Neuronal somatic volume of posteroventral medial amygdala cells from males and across the estrous cycle of female rats

The posteroventral medial amygdala (MePV) is a brain area where gonadal hormones have neurotrophic effects in rats. The aim of the present study was to estimate the MePV neuronal somatic volume from males and diestrus, proestrus and estrus female Wistar rats (n = 5 in each group) in an attempt to identify a possible sexual dimorphism in this parameter. The effect of laterality was also evaluated. The brains of adult animals were sectioned (1 μm), stained with 1% toluidine blue and serial-section reconstructions of each neuronal cell body were obtained. Images from both left and right MePV were studied and the somatic volume was estimated using the Cavalieri method in combination with the point counting technique. Results were compared according to sex and phase of the estrous cycle using a two-way ANOVA for repeated measures followed by the least significance difference test. Mean neuronal somatic volume showed a statistical difference among groups and the post hoc comparisons revealed that males present higher values than females in proestrus and estrus (p < 0.05). On the other hand, neither a laterality effect (p = 0.6) nor an interaction between groups and laterality (p = 0.4) were found. Our results indicate that cell body volume in the MePV is distinct when comparing males to females in the different phases of the estrous cycle. Through dynamic changes modulated by sex steroids, it is likely that this morphological plasticity within the MePV may be affecting the functioning of local neurons and their integrated roles in neural circuits relevant for neuroendocrine control and reproductive behaviors.