Androgens and the brain

Abstract Steroids arriving from the gonads via the circulation modulate brain function, affecting gender differentiation and sexually differentiated behavioral responses, but also the ability of the brain to process, store and retrieve sensory information. Androgens play a pivotal neuroactive role d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Maturitas 2007-05, Vol.57 (1), p.27-30
Main Authors: Genazzani, Andrea R, Pluchino, Nicola, Freschi, Letizia, Ninni, Filippo, Luisi, Michele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Androgens
Androgens - metabolism
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Brain - drug effects
Brain - physiology
Dehydroepiandrosterone - pharmacology
Dehydroepiandrosterone - physiology
Female
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Haplorhini
Hormone Replacement Therapy - methods
Humans
Internal Medicine
Medical sciences
Neurosteroids
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Postmenopause - drug effects
Postmenopause - physiology
Postmenopause - psychology
Puberal and climacteric disorders (male and female)
Rats
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Steroids arriving from the gonads via the circulation modulate brain function, affecting gender differentiation and sexually differentiated behavioral responses, but also the ability of the brain to process, store and retrieve sensory information. Androgens play a pivotal neuroactive role during the “organizational/developmental” phase, mainly in the fetal–neonatal period, when participated to the formation of neuronal circuits, as well as during the aging process when it has been demonstrated to directly affect hippocampal spine synapse density, suggesting a physiopathological role for androgen in the modulation cognitive function and development of neurodegenerative disease. The present short review will focus on the neuroactive effect of androgen with particular regard to the Δ4 and Δ5 androgen replacement therapy.
ISSN:0378-5122
1873-4111
DOI:10.1016/j.maturitas.2007.02.006