The Regulation and Function of the Y-Chromosome Gene, SRY, in the Healthy and Diseased Male Brain

This thesis investigated the role of a male-specific Y-chromosome gene known as SRY in the male brain. The findings revealed that SRY is involved in the healthy functioning of the male brain. However, high levels of SRY worsen the symptoms in animal models of Parkinson’s disease. In contrast, low levels of SRY contributed to symptoms in an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Therefore, the results demonstrate that the misregulation of SRY levels could underlie the male bias in brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and ADHD.