title: A genetic approach to dissect sexually dimorphic behaviors.
abstract: It has been known since antiquity that gender-specific behaviors are regulated by the gonads. We now know that testosterone is required for the appropriate display of male patterns of behavior. Estrogen and progesterone, on the other hand, are essential for female typical responses. Research from several groups also indicates that estrogen signaling is required for male typical behaviors. This finding raises the issue of the relative contribution of these two hormonal systems in the control of male typical behavioral displays. In this review we discuss the findings that led to these conclusions and suggest various genetic strategies that may be required to understand the relative roles of testosterone and estrogen signaling in the control of gender-specific behavior.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, 1550 4th Street, MC2722, CA 94158, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Juntti
authors.forename: Jennifer K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Coats
authors.forename: Nirao M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen