       Document 0277
 DOCN  M9620277
 TI    A sex difference in the human brain and its relation to transsexuality
       [see comments]
 DT    9602
 AU    Zhou JN; Hofman MA; Gooren LJ; Swaab DF; Graduate School Neurosciences
       Amsterdam, Netherlands Institute; for Brain Research, The Netherlands.
 SO    Nature. 1995 Nov 2;378(6552):68-70. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96061003
 CM    Comment in: Nature 1995 Nov 2;378(6552):15-6
 AB    Transsexuals have the strong feeling, often from childhood onwards, of
       having been born the wrong sex. The possible psychogenic or biological
       aetiology of transsexuality has been the subject of debate for many
       years. Here we show that the volume of the central subdivision of the
       bed nucleus of the stria terminals (BSTc), a brain area that is
       essential for sexual behaviour, is larger in men than in women. A
       female-sized BSTc was found in male-to-female transsexuals. The size of
       the BSTc was not influenced by sex hormones in adulthood and was
       independent of sexual orientation. Our study is the first to show a
       female brain structure in genetically male transsexuals and supports the
       hypothesis that gender identity develops as a result of an interaction
       between the developing brain and sex hormones.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/PATHOLOGY  Adult  Female
       Homosexuality  Human  Hypothalamus/*ANATOMY & HISTOLOGY/PHYSIOLOGY  Male
       Sex Behavior  Sex Characteristics  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       *Transsexualism  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

