TY - JOUR
T1 - Wired on steroids
T2 - Sexual differentiation of the brain and its role in the expression of sexual partner preferences
AU - Alexander, Brenda M.
AU - Skinner, Donal C.
AU - Roselli, Charles E.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - The preference to seek out a sexual partner of the opposite sex is robust and ensures repro- duction and survival of the species. Development of female-directed partner preference in the male is dependent on exposure of the developing brain to gonadal steroids synthe-sized during critical periods of sexual differentiation of the central nervous system. In the absence of androgen exposure, a male-directed partner preference develops. The devel-opment and expression of sexual partner preference has been extensively studied in rat, ferret, and sheep model systems. From these models it is clear that gonadal testosterone, often through estrogenic metabolites, cause both masculinization and defeminization of behavior during critical periods of brain development. Changes in the steroid environment during these critical periods result in atypical sexual partner preference. In this manuscript, we review the major findings which support the hypothesis that the organizational actions of sex steroids are responsible for sexual differentiation of sexual partner preferences in select non-human species. We also explore how this information has helped to frame our understanding of the biological influences on human sexual orientation and gender identity.
AB - The preference to seek out a sexual partner of the opposite sex is robust and ensures repro- duction and survival of the species. Development of female-directed partner preference in the male is dependent on exposure of the developing brain to gonadal steroids synthe-sized during critical periods of sexual differentiation of the central nervous system. In the absence of androgen exposure, a male-directed partner preference develops. The devel-opment and expression of sexual partner preference has been extensively studied in rat, ferret, and sheep model systems. From these models it is clear that gonadal testosterone, often through estrogenic metabolites, cause both masculinization and defeminization of behavior during critical periods of brain development. Changes in the steroid environment during these critical periods result in atypical sexual partner preference. In this manuscript, we review the major findings which support the hypothesis that the organizational actions of sex steroids are responsible for sexual differentiation of sexual partner preferences in select non-human species. We also explore how this information has helped to frame our understanding of the biological influences on human sexual orientation and gender identity.
KW - Gonadal steroids
KW - Preoptic area
KW - Sexual differentiation
KW - Sexual orientation
KW - Sexual partner preference
KW - Sexually dimorphic nucleus
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84874347196&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fendo.2011.00042
DO - 10.3389/fendo.2011.00042
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22654808
AN - SCOPUS:84874347196
SN - 1664-2392
VL - 2
JO - Frontiers in Endocrinology
JF - Frontiers in Endocrinology
IS - OCT
M1 - Article 42
ER -