Figure 3: Sex differences and effect of neonatal testosterone on CL biosynthetic pathways.

(a) Scheme of CL synthesis. The de novo synthesis is catalized by Phosphatidylglycerolphosphate synthase (PGS-1) which transforms cytidinediphosphate CDP-diacylglycerol (CDP-DAG) into phosphatidylglycerolphosphate (PGP), which is later desphosphorylated. CL synthase (CLS) forms immature CL from phosphatidylglycerol and another molecule of CDP-DAG. The remodeling of CL is initiated by the calcium-independent phospholipase A2 gamma (iPLA2-γ), which removes the acyl chains from CL and generates the intermediate monolysocardiolipin (MLCL). Taffazin (Taz), or alternatively lysocardiolipin acyltransferase-1 (LCLAT-1), reacylate MLCL to CL. (b–f) mRNA expression of the main enzymes involved in CL synthesis: PGS-1 (b), CLS (c), iPLA2-γ (d), TAZ (e) and LCLAT-1 (f). Sample size N ≥ 4. **^, ***Significant differences (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) between Males Veh and Females Veh at each time point. ^{%, %%, %%%}Significant differences (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) between Females Veh and Females TP at each time point. ^$Significant difference (p < 0.05) vs. Males Veh PND 1. ^&&Significant differences (p < 0.01) vs. Females TP PND 1. ^@Significant (p < 0.05) differences between Females TP and Males Veh.