Sex-specific Responses Research Articles

Early-life stress and ovarian hormones alter transcriptional regulation in the nucleus accumbens resulting in sex-specific responses to cocaine

Early-life stress and ovarian hormones alter transcriptional regulation in the nucleus accumbens resulting in sex-specific responses to cocaine

Responses of dioecious Populus to heavy metals: a meta-analysis.

A total of 946 sets of comparative data were collected from 20 publications and a meta-analysis performed to evaluate the responses of growth, photosynthetic capacity, oxidative stress and antioxidants in Populus females and males under exposure to heavy metals, like Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb and Cd. It was found that heavy metals have negative effects on Populus growth and photosynthetic capacity, as the average total biomass, leaf biomass, stem biomass, root biomass and height decreased by 29.78%, 33.41%, 27.22%, 35.30% and 34.83%, respectively. Furthermore, total chl, P n, g s, E, C i decreased by 23.30%, 26.03%, 40.49%, 23.76% and 18.24%, respectively. In addition, heavy metals increased oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities: the average values of TBARS, H2O2, [Formula: see text] and MDA increased by 51.39%, 55.79%, 64.67% and 48.92%, respectively, and proline, APX, NPT, POD, CAT and SOD increased by 68.91%, 64.81%, 68.40%, 57.34%, 77.30% and 49.01%, respectively. However, there were sex-specific responses to heavy metals: females suffered more negative effects, as they had significantly greater decreases in root biomass, R/S ratio, height and total chl, and significantly smaller increases in NPT and POD activities than males. The present meta-analysis shows the responses of Populus females and males to heavy metals on a regional scale, which is crucial for understanding the patterns of sexual dimorphism and sex ratio biases in Populus with increasing heavy metal pollution in the future.

Probiotic supplementation has sex-dependent effects on immune responses in association with the gut microbiota in community-dwelling older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.

Probiotics have been suggested as potent modulators of age-related disorders in immunological functions, yet little is known about sex-dependent effects of probiotic supplements. Therefore, we aimed to investigate sex-dependent effects of probiotics on profiles of the gut microbiota and peripheral immune cells in healthy older adults. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, healthy elderly individuals ≥ 65 yrs old were administered probiotic capsules (or placebo) for 12 wk. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. Peripheral immune cells were profiled using flow cytometry for lymphocytes (natural killer, B, CD4+ T, and CD8+ T cells), dendritic cells, monocytes, and their subpopulations. Compared with placebo, phylum Firmicutes was significantly reduced in the probiotic group in women, but not in men. At the genus level, sex-specific responses included reductions in the relative abundances of pro-inflammatory gut microbes, including Catabacter and unclassified_Coriobacteriales, and Burkholderia and unclassified Enterobacteriaceae, in men and women, respectively. Peripheral immune cell profiling analysis revealed that in men, probiotics significantly reduced the proportions of dendritic cells and CD14+ CD16- monocytes; however, these effects were not observed in women. In contrast, the proportion of total CD4+ T cells was significantly reduced in women in the probiotic group. Additionally, serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels showed a decreasing tendency that were positively associated with changes in gut bacteria, including Catabacter (ρ = 0.678, P < 0.05) and Burkholderia (ρ = 0.673, P < 0.05) in men and women, respectively. These results suggest that probiotic supplementation may reduce the incidence of inflammation-related diseases by regulating the profiles of the gut microbiota and peripheral immune cells in healthy elders in a sex-specific manner.

The influence of fetal sex on antepartum treatments for preterm birth in a murine model

Preterm neonates exposed in utero to magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and corticosteroids have a lower incidence of neurodevelopmental disabilities. The efficacy of MgSO4/betamethasone (BMTZ) remains poor particularly in male offspring, suggesting a differential response with fetal sex. The mechanisms by which MgSO4/BTMZ confers neuroprotection in only some patients and its relation to fetal sex is unknown. Our objective was to examine sex-specific responses to MgSO4/BMTZ in brain and placental tissue in a murine model of preterm birth and fetal neuroinflammatory injury.

Effect of benomyl-mediated mycorrhizal association on the salinity tolerance of male and monoecious mulberry clones

Mulberry is an economically important crop for sericulture in China. Mulberry plantations are shifting inland, where they face high salinity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) reportedly enhance mulberry's tolerance to salinity. Here, we assessed if additional adaptive advantages against salinity are provided by sex differences beyond those provided by mycorrhizal symbiosis. In a pot experiment, male and monoecious plants were exposed to three salinity regimes (0, 50, and 200 mM NaCl) and two mycorrhiza-suppressed conditions (with or without benomyl application) for more than 16 months. We noticed that salinity alone significantly decreased the mycorrhizal colonization rate, salinity tolerance, K+ concentrations, and the ionic ratios of all plants. Mycorrhizal association mildly ameliorated the salt-induced detrimental effects, especially for monoecious plants, and sex-specific responses were observed. Meanwhile, both sexes had adopted different strategies to enhance their salinity resistance. Briefly, mycorrhizal monoecious plants exhibited a higher net photosynthetic rate and lower translocation of Na+ from root to shoot compared with mycorrhizal males under saline conditions. Their salt tolerance was probably due to the Ca2+/Na+ in roots. In comparison, male plants exhibited lower Na+ acquisition, more Na+ translocated from root to shoot, higher root biomass allocation, and higher N concentrations under harsh saline conditions, and their salt tolerance was mainly related to the K+/Na+ in their shoots. In conclusion, our results highlight that AMF could be a promising candidate for improving plant performance under highest salinity, especially for monoecious plants. Cultivators must be mindful of applying fungicides, such as benomyl, in saline areas.

Tissue Derivation and Biological Sex Uniquely Mediate Endothelial Cell Protein Expression, Redox Status, and Nitric Oxide Synthesis.

Human endothelial cells are routinely utilized in cardiovascular research to provide a translational foundation for understanding how the vascular endothelium functions in vivo. However, little attention has been given to whether there are sex specific responses in vitro. Similarly, it is unclear whether endothelial cells derived from distinct tissues behave in a homogenous manner. Herein, we demonstrate that marked sex differences exist within, and between, commonly utilized human primary endothelial cells from healthy donors, with respect to redox status, nitric oxide synthesis, and associated proteins that can mediate their expression. Further, we demonstrate that endothelial cells respond uniquely to inflammatory insult in a sex- and tissue origin-dependent manner. Our findings suggest sex and tissue derivation may need to be considered when studying endothelial cells in vitro as cells derived from distinct tissue and sexes may not behave interchangeably.

Molecular Analysis and Sex-specific Response of the Hepcidin Gene in Yellow Perch (Perca Flavescens) Following Lipopolysaccharide Challenge.

Hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (hamp) is active in teleosts against invading pathogens and plays important roles in the stress and immune responses of finfish. The response of hamp gene was studied in yellow perch (yp) (Perca flavescens) challenged with lipopolysaccharides to understand if this immunity response is sex-specifically different. The cloned hamp gene consists of an open-reading frame of 273bp and encodes a deduced protein of 90 amino acids (a.a.), which includes a signal peptide of 24 a.a., a pro-domain of 40 a.a. and a mature peptide of 26 a.a. Yp hamp involves 8 cysteine residues with 4 disulfide bonds, and a protein with an internal alpha helix flanked with C- and N-terminal random coils was modeling predicted. RT-qPCR was used to analyze the relative abundances (RAs) of hamp mRNA in the livers of juvenile female and male yellow perch challenged with lipopolysaccharide. The expression levels of hamp were significantly elevated by 3h (RA = 7.3) and then peaked by 6h (RA = 29.4) post-treatment in females but the peak was delayed to 12h (RA = 65.4) post-treatment in males. The peak mRNA level of challenged males was shown 7.6-fold higher than females. The post-treatment responses in both genders decreased to their lowest levels by 24h and 48h. Overall, female perch had an earlier but less-sensitive response to the lipopolysaccharide challenge than male.

Sex-Specific Differences in Cytokine Induction by the Glycolipid Adjuvant 7DW8-5 in Mice.

7DW8-5 is a potent glycolipid adjuvant that improves malaria vaccine efficacy in mice by inducing IFN-γ and increasing protective CD8+ T cell responses. The addition of 7DW8-5 was previously shown to improve the efficacy of a CD8+ T cell-mediated heterologous 'prime-and-trap' malaria vaccine against Plasmodium yoelii sporozoite challenge in inbred female mice. Here, we report significant differential sex-specific responses to 7DW8-5 in inbred and outbred mice. Male mice express significantly less IFN-γ and IL-4 compared to females following intravenous 7DW8-5 administration. Additionally, unlike in female mice, 7DW8-5 did not improve the vaccine efficacy against sporozoite challenge in prime-and-trap vaccinated male mice. Our findings highlight the importance of including both female and male sexes in experimental adjuvant studies.

Developmental programming: Preconceptional and gestational exposure of sheep to a real-life environmental chemical mixture alters maternal metabolome in a fetal sex-specific manner

BackgroundEveryday, humans are exposed to a mixture of environmental chemicals some of which have endocrine and/or metabolism disrupting actions which may contribute to non-communicable diseases. The adverse health impacts of real-world chemical exposure, characterized by chronic low doses of a mixture of chemicals, are only recently emerging. Biosolids derived from human waste represent the environmental chemical mixtures humans are exposed to in real life. Prior studies in sheep have shown aberrant reproductive and metabolic phenotypes in offspring after maternal biosolids exposure. ObjectiveTo determine if exposure to biosolids perturbs the maternal metabolic milieu of pregnant ewes, in a fetal sex-specific manner. MethodsEwes were grazed on inorganic fertilizer (Control) or biosolids-treated pastures (BTP) from before mating and throughout gestation. Plasma from pregnant ewes (Control n = 15, BTP n = 15) obtained mid-gestation were analyzed by untargeted metabolomics. Metabolites were identified using Agilent MassHunter. Multivariate analyses were done using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 and confirmed using SIMCA. ResultsUnivariate and multivariate analysis of 2301 annotated metabolites identified 193 differentially abundant metabolites (DM) between control and BTP sheep. The DM primarily belonged to the super-class of lipids and organic acids. 15-HeTrE, oleamide, methionine, CAR(3:0(OH)) and pyroglutamic acid were the top DM and have been implicated in the regulation of fetal growth and development. Fetal sex further exacerbated differences in metabolite profiles in the BTP group. The organic acids class of metabolites was abundant in animals with male fetuses. Prenol lipid, sphingolipid, glycerolipid, alkaloid, polyketide and benzenoid classes showed fetal sex-specific responses to biosolids. DiscussionOur study illustrates that exposure to biosolids significantly alters the maternal metabolome in a fetal sex-specific manner. The altered metabolite profile indicates perturbations to fatty acid, arginine, branched chain amino acid and one‑carbon metabolism. These factors are consistent with, and likely contribute to, the adverse phenotypic outcomes reported in the offspring.

Paternal condition affects offspring reproduction and life history in a sex-specific manner in Drosophila melanogaster.

Nongenetic parental effects can contribute to the adaptation of species to changing environments by circumventing some of the limitations of genetic inheritance. A clearer understanding of the influence of nongenetic inheritance and its potentially sex-specific responses in daughters and sons is needed to better predict the evolutionary trajectories of species. However, whereas nongenetic maternal effects have long been recognized and widely studied, comparatively little is known about corresponding paternal effects. Here, by following 30 isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster across two generations, each reared under two dietary regimes in each generation, we tested how protein restriction during larval development of the fathers affects the fitness and health of their daughters and sons. We then quantified genetic and non-genetic paternal, and direct environmental, effects across multiple axes of offspring fitness. Daughters and sons responded differently to their father's developmental history. While isolines differed in mean trait values, their specific responses to protein restriction generally varied little. The sex- and trait-specific responses to paternal effects emphasize the complexity of inter-generational parental effects, which raise important questions about their mode of transmission and adaptive value, including the potential for conflict between the sexes.

Sex matters: predator presence induces sexual dimorphism in a monomorphic prey, from stress genes to morphological defences.

Inducible defences allow prey to increase survival chances when predators are present while avoiding unnecessary costs in their absence. Many studies report considerable inter-individual variation in inducible defence expression, yet what underlies this variation is poorly understood. A classic vertebrate example of a predator-induced morphological defence is the increased body depth in crucian carp (Carassius carassius), which reduces the risk of predation from gape-size limited predators. Here, we report that among-individual variation in morphological defence expression can be linked to sex. We documented sexual dimorphism in lakes in which crucian carp coexisted with predators, where females showed shallower relative body depths than males, but not in a predator-free lake. When exposing crucian carp from a population without predators to perceived predation risk in a laboratory environment (presence/absence of pike, Esox lucius), we found that males expressed significantly greater morphological defence than females, causing sexual dimorphism only in the presence of predators. We uncovered a correlative link between the sex-specific inducible phenotypic response and gene expression patterns in major stress-related genes (POMC, MC3R, and MC4R). Together, our results highlight that sex-specific responses may be an important, yet underappreciated, component underlying inter-individual differences in the expression of inducible defences, even in species without pronounced sexual dimorphism.

Placental macrophage responses to viral and bacterial ligands and the influence of fetal sex.

Bacterial and viral infections of the placenta are associated with inflammation and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Hofbauer cells (HBCs) are fetal-origin macrophages in the placenta, proposed to protect the fetus from vertical pathogen transmission. We performed quantitative proteomics on term HBCs under resting conditions and following exposure to bacterial and viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and investigated the contribution of fetal sex. Resting HBCs expressed proteins pertinent to macrophage function, including chemokines, cytokines, Toll-like receptors, and major histocompatibility complex class I and II molecules. HBCs mounted divergent responses to bacterial versus viral PAMPs but exhibited protein expression changes suggestive of a more pro-inflammatoryphenotype. A comparison between male and female HBCs showed that the latter mounted a stronger and wider response. Here, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the sex-dependent responses of placental macrophages to infectious triggers, which were primarily associated with lipid metabolism in males and cytoskeleton organization in females.

Limited sex differences in plastic responses suggest evolutionary conservatism of thermal reaction norms: A meta-analysis in insects.

Temperature has a profound effect on the growth and development of ectothermic animals. However, the extent to which ecologically driven selection pressures can adjust thermal plastic responses in growth schedules is not well understood. Comparing temperature-induced plastic responses between sexes provides a promising but underexploited approach to evaluating the evolvability of thermal reaction norms: males and females share largely the same genes and immature environments but typically experience different ecological selection pressures. We proceed from the idea that substantial sex differences in plastic responses could be interpreted as resulting from sex-specific life-history optimization, whereas similarity among the sexes should rather be seen as evidence of an essential role of physiological constraints. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis of sex-specific thermal responses in insect development times, using data on 161 species with comprehensive phylogenetic and ecological coverage. As a reference for judging the magnitude of sex specificity in thermal plasticity, we compared the magnitude of sex differences in plastic responses to temperature with those in response to diet. We show that sex-specific responses of development times to temperature variation are broadly similar. We also found no strong evidence for sex specificity in thermal responses to depend on the magnitude or direction of sex differences in development time. Sex differences in temperature-induced plastic responses were systematically less pronounced than sex differences in responses induced by variations in larval diet. Our results point to the existence of substantial constraints on the evolvability of thermal reaction norms in insects as the most likely explanation. If confirmed, the low evolvability of thermal response is an essential aspect to consider in predicting evolutionary responses to climate warming.

Sex-specific differences in alcohol-induced pain sensitization

Pain sensitization is a phenomenon that occurs to protect tissues from damage and recent studies have shown how a variety of non-noxious stimuli included in our everyday lives can lead to pain sensitization. Consumption of large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time invokes alcohol use disorder (AUD), a complex pathological state that has many manifestations, including alcohol peripheral neuropathy (neuropathic pain). We asked if ‘non-pathological’ alcohol consumption can cause pain sensitization in the absence of other pathology? Studies have pointed to glia and other immune cells and their role in pain sensitization that results in cell and sex-specific responses. Using a low-dose and short-term ethanol exposure model, we investigated whether this exposure would sensitize mice to a subthreshold dose of an inflammatory mediator that normally does not induce pain. We observed female mice exhibited specific mechanical and higher thermal sensitivity than males. We also observed an increase in CD68+ macrophages in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and Iba1+ microglia in the ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn of animals that were exposed to ethanol and injected with subthreshold inflammatory prostaglandin E2. Our findings suggest that short-term ethanol exposure stimulates peripheral and central, immune and glial activation, respectively to induce pain sensitization. This work begins to reveal a possible mechanism behind the development of alcoholic peripheral neuropathy.

Gestational age acceleration is associated with epigenetic biomarkers of prenatal physiologic stress exposure

BackgroundPhysiological maternal stress response, such as imbalance in the glucocorticoid pathway and immune system seems to be mediated by DNA methylation (DNAm) and might translate intrauterine stress exposures into phenotypic changes in a sex-specific manner. DNAm in specific sites can also predict newborn gestational age and gestational age acceleration (GAA). GAA occurs when the predicted biological age is higher than the chronological age. In adults, poor health outcomes related to this deviance are well documented and raise questions for the interpretation and prediction in early stages of life. Boys seem to be more vulnerable to intrauterine stress exposure than girls; however, the mechanisms of adaptive sex-specific responses are still unclear. We hypothesize that intrauterine stress exposure is associated with GAA and could be different in boys and girls if inflammatory or glucocorticoid pathways exposure is considered.ResultsUsing the Western Region Birth Cohort (ROC—São Paulo, Brazil) (n = 83), we calculated DNAm age and GAA from cord blood samples. Two epigenetic risk scores were calculated as an indirect proxy for low-grade inflammation (i-ePGS) and for glucocorticoid exposure (GES). Multivariate linear regression models were applied to investigate associations of GAA with prenatal exposures. The i-ePGS and GES were included in different models with the same co-variates considering sex interactions. The first multivariate model investigating inflammatory exposure (adj. R2 = 0.31, p = < 0.001) showed that GAA was positively associated with i-ePGS (CI, 0.26–113.87, p = 0.049) and negative pregnancy-related feelings (CI, 0.04–0.48 p = 0.019). No sex interaction was observed. The second model investigating glucocorticoid exposure (adj. R2 = 0.32, p = < 0.001) showed that the higher was the GAA was associated with a lower the lower was the GES in girls (CI, 0.04–2.55, p = 0.044). In both models, maternal self-reported mental disorder was negatively associated with GAA.ConclusionPrenatal epigenetic score of exposure to low-grade inflammatory was a predictor of GAA for both sexes. Glucocorticoid epigenetic score seems to be more important to GAA in girls. This study supports the evidence of sex-specificity in stress response, suggesting the glucocorticoid as a possible pathway adopted by girls to accelerate the maturation in an adverse condition.

Influence of sex on global myocardial ischemia tolerance and mitochondrial function in circulatory death donor hearts.

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) donor hearts are not routinely used for heart transplantation (HTx) because of ischemic damage, which is inherent to the DCD process. HTx outcomes are suboptimal in males who received female donor hearts. The exact mechanism for suboptimal outcomes from female donor hearts has not been defined. Differential susceptibility to ischemia tolerance, which would play a significant role in DCD donation, could be a reason but has not been studied. We studied the influence of sex on global myocardial ischemia tolerance and mitochondrial function. Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were assigned to DCD (n = 32) or control beating-heart donor (CBD, n = 28) groups. DCD hearts underwent 25 min of in vivo global myocardial ischemia and 90 min of ex vivo Krebs-Henseleit buffer perfusion at 37°C. CBD hearts were procured without ischemia. Infarct size was determined in hearts following 90 min of reperfusion, and in another set of hearts, mitochondrial function (oxidative-phosphorylation) was studied following 60 min of reperfusion. Infarct size was increased 3.3-fold in male and 3.1-fold in female DCD hearts compared with CBD hearts. However, infarct size (%) was comparable in female and male DCD hearts (male: 25.4 ± 3.7 vs. female 19.0 ± 3.3, P = NS). Oxidative phosphorylation was similarly decreased in male and female DCD hearts' mitochondria compared with CBD hearts' mitochondria. Thus, neither infarct size nor mitochondrial dysfunction was higher in female DCD hearts. These results suggest that the susceptibility to ischemia is not the reason for suboptimal HTx outcomes with female donor hearts.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The current study shows cardiac injury is not increased in female DCD hearts following global ischemia-reperfusion compared with male DCD hearts. In addition, mitochondrial dysfunction with DCD ischemia-reperfusion is comparable in both sexes. Sex-specific immune responses and hormone receptor modulation may contribute to suboptimal outcomes in male HTx recipients with female donor hearts.

A randomized controlled pilot trial of etanercept and alpha-1 antitrypsin to improve autologous islet engraftment

BackgroundIn total pancreatectomy with islet auto-transplantation, successful diabetes outcomes are limited by islet loss from the instant blood mediated inflammatory response. We hypothesized that blockade of the inflammatory response with either etanercept or alpha-1-antitrypsin would improve islet function and insulin independence. MethodsWe randomized 43 participants to receive A1AT (90 mg/kg x 6 doses, n = 13), or etanercept (50 mg then 25 mg x 5 doses, n = 14), or standard care (n = 16), aiming to reduce detrimental effects of innate inflammation on early islet survival. Islet graft function was assessed using mixed meal tolerance testing, intravenous glucose tolerance testing, glucose-potentiated arginine-induced insulin secretion studies, HbA1c, and insulin dose 3 months and 1 year post-TPIAT. ResultsWe observed the most robust acute insulin response (AIRglu) and acute C-peptide response to glucose (ACRglu) at 3 months after TPIAT in the etanercept-treated group (p ≤ 0.02), but no differences in other efficacy measures. The groups did not differ overall at 1 year but when adjusted by sex, there was a trend towards a sex-specific treatment effect in females (AIRglu p = 0.05, ACRglu p = 0.06), with insulin secretion measures highest in A1AT-treated females. ConclusionOur randomized trial supports a potential role for etanercept in optimizing early islet engraftment but it is unclear whether this benefit is sustained. Further studies are needed to evaluate possible sex-specific responses to either treatment. Clinical trial notationThis study was performed under an Investigational New Drug Application (IND #119828) from the Food and Drug Administration and was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT#02713997).

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Reproduction Is Affected by Life-Cycle Exposure to Differently Charged Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Sex-Specific Responses

Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) Reproduction Is Affected by Life-Cycle Exposure to Differently Charged Polystyrene Nanoplastics with Sex-Specific Responses

Female rats have a different healing phenotype than males after anterior cruciate ligament rupture with no intervention.

Little is known on the sex-specific healing responses after an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. To address this, we compared male and female Sprague-Dawley rats following non-surgical ACL rupture. Hematology, inflammation, joint swelling, range of motion, and pain-sensitivity were analyzed at various times over 31-days. Healing was assessed by histopathology and gene expression changes in the ACL remnant and adjacent joint tissues. In the first few days, males and females showed similar functional responses after rupture, despite contrasting hematology and systemic inflammatory profiles. Sex-specific differences were found in inflammatory, immune and angiogenic potential in the synovial fluid. Histopathology and increased collagen and fibronectin gene expression revealed significant tissue remodeling in both sexes. In the ACL remnant, however, Acta2 gene expression (α-SMA production) was 4-fold higher in males, with no change in females, indicating increased fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition with higher contractile elements (stiffness) in males. Females had 80% lower Pparg expression, which further suggests reduced cellular differentiation potential in females than males. Sex differences were also apparent in the infrapatellar fat pad and articular cartilage. We conclude females and males showed different patterns of healing post-ACL rupture over 31-days, which may impact timing of reconstruction surgery, and possibly clinical outcome.

Salix gordejevii females exhibit more resistance against wind erosion than males under aeolian environment.

Effects of wind erosion on growth and adaptability have been widely reported in many plants, but little attention has been paid to dioecious plants. Recent studies have shown that sex-specific responses to environmental changes in many plants exist. To explore sexual differences in response to wind erosion, female and male Salix gordejevii saplings growing on inter-dune land (no erosion) and on the windward slope of the dune (20cm wind erosion) in Hunshandake Sandy Land were chosen and their morphology, biomass and physiological traits were investigated, respectively. Wind erosion significantly reduced plant growth, biomass accumulation, gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, and obviously disrupted osmotic regulation function and antioxidant enzyme system in both sexes, especially in males. Under wind erosion condition, females exhibited higher sapling height (SH), basal diameter (BD), leaf dry mass (LDM), root dry mass (RDM), total dry mass (TDM), root percentage in total dry mass, net photosynthesis rate (P n), maximum efficiency of photosystem II (F v/F m), effective quantum yield of PSII (Φ PSII), relative water content (RWC) of leaves, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, but lower malondialdehyde (MDA), proline as well as soluble sugar content than did males. However, no significant sexual differences in most of these traits were observed under no erosion condition. Our results demonstrated that females possess a greater resistance to wind erosion than do males, with females having a better photosynthetic capacity, stronger water retention capacity and more efficient antioxidant system to alleviate negative effects caused by aeolian environment.