B3771 - Testosterone and polygenic score and sex dimorphisms - 24/05/2021

B number: 
B3771
Principal applicant name: 
Tomas Paus | University of Toronto
Co-applicants: 
Zhijie Liao, MSc
Title of project: 
Testosterone and polygenic score and sex dimorphisms
Proposal summary: 

Testosterone has an influence on social behavior and cognition, such as brain response to faces. Testosterone exposure during puberty can modulate the effects of adult testosterone on brain response to faces. Genetic variants contribute to inter-individual variations in testosterone levels, and a polygenic score can be used as a summary index of such genetic variants. We will use the ALSPAC dataset to investigate (1) the relationship between average testosterone exposure during puberty and polygenic score for testosterone; (2) interplay between the polygenic score for testosterone and adult testosterone in brain response to faces. In addition, we will also explore the relationships between the polygenic score for testosterone and brain structure.

Prenatal testosterone is one of the critical factors influencing sexual dimorphic phenotypes. Stress can alter levels and function of testosterone, and in turn, lead to a reduction in biological effects of testosterone on body and brain function and structure. Thus, we expect that prenatal stress can modulate the levels of prenatal testosterone and, therefore, influence the degree of sexual dimorphism in the brain and body in later life.

Impact of research: 
Date proposal received: 
Tuesday, 4 May, 2021
Date proposal approved: 
Monday, 24 May, 2021
Keywords: 
Neurology