Sexual differentiation of the brain.
Ontogenetically the brain is female and, regardless of genetic sex, would remain so if not exposed to gonadal hormones at a critical stage in its development. Research in animals in which this exposure occurs after birth is providing evidence that the differentiation of the neural substrates that regulate pituitary activity and sexual behavior is localized to a particular hypothalamic region.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010060:Ovulation; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012098:Reproduction; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior
D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D011374:Progesterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone