Mechanisms underlying estrogen-induced sexual differentiation in the hypothalamus

摘要: Estrogen plays critical roles in the sexual differentiation of developing brain and gender-specific regulation reproductive neuroendocrinology. Of different regions brain, it is well known that hypothalamic areas contain key sexually differentiated neuronal circuits. receptor (ER) proteins localized nucleus affect expression target genes when bound to their ligand estrogen. However, recent studies suggest this may not be only mechanism estrogen action. Instead, can influence various cellular events through regulating signaling pathways. Cross-talk between direct effects on gene transcription its pathways should examined future elucidate mechanisms underlying hypothalamus.