The Role of Hormones - Oxytocin and Oestrogen

Question 1

What is oestrogen?

Answer 1

A group of steroid hormones which promote development and maintenance of female characteristics, seen later to regulate menstruation

Question 2

Is oestrogen produced in males?

Answer 2

Yes

Small amounts

Question 3

Which physical changes in the body does oestrogen influence?

Answer 3

Development of breasts

Development of pubic and armpit hair

Question 4

What psychological and behavioural changes does oestrogen influence?

Answer 4

Premenstrual tension

Question 5

How does oestrogen affect the brain?

Answer 5

Feminises it

Promotes neural interconnections for a more distributed female brain

Question 6

What female type behaviours is oestrogen associated with?

Answer 6

Sensitivity

Co-operation

Question 7

What did Albrecht and Pepe (1997) find?

Answer 7

• Increasing oestrogen levels in pregnant baboons led to heightened cortisol production which assisted the development of organs and tissues in foetuses
• Reduced levels of miscarriage
• Importance of oestrogen in promoting and maintaining pregnancy

Question 8

What did Alonso and Rosenfield (2002) find?

Answer 8

• Oestrogen is necessary for the normal development of body area and tissues like the neuroendocrine-gonadal axis associated with puberty in both males and females
• Oestrogen is associated with the transformation into sexually active and able

Question 9

What is oxytocin?

Answer 9

Hormone which also acts as a neurotransmitter that controls key aspects of the reproductive system

Question 10

How can the effects of oxytocin be increased?

Answer 10

By combining it with oestrogen

Question 11

How does oxytocin help to facilitate childbirth?

Answer 11

Stimulates contractions

Question 12

What does oxytocin affect?

Answer 12

Female social behaviour 
Nesting behaviour 
Monogamy 
Pair bonding 
Nurturing, acceptance and protection of offspring

Question 13

What did Van Leengoed et al (1987) find?

Answer 13

Injected an antagonist of oxytocin into female rats shortly after birth to inhibit oxytocin production.
Mothers treated in this way showed a delay in maternal behaviours, such as picking up and grooming their pups. When the effects wore off, normal maternal behaviour was seen
Findings support the idea of oxytocin being involved in the promotion of maternal behaviour

Question 14

What did Elbourne et al (2001) find?

Answer 14

Assessed the administration of oxytocin in 3000 participants during the third stage of labour to find reduced blood loss, highlighting the role of oxytocin levels in saliva produced by females before, during and after breastfeeding
Oxytocin was highest immediately before feeding, showing its role in promoting breastfeeding