The Mangieri Lab recently published an article in the journal Biology of Sex Differences entitled “Sex differences in membrane properties and cellular excitability of dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons within the shell of the nucleus accumbens of pre- and mid-adolescent mice”. This study explored potential sex-based variations in excitatory synaptic transmission among dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons in the nucleus accumbens shell, a region of the brain linked to risk-taking behavior and implicated in reward seeking. Results suggest potential sex differences in membrane excitability at different stages of development. These data represent an important step towards understanding developmental changes in neuronal communication and shed light on potential sex-specific vulnerabilities during the transition from childhood to adulthood, such as the increased tendency for risky behavior exhibited by many adolescents, particularly in males.

Aziz, HC, Mangieri RA Sex differences in membrane properties and cellular excitability of dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons within the shell of the nucleus accumbens of pre- and mid-adolescent mice. Biol Sex Differ. 2024 Jul 12 ;15(1):54. doi: 10.1186/s13293-024-00631-1