Molecular programs underlying differences in the expression of mood disorders in males and females

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a sexually dimorphic disease. This sexual dimorphism is believed to result from sex-specific molecular alterations affecting functional pathways regulating the capacity of males and females to cope with daily life stress differently. Transcriptional changes associated with epigenetic alterations have been observed in the brain of males and females with depression. Similar changes have also been reported in different animal models of stress-induced depressive-like behaviors. Although the vast majority of work has been performed in males, a series of genome wide and gene candidate studies have assessed the extent of these molecular alterations in the brain of males and females revealing sex-specific changes in critical systems controlling mood. This review examines the current literature and summarizes the recent findings exploring the sexual dimorphism underlying the molecular mechanism involved in the expression of MDD.