Male mice appear to be better at fighting diseases, such as adrenal cancer, than female mice, according to a study by French scientists.
Adrenal cancer, which begins in the adrenal glands on the top of the kidneys, is more common and severe in women than men.
The study led by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) identified that testosterone in male mice triggers immune cells called macrophages to effectively fight tumours.
However, giving testosterone to female mice led to an increase in macrophages, which slowed the progression of their tumours.
By analysing data on from human adrenal cancer patients, the team also found that these macrophages are more common in men than women, and that this was linked to a better outcome for men.
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