The role of steroid hormones in the sexual differentiation of the human brain.

androgens; gender; hypothalamus; neuroimaging; puberty; Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism; Endocrinology; Endocrine and Autonomic Systems; Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Abstract :

[en] Widespread sex differences in human brain structure and function have been reported. Research on animal models has demonstrated that sex differences in brain and behavior are induced by steroid hormones during specific, hormone sensitive, developmental periods. It was shown that typical male neural and behavioral characteristics develop under the influence of testosterone, mostly acting during perinatal development. By contrast, typical female neural and behavioral characteristics may actually develop under the influence of estradiol during a specific prepubertal period. This review provides an overview of our current knowledge on the role of steroid hormones in the sexual differentiation of the human brain. Both clinical and neuroimaging data obtained in patients with altered androgen levels/actions (i.e., congenital adrenal hyperplasia or complete androgen insensitivity syndrome [CAIS]), point to an important role of (prenatal) androgens in inducing typical male neural and psychosexual characteristics in humans. In contrast to rodents, there appears to be no obvious role for estrogens in masculinizing the human brain. Furthermore, data from CAIS also suggest a contribution of sex chromosome genes to the development of the human brain. The final part of this review is dedicated to a brief discussion of gender incongruence, also known as gender dysphoria, which has been associated with an altered or less pronounced sexual differentiation of the brain.

Disciplines :

Neurosciences & behavior

Author, co-author :

Bakker, Julie ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA > GIGA Neurosciences - Neuroendocrinology

Language :

English

Title :

The role of steroid hormones in the sexual differentiation of the human brain.

Publication date :

February 2022

Journal title :

Journal of Neuroendocrinology

ISSN :

0953-8194

eISSN :

1365-2826

Publisher :

John Wiley and Sons Inc, United States

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

e13050

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jne.13050

Funding text :

Julie Bakker is a research director of the Belgian Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS).

Available on ORBi :

since 30 March 2022

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