The Promise and Practicality of Addressing Sex as a Biological Variable and the Ovarian Cycle in Preclinical Epilepsy Research

Abstract

Seizures and epilepsy affect people of all sexes and genders. In the last several years, funding agency initiatives such as the U.S. National Institutes of Health policy on sex as a biological variable (SABV) have intended to encourage researchers to study both males and females from cell to tissue to organism and analyze and report the resulting data with sex as a factor. Preclinical epilepsy research, however, continues to be plagued by confusion regarding both the SABV policy and its implementation, reflecting similar beliefs in the larger neuroscience research community. This article aims to address some common misconceptions and provide practical tools and suggestions for preclinical epilepsy researchers in implementing SABV and analysis of the female ovarian cycle (estrous cycle in rodents) in their research programs, with a focus on studies using rodent models. Examples of recent publications in preclinical epilepsy research highlighting the value of incorporating SABV and information on the estrous cycle are included. The specifics of how best to address SABV and the estrous cycle can vary depending on the needs and goals of a particular research program, but an embrace of these physiological factors by the preclinical epilepsy research community promises to yield more rigorous research and improved treatment strategies for all people with epilepsy.