Normal Development of the Corpus Callosum and Evolution of Corpus Callosum Sexual Dimorphism in Infancy

Abstract

Objectives-The aim of this study was to establish reference ranges for the corpus callosum in infancy and to clarify how sexual dimorphism evolves between the fetal stage and infancy. Methods-Normal sonograms from cerebral ultrasonographic examinations of 1- to 6-month-old healthy full-term infants were selected. The length and thickness of the corpus callosum were determined, and the effect of sex on these values was analyzed. Studies on corpus callosum sexual dimorphism were reviewed. Results-In total, sonograms from 236 1- to 6-month-old infants (120 male and 116 female) were collected, and the typical values (5th-95th percentiles) of the corpus callosum were determined for each group. During the first 2 months, with and without brain size adjustment, the corpus callosum in female infants was significantly thicker than that in male infants (mean thickness +/- SD: 1 month, male infant, 1.8 +/- 0.3 mm; female infant, 2.1 +/- 0.3mm; P=.005; 2 months, male infant, 1.8 +/- 0.2 mm; female infant, 2.0 +/- 0.3mm; P=.002). The corpus callosum thickness of male and female infants had no significant differences after 2 months of age. Sexual dimorphism was not detected in corpus callosum length. Conclusions-Our study provides reference data on typical corpus callosum development in infants. In the fetal period and early infancy, the corpus callosum in female infants is thicker than that in male infants. From 3 months onward, the corpus callosum sexual dimorphism becomes insignificant throughout childhood. The evolvement of corpus callosum sexual dimorphism suggests that maternal factors may influence brain development.