Hormones, sex and gender

Question 1

What is the difference between female and male in respect to hormones?

Answer 1

In male, testosterone is the main hormone responsible for both masculinization of the brain and the body: it is secreted into the bloodstream and converted in DHT and estradiol, which is directly responsible for the masculinization of the brain.

In females, AFP binds to estradiol, preventing it to enter the brain and protecting it from masculinization; on the opposite hand, estradiol postnatally feminize the brain.

Question 2

How is sexual behaviour controlled neuronally?

Answer 2

1. Medial preoptic area = dimorphic nucleus

2. bed nucleus of stria terminalis = sexual behaviour