Androgen action in the brain and spinal cord for the regulation of male sexual behaviors.
Circulating levels of androgens determine the sexual differentiation of the brain and spinal cord at a critical period. Although estradiol, which is converted from testosterone by aromatase action, can explain the cytological basis for the sexual dimorphism, androgen has its own regulatory mechanism to promote male-specific behavior through receptors. The central nervous system (CNS) employs a sex-specific neuronal network involving peptides and steroids for the expression of the sexual phenotype. Elucidation of the molecular mechanism along with the neuroanatomical background should guide the development of novel pharmacotherapeutics for sexual behavior dysfunction.
Matsuda
Ken-ichi
K
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kyoto, Japan.
Sakamoto
Hirotaka
H
Kawata
Mitsuhiro
M
D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012733:Sex Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development
D000728:Androgens