Hormones and Behavior Flashcards
An enzyme required to convert testosterone to 5α-dihydrotestosterone.
5a-reductase
A form of social interaction that includes threat, attack, and fighting.
Aggression
The sex of an individual as determined by the sex chromosomes (typically XX or XY) received
at the time of fertilization
Chromosomal sex
An enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens.
Aromatase
The removal of the potential for female traits.
Defiminization
The removal of the potential for male traits
Demasculinization
A primary androgen that is an androgenic steroid product of testosterone and binds strongly
to androgen receptors.
Dihydrotestosterone
A ductless gland from which hormones are released into the blood system in response to
specific biological signals.
Endocrine gland
Any of the C18 class of steroid hormones, so named because of the estrus-generating
properties in females. Biologically important estrogens include estradiol and estriol.
Estrogen
The induction of female traits.
Feminization
The sex of an individual as determined by the possession of either ovaries or testes. Females have ovaries while males have testes
Gonadal sex
An organic chemical messenger released from endocrine cells that travels through the blood
to interact with target cells at some distance to cause a biological response.
Hormone
The induction of male traits.
Masculinization
A chemical messenger that travels between neurons to provide communication. Some
neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine, can leak into the blood system and act as
hormones.
Neurotransmitter
A peptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland to trigger lactation, as well as social bonding.
Oxytocin
Behaviors performed in relation to one’s offspring that contributes directly to the survival of
those offspring
Parental behavior
A primary progestin that is involved in pregnancy and mating behaviors
Progesterone
A class of C21 steroid hormones named for their progestational (pregnancy-supporting)
effects. Progesterone is a common progestin.
Progestin
A molecule that can act as a hormone itself or be converted into another hormone with
different properties. For example, testosterone can serve as a hormone or as a prohormone
for either dihydrotestosterone or estradiol
Prohormone
A protein hormone that is highly conserved throughout the animal kingdom. It has many
biological functions associated with reproduction and synergistic actions with steroid
hormones.
Prolactin
A chemical structure on the cell surface or inside of a cell that has an affinity for a specific
chemical configuration of a hormone, neurotransmitter, or other compound.
Receptor
The point at which an individual begins to develop as either a male or a female. In animals
that have sex chromosomes, this occurs at fertilization. Females are XX and males are XY. All
eggs bear X chromosomes, whereas sperm can either bear X or Y chromosomes. Thus, it is
the males that determine the sex of the offspring
Sex determination
The process by which individuals develop the characteristics associated with being male or
female. Differential exposure to gonadal steroids during early development causes sexual
differentiation of several structures including the brain.
Sex differentiation
A cell that has receptors for a specific chemical messenger (hormone or neurotransmitter)
Target cell
