Neurobiological Effects of Sex Steroid Hormones

Estrogen and testosterone have an important impact on the operation of certain parts of the brain. This book describes the neurobiological bases for the understanding of the interactions between these sex hormones and the brain. It covers a broad range of topics, extending from the molecular and cellular processes, through the action of steroids on neurotransmission, all the way to defining the brain circuitry involved in both male and female behavior. This volume presents a snapshot of the rapidly advancing field of reproductive neuroendocrinology and will be an important resource for graduate students and professionals in neuroscience and animal behavior.

This book describes the neurobiological basis for how the sex steroid hormones interact with parts of the brain and produce their behavioural effects.

Part I. Sex Steroid Responsive Circuits Regulating Male and Female Reproductive Behaviours; 1. Hormonal influence on neurons of the mating behaviour pathway in male hamsters; 2. Neural circuitry for the hormonal control of male sex behaviour; 3. Oestrogen receptor mRNA: neuroanatomical distribution and regulation in three behaviorally relevant physiological models; 4. Hormonal regulation of limbic and hypothalamic pathways; Part II. Sex Steroid Interaction with Specific Neurochemical Circuits: 5. Ovarian steroid interactions with hypothalamic oxytocin circuits involved in reproductive behaviour; 6. Gonadal steroid regulation of hypothalamic opioid function; 7. Neonatal and adult effects of gonadal steroids on the cholecystokinin circuit modulating reproductive behaviour; 8. Cholinergic regulation of female sexual behaviour; 9. Sex steroid regulation of tachykinin peptides in neuronal circuitry mediating reproductive functions; 10. Dopaminergic influences on male rat sexual behaviour; 11. Studying neurotransmitter systems to understand development and function of sex differences in the brain: the case of Vasopressin; Part III. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Regulated by Sex Steroids: 12. Neurosteroids and neuroactive steroids; 13. Oestrogen synthesis and secretion by the songbird; 14. Neurobiological regulation of hormonal response by progestin and oestrogen receptors; 15. Molecular actions of steroid hormones and their possible relations to reproductive behaviours; 16. Effects of gonadal steroids on the central nervous system detected by the study of Fos protein expression; 17. Developmental interactions of oestrogens with the neurotrophins and their receptors; 18. Gonadal steroid influences on cell-cell interactions in the magnocellular hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system; Index.