title: Neurosteroids and brain sexual differentiation.
abstract: There is new evidence that the brain of developing songbirds can synthesize estradiol de novo. In males, this neurally derived estrogen might masculinize a connection within the neural song system. These results challenge traditional concepts about mechanisms of brain sexual differentiation and reveal a significant function for neurosteroids.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Physiological Science and Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1527, USA. schlinge@lifesci.ucla.edu
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schlinger
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: London
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012733:Sex Differentiation; D020308:Songbirds
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol