Ivana Jaric | “Ovarian cycle disruption and its impact on brain plasticity and behavior in mice”
Young PI talk \ Manfred Eigen lecture theatre
For decades, female subjects have been systematically excluded from preclinical neuroscience research, largely due to the assumption that ovarian hormone fluctuations would introduce unwanted variability. Although ovarian hormone status is now recognized as shaping brain physiology and contributing to psychiatric disorder risk, it remains largely overlooked in preclinical settings. Dr. Jaric will discuss how the ovarian cycle, and its natural or pharmacological disruption, drive changes in hippocampal plasticity that may underlie female-specific vulnerability to anxiety and depression. She will also outline strategies for integrating endocrine state into preclinical research to enhance reproducibility, translational relevance, and our understanding of sex differences.