Thanks to visit codestin.com
Credit goes to www.scribd.com

Scribd
Upload
31 views3 pages

Gonadotropic Hormones (GNRH) Into The Anterior Pituitary. This Stimulates The Pituitary To Secrete The

The document discusses how sex hormones influence brain development and sexual behavior. It notes that males and females have progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen, which are secreted by the gonads in response to signals from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. There are critical periods of brain development, such as during gestation and puberty, when sex hormones shape sexually dimorphic brain regions that control sexual behaviors. For example, studies in rats found that regions in the preoptic area and hypothalamus differ between males and females and control behaviors like mounting and lordosis.

Uploaded by

Jason Cunningham
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
31 views3 pages

Gonadotropic Hormones (GNRH) Into The Anterior Pituitary. This Stimulates The Pituitary To Secrete The

The document discusses how sex hormones influence brain development and sexual behavior. It notes that males and females have progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen, which are secreted by the gonads in response to signals from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. There are critical periods of brain development, such as during gestation and puberty, when sex hormones shape sexually dimorphic brain regions that control sexual behaviors. For example, studies in rats found that regions in the preoptic area and hypothalamus differ between males and females and control behaviors like mounting and lordosis.

Uploaded by

Jason Cunningham
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

.

MCB Module 6: Sex and Society


Michael Foucauts: Sex influences society and Society
influences sex. WHY?
The Sex Hormones/Steroids:
1. Progesterone
2. Testosterone
3. Estrogen
The Endocrine System:
Males and females have all THREE sex hormones in their
bodies. Neurons in the hypothalamus secrete
gonadotropic hormones (GnRH) into the anterior
pituitary. This stimulates the pituitary to secrete the
Luiteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-stimulaitng
hormone (FSH) in to circulation. LH and FSH stimulate the
gonads (testes and ovaries) to secrete testosterone,
estrogen and progesterone. The GnRH and sex hormones
have a negative relationship.

Sex Hormone Effects on Human Brain

Peaks of sex hormone levels:


1. First half of gestation (when gonads are formed)
2. Prenatal (In the womb development)
3. During Puberty
Differing hypothalamic nuclei during midstage pregnancy
1. Supraoptic (sends message to secrete Vasopressin)
2. Ventromedial (Assesses risk and fear, Suppresses
emotional responses)
3. Paraventricular (activated by stress Controls
Vasopressin and Oxytocin releases)
Critical Period in Diamorphic development in brain
Between a few days between birth and a week after birth,
sex hormones in rats influence the level of dimorphism in
its body. Once developed, Theyre activated and sexual
behavior begins.
Sexual diamorphic region differences in rats
The Preoptic area (BDN-POA) is twice (2x Neurons) as big
in males than in females.
Anteroventral Periventricular Nucleus (APN) Larger in
females than in males (it secretes OT)
Spinal Nucleus of the Bulbocavernosus (Responsible for
spinal shock) - larger in males and contains motoneurons
of penile muscles
Mounting and Lordosis

Neural Control of Sexual Behavior


Specific destruction of certain regions in the brain (Medial
PreOptic Area) eliminates automatic intercourse (they still
try tho).
This makes behaviors make sex possible
Distribution of Estrogen in Female (rat) brains
Clusters can be found inside the septum, Ventromedial
hypothalamus/Preoptic area and along the pituitary gland

You might also like