Astroglial cells are the most abundant cell type in the mammalian brain. They are implicated in almost every aspect of brain physiology, including maintaining homeostasis, building and maintaining the blood brain barrier, and the development and maturation of neuronal networks. Critically, astroglia also express receptors for gonadal sex hormones, respond rapidly to gonadal hormones, and are able to synthesize hormones. Thus, they are positioned to guide and mediate sexual differentiation of the brain, particularly neuronal networks in typical and pathological conditions. In this review, we describe astroglial involvement in the organization and development of the brain, and consider known sex differences in astroglial responses to understand how astroglial cell-mediated organization may play a role in forebrain sexual dimorphisms in human populations. Finally, we consider how sexually dimorphic astroglial responses and functions in development may lead to sex differences in vulnerability for neuropsychiatric disorders.

中文翻译：

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星形胶质细胞作为前脑发育中的神经内分泌靶点：对精神疾病性别差异的影响

星形胶质细胞是哺乳动物大脑中最丰富的细胞类型。它们几乎涉及大脑生理学的各个方面，包括维持体内平衡、建立和维持血脑屏障，以及神经元网络的发育和成熟。至关重要的是，星形胶质细胞还表达性腺性激素的受体，对性腺激素反应迅速，并且能够合成激素。因此，它们定位于引导和调节大脑的性别分化，特别是典型和病理条件下的神经元网络。在这篇综述中，我们描述了星形胶质细胞参与大脑的组织和发育，并考虑星形胶质细胞反应中已知的性别差异，以了解星形胶质细胞介导的组织如何在人群中的前脑性别二态性中发挥作用。最后，我们考虑了性别二态性星形胶质细胞反应和发育中的功能如何导致神经精神疾病易感性的性别差异。