilitated. Further investigations are needed to support these findings.

Malaysian and Australian male and female middle managers : a cross-cultural comparison of workplace attitudes, aspirations for promotion, and self-rated leadership styles

This paper outlines the rise of women in management worldwide, and considers why so few women achieve senior or executive management positions. This slow advance of women into senior roles is unexpected given that the changes in organisations today are believed to require more ‘feminine leadership’. A decrease in the emphasis on masculine characteristics for managers is reported, and a requirement that more ‘feminine leadership’ needs to be adopted by organisations in order to ensure their survival in the future (Powell, Butterfield & Parent, 2002, p.189). Recent empirical research reports that there are differences in leadership style between male and female managers, and the findings suggest that women exhibit more transformational leadership than their male counterparts, with this style being strongly equated with effective leadership (Eagly, Johannesen-Schmidt, van Engen, 2003). However, these findings are based on western research, and it may be that cross cultural research will yield a different picture (House, Hanges, Javidan, Dorfman, & Gupta, 2004). Leadership and leadership styles may be conceptualised differently in a more paternalistic society. To explore this possibility, a cross cultural study was conducted in Malaysia and Australia. It is hypothesised that countries that are paternalistic in cultural values will exhibit a stronger constraint on women in management roles, which may impact on workplace attitudes, aspirations for promotion and style of leadership exhibited. Therefore, it is possible that the career advancement of women may be more problematic for Malaysian managerial women than their Australian counterparts. Results from an initial pilot study in Malaysia and Australia are outlined, and highlight some interesting similarities and differences to what are reported in the western literature.

Male and female effects on fertilization success and offspring viability in the Peron's tree frog, Litoria peronii

There is increasing theoretical and empirical evidence that genetic compatibility among partners is an important determinant of fertilization success and offspring viability. In amphibians, females often actively choose partners from among a variety of males and polyandry is common. Genetic compatibility among partners may therefore be an important determinant of fertilization success and offspring viability in some amphibians. Amphibians also show some of the highest levels of genetic differentiation among neighbouring populations known in vertebrates, and as such, populations may have evolved different co-adapted gene complexes. This means that offspring from among-population crosses may have reduced fitness. It is therefore essential to understand to what extent crossings between and within populations may interfere with successful fertilization and offspring viability. Here, we test whether crossing individuals within and between two different populations of the Australian Peron's tree frog (Litoria peronii) using artificial fertilizations affect fertilization success and offspring viability. Fertilization success per se is strongly influenced by male identity, which is likely to depend at least to some extent on the experimental procedure (e.g. resulting in variation in sperm number per ejaculate), whereas there was no fertilization effect of female identity. More importantly, male and female identity, independently of each other, explained significant variation in offspring viability, whereas no such effect could be linked to population of origin. Thus, our experiments suggest that crossing populations may not always be the most significant factor affecting fertilization success or offspring viability, but may be more influenced by the genetic quality or the genetic compatibility of partners.

Victimological and cognitive scripting study of adult male and female rape

From this exploratory study it appears that the experience of adult rape has many similarities for men and women, but there are additional factors which may account for the adjustment differences and difficulties for and of men.

Accumulated oxygen deficit measurements during and after high-intensity exercise in trained male and female adolescents

The purpose of this study was to compare accumulated oxygen deficits and markers of anaerobic metabolism [plasma ammonia (NH3) and lactate (La⁻) concentrations] in anaerobically trained male [n = 8, age 14.8 (0.5) years; maximal oxygen consumption V˙O2 max 61.74 (2.23) ml ·  kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹] and female [n = 8, age 14.5 (0.2) years; V˙O2 max 49.62 (3.52) ml · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹] adolescents. The exercise protocol consisted of runs to exhaustion at speeds predicted to represent 120% and 130% of V˙O2 max. Arterialised blood samples were obtained from a pre-warmed hand via a catheter inserted into a forearm vein. Samples were taken at rest and after 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 min of recovery. The high-intensity exercise resulted in mean accumulated oxygen deficits that were less (P < 0.05) in females (52.3 ml · kg⁻¹) than in males (68.6 ml · kg⁻¹). Lower (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of NH3 and La⁻¹, and a higher pH were evident in females compared with males during various stages of the 20-min recovery period. The increase in anaerobic performance in the male adolescent athletes when compared with their female counterparts was associated with an increased plasma concentration of selected plasma and blood metabolites. The observed results may reflect well-established differences between the sexes in the morphology and metabolic power of muscle.