Sexual differentiation of the brain: role of testosterone and its active metabolites

The sex-related morphological differences of many brain nuclei are mainly determined by the hormonal environment present during embryonic development. These morphological differences are at the basis of the gender-specific secretion of many hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, of sexual and aggressi...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Journal of endocrinological investigation 2004, Vol.27 (6 Suppl), p.120-127
Hauptverfasser: Negri-Cesi, P, Colciago, A, Celotti, F, Motta, M
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:Volltext
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
container_end_page 127
container_issue 6 Suppl
container_start_page 120
container_title Journal of endocrinological investigation
container_volume 27
creator Negri-Cesi, P
Colciago, A
Celotti, F
Motta, M
description The sex-related morphological differences of many brain nuclei are mainly determined by the hormonal environment present during embryonic development. These morphological differences are at the basis of the gender-specific secretion of many hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, of sexual and aggressive behavior, etc. It is known that, at least in rodents, testosterone (T) secreted by the fetal testes plays a key role in the permanent organization of the developing central nervous system (CNS) toward masculine patterns. The main aspect concerning the mechanism of action of T is that the brain, and especially the hypothalamus, possesses the enzymes that transforms this hormone into compounds which amplify (dihydrotestosterone) or differentiate (estrogens) its action; these enzymatic systems are the 5alpha-reductase and the aromatase respectively. In this short review are summarized the main results obtained in our and other laboratories concerning some characteristics of the two enzymatic pathways in the developing CNS and the possible dimorphism in their expression during ontogenesis. On the basis of diseases in which alterations of the normal levels and/or of the mechanism of action of gonadal hormones during embryogenesis are present, in the last part of the paper some hypotheses on the possible influence of T metabolites in the sexual differentiation of the human brain are also drawn.
format Article
fullrecord <record><control><sourceid>proquest_pubme</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_66968867</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><sourcerecordid>66968867</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-p124t-889199de7eead71aea192e49f901f012a87c318872c7f8adecf62012bdba42f13</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNo1kE1LxDAURbNQnHH0L0hW7gp5bW0SdzL4MTDgwnFdXpsXjLRJTVLRf2_RcXXhcLhc7glbi0pDUQstV-w8pXchKlkpecZWcFMrUABrdnihrxkHbpy1FMlnh9kFz4Pl-Y14F9H5Wx7DQL-IUg4pUwyeOHrDXU4c--w-iY-UsQuDW5wLdmpxSHR5zA17fbg_bJ-K_fPjbnu3LyYo61wopUFrQ5IIjQQkBF1Sra0WYAWUqGRfgVKy7KVVaKi3TbnwznRYlxaqDbv-651i-JiXbe3oUk_DgJ7CnNqm0Y1SjVzEq6M4dyOZdopuxPjd_v9Q_QDhBlnB</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Aggregation Database</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>66968867</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Sexual differentiation of the brain: role of testosterone and its active metabolites</title><source>MEDLINE</source><source>SpringerLink Journals</source><creator>Negri-Cesi, P ; Colciago, A ; Celotti, F ; Motta, M</creator><creatorcontrib>Negri-Cesi, P ; Colciago, A ; Celotti, F ; Motta, M</creatorcontrib><description>The sex-related morphological differences of many brain nuclei are mainly determined by the hormonal environment present during embryonic development. These morphological differences are at the basis of the gender-specific secretion of many hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, of sexual and aggressive behavior, etc. It is known that, at least in rodents, testosterone (T) secreted by the fetal testes plays a key role in the permanent organization of the developing central nervous system (CNS) toward masculine patterns. The main aspect concerning the mechanism of action of T is that the brain, and especially the hypothalamus, possesses the enzymes that transforms this hormone into compounds which amplify (dihydrotestosterone) or differentiate (estrogens) its action; these enzymatic systems are the 5alpha-reductase and the aromatase respectively. In this short review are summarized the main results obtained in our and other laboratories concerning some characteristics of the two enzymatic pathways in the developing CNS and the possible dimorphism in their expression during ontogenesis. On the basis of diseases in which alterations of the normal levels and/or of the mechanism of action of gonadal hormones during embryogenesis are present, in the last part of the paper some hypotheses on the possible influence of T metabolites in the sexual differentiation of the human brain are also drawn.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0391-4097</identifier><identifier>PMID: 15481811</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>Italy</publisher><subject>3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase - metabolism ; Animals ; Aromatase - metabolism ; Brain - growth &amp; development ; Brain - physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Rats ; Sex Differentiation - physiology ; Testosterone - metabolism ; Testosterone - physiology</subject><ispartof>Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2004, Vol.27 (6 Suppl), p.120-127</ispartof><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><link.rule.ids>314,777,781,4010</link.rule.ids><backlink>$$Uhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15481811$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed$$Hfree_for_read</backlink></links><search><creatorcontrib>Negri-Cesi, P</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Colciago, A</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Celotti, F</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Motta, M</creatorcontrib><title>Sexual differentiation of the brain: role of testosterone and its active metabolites</title><title>Journal of endocrinological investigation</title><addtitle>J Endocrinol Invest</addtitle><description>The sex-related morphological differences of many brain nuclei are mainly determined by the hormonal environment present during embryonic development. These morphological differences are at the basis of the gender-specific secretion of many hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, of sexual and aggressive behavior, etc. It is known that, at least in rodents, testosterone (T) secreted by the fetal testes plays a key role in the permanent organization of the developing central nervous system (CNS) toward masculine patterns. The main aspect concerning the mechanism of action of T is that the brain, and especially the hypothalamus, possesses the enzymes that transforms this hormone into compounds which amplify (dihydrotestosterone) or differentiate (estrogens) its action; these enzymatic systems are the 5alpha-reductase and the aromatase respectively. In this short review are summarized the main results obtained in our and other laboratories concerning some characteristics of the two enzymatic pathways in the developing CNS and the possible dimorphism in their expression during ontogenesis. On the basis of diseases in which alterations of the normal levels and/or of the mechanism of action of gonadal hormones during embryogenesis are present, in the last part of the paper some hypotheses on the possible influence of T metabolites in the sexual differentiation of the human brain are also drawn.</description><subject>3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase - metabolism</subject><subject>Animals</subject><subject>Aromatase - metabolism</subject><subject>Brain - growth &amp; development</subject><subject>Brain - physiology</subject><subject>Female</subject><subject>Humans</subject><subject>Male</subject><subject>Mice</subject><subject>Rats</subject><subject>Sex Differentiation - physiology</subject><subject>Testosterone - metabolism</subject><subject>Testosterone - physiology</subject><issn>0391-4097</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2004</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><sourceid>EIF</sourceid><recordid>eNo1kE1LxDAURbNQnHH0L0hW7gp5bW0SdzL4MTDgwnFdXpsXjLRJTVLRf2_RcXXhcLhc7glbi0pDUQstV-w8pXchKlkpecZWcFMrUABrdnihrxkHbpy1FMlnh9kFz4Pl-Y14F9H5Wx7DQL-IUg4pUwyeOHrDXU4c--w-iY-UsQuDW5wLdmpxSHR5zA17fbg_bJ-K_fPjbnu3LyYo61wopUFrQ5IIjQQkBF1Sra0WYAWUqGRfgVKy7KVVaKi3TbnwznRYlxaqDbv-651i-JiXbe3oUk_DgJ7CnNqm0Y1SjVzEq6M4dyOZdopuxPjd_v9Q_QDhBlnB</recordid><startdate>2004</startdate><enddate>2004</enddate><creator>Negri-Cesi, P</creator><creator>Colciago, A</creator><creator>Celotti, F</creator><creator>Motta, M</creator><scope>CGR</scope><scope>CUY</scope><scope>CVF</scope><scope>ECM</scope><scope>EIF</scope><scope>NPM</scope><scope>7X8</scope></search><sort><creationdate>2004</creationdate><title>Sexual differentiation of the brain: role of testosterone and its active metabolites</title><author>Negri-Cesi, P ; Colciago, A ; Celotti, F ; Motta, M</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-p124t-889199de7eead71aea192e49f901f012a87c318872c7f8adecf62012bdba42f13</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>2004</creationdate><topic>3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase - metabolism</topic><topic>Animals</topic><topic>Aromatase - metabolism</topic><topic>Brain - growth &amp; development</topic><topic>Brain - physiology</topic><topic>Female</topic><topic>Humans</topic><topic>Male</topic><topic>Mice</topic><topic>Rats</topic><topic>Sex Differentiation - physiology</topic><topic>Testosterone - metabolism</topic><topic>Testosterone - physiology</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Negri-Cesi, P</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Colciago, A</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Celotti, F</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Motta, M</creatorcontrib><collection>Medline</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE (Ovid)</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>MEDLINE</collection><collection>PubMed</collection><collection>MEDLINE - Academic</collection><jtitle>Journal of endocrinological investigation</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Negri-Cesi, P</au><au>Colciago, A</au><au>Celotti, F</au><au>Motta, M</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Sexual differentiation of the brain: role of testosterone and its active metabolites</atitle><jtitle>Journal of endocrinological investigation</jtitle><addtitle>J Endocrinol Invest</addtitle><date>2004</date><risdate>2004</risdate><volume>27</volume><issue>6 Suppl</issue><spage>120</spage><epage>127</epage><pages>120-127</pages><issn>0391-4097</issn><abstract>The sex-related morphological differences of many brain nuclei are mainly determined by the hormonal environment present during embryonic development. These morphological differences are at the basis of the gender-specific secretion of many hypothalamic and pituitary hormones, of sexual and aggressive behavior, etc. It is known that, at least in rodents, testosterone (T) secreted by the fetal testes plays a key role in the permanent organization of the developing central nervous system (CNS) toward masculine patterns. The main aspect concerning the mechanism of action of T is that the brain, and especially the hypothalamus, possesses the enzymes that transforms this hormone into compounds which amplify (dihydrotestosterone) or differentiate (estrogens) its action; these enzymatic systems are the 5alpha-reductase and the aromatase respectively. In this short review are summarized the main results obtained in our and other laboratories concerning some characteristics of the two enzymatic pathways in the developing CNS and the possible dimorphism in their expression during ontogenesis. On the basis of diseases in which alterations of the normal levels and/or of the mechanism of action of gonadal hormones during embryogenesis are present, in the last part of the paper some hypotheses on the possible influence of T metabolites in the sexual differentiation of the human brain are also drawn.</abstract><cop>Italy</cop><pmid>15481811</pmid><tpages>8</tpages></addata></record>
fulltext fulltext
identifier ISSN: 0391-4097
ispartof Journal of endocrinological investigation, 2004, Vol.27 (6 Suppl), p.120-127
issn 0391-4097
language eng
recordid cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_66968867
source MEDLINE; SpringerLink Journals
subjects 3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase - metabolism
Animals
Aromatase - metabolism
Brain - growth & development
Brain - physiology
Female
Humans
Male
Mice
Rats
Sex Differentiation - physiology
Testosterone - metabolism
Testosterone - physiology
title Sexual differentiation of the brain: role of testosterone and its active metabolites
url https://sfx.bib-bvb.de/sfx_tum?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-01-19T14%3A44%3A33IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-proquest_pubme&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Sexual%20differentiation%20of%20the%20brain:%20role%20of%20testosterone%20and%20its%20active%20metabolites&rft.jtitle=Journal%20of%20endocrinological%20investigation&rft.au=Negri-Cesi,%20P&rft.date=2004&rft.volume=27&rft.issue=6%20Suppl&rft.spage=120&rft.epage=127&rft.pages=120-127&rft.issn=0391-4097&rft_id=info:doi/&rft_dat=%3Cproquest_pubme%3E66968867%3C/proquest_pubme%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&disable_directlink=true&sfx.directlink=off&sfx.report_link=0&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=66968867&rft_id=info:pmid/15481811&rfr_iscdi=true