A Difference in Hypothalamic Structure Between Heterosexual and Homosexual Men

TLDR

The anterior hypothalamus regulates male‑typical sexual behavior. Volumes of four interstitial nuclei (INAH 1–4) were measured in postmortem tissue from women, presumed heterosexual men, and homosexual men. INAH 1, 2, and 4 volumes did not differ among groups, but INAH 3 was more than twice as large in heterosexual men compared with women and homosexual men, indicating a sexual‑orientation–related dimorphism and a possible biological substrate.

Abstract

The anterior hypothalamus of the brain participates in the regulation of male-typical sexual behavior. The volumes of four cell groups in this region [interstitial nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus (INAH) 1, 2, 3, and 4] were measured in postmortem tissue from three subject groups: women, men who were presumed to be heterosexual, and homosexual men. No differences were found between the groups in the volumes of INAH 1, 2, or 4. As has been reported previously, INAH 3 was more than twice as large in the heterosexual men as in the women. It was also, however, more than twice as large in the heterosexual men as in the homosexual men. This finding indicates that INAH is dimorphic with sexual orientation, at least in men, and suggests that sexual orientation has a biological substrate.