How it's made: Organisational effects of hormones on the developing brain

Abstract

Gonadal steroid hormones exert permanent organisational effects on the developing brain and thereby direct adult hormonal responsiveness to dictate sex-specific behaviour and physiology. Considerable progress has been made in elucidating the cellular mechanism of action of androgens and oestrogens during the perinatal sensitive period during which organisation occurs. This review highlights the findings obtained with respect to differential cell death and synaptogenesis with an emphasis on region-specific mechanisms that involve diverse signalling molecules including tumour necrosis factor-α, BAX, GABA, glutamate, prostaglandin E2, FAK and paxillin. © 2010 The Author. Journal Compilation © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.