[Week 3] Hormones and Behavior Flashcards
5?-reductase
An enzyme required to convert testosterone to 5?-dihydrotestosterone.
Aggression
A form of social interaction that includes threat
Aromatase
An enzyme that converts androgens into estrogens.
Chromosomal sex
The sex of an individual as determined by the sex chromosomes (typically XX or XY) received at the time of fertilization.
Defeminization
The removal of the potential for female traits.
Demasculinization
The removal of the potential for male traits.
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)
A primary androgen that is an androgenic steroid product of testosterone and binds strongly to androgen receptors.
Endocrine gland
A ductless gland from which hormones are released into the blood system in response to specific biological signals.
Estrogen
Any of the C18 class of steroid hormones
Feminization
The induction of female traits.
Gonadal sex
The sex of an individual as determined by the possession of either ovaries or testes. Females have ovaries
Hormone
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.
Masculinization
The induction of male traits.
Maternal behavior
Parental behavior performed by the mother or other female.
Neurotransmitter
A chemical messenger that travels between neurons to provide communication. Some neurotransmitters
Oxytocin
A peptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland to trigger lactation
Parental behavior
Behaviors performed in relation to one’s offspring that contributes directly to the survival of those offspring
Paternal behavior
Parental behavior performed by the father or other male.
Progesterone
A primary progestin that is involved in pregnancy and mating behaviors.
Progestin
A class of C21 steroid hormones named for their progestational (pregnancy-supporting) effects. Progesterone is a common progestin.
Prohormone
A molecule that can act as a hormone itself or be converted into another hormone with different properties. For example
Prolactin
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.
Receptor
A chemical structure on the cell surface or inside of a cell that has an affinity for a specific chemical configuration of a hormone
Sex determination
The point at which an individual begins to develop as either a male or a female. In animals that have sex chromosomes
Sex differentiation
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.
Target cell
A cell that has receptors for a specific chemical messenger (hormone or neurotransmitter).
Testosterone
The primary androgen secreted by the testes of most vertebrate animals
