Sex-specific astrocyte regulation of spinal motor circuits by transcription factor Nkx6.1
Astrocytes play essential roles in functioning neuronal circuits and are regulated by regional transcription factors (TFs).
The researchers found that the TF Nkx6.1 is specifically expressed in astrocytes of the ventral spinal cord and that its deletion results in sex-specific effects on astrocyte morphology and spinal motor circuits.
The authors also show that males lacking Nkx6.1 exhibit enhanced spinal motor function. They demonstrate that Gabbr1 and Sema4A are regulated by Nkx6.1 in males and control astrocyte morphology.
https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(24)01472-4
