Thursday, October 14, 2010

Women More Sensitive at Stress ?


Knowingly or not, when faced with stress and depression, a woman is more sensitive than men. Recent research shows there are biological reasons behind it.

A recent study conducted on mice shows, women are more sensitive to low levels of stress hormones and able to adapt than men. Because mice have a nervous system similar to humans, studies in mice has implications in humans, although stress in humans is more complex.
Women are more prone to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety disorders. No half-hearted, it happened two times more than men. However, so far unknown biological mechanism that is the cause.

In his research, Rita Valentino, scientists from the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, focusing on corticotropin releasing hormone (CRF), which released the brain to respond to stress, both in humans and mice.

CRF is a neurotransmitter, which helps communication between cells of nerve signals. Some nerve cells send a 'signal CRF' and some contain receptors to receive them.

In female mice, the nerves that have CRF receptors bind more strongly to the hormone and certainly more responsive than in male mice.
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