Steroid hormones behaviors

Steroid Hormones and Neurosteroids. Steroids (qv) can affect neuroendocrine function, stress responses, and behavioral sexual dimorphism (78,79) (see Steroids). Mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid, androgen, estrogen, and progesterone receptors are localized in the brain and spinal cord. In addition to genomic actions, the neurosteroid can act more acutely to modulate the actions of other receptors or ion channels (80). Pregnenolone [145-13-17, ( ) dehydroepiandosterone [53-43-0] C H2 02 (319) are excitatory neurosteroids found in rat brain, independent of adrenal... 

Ermawati R, Morimura S, Tang YQ, Liu K, Kida K (2007) Degradation and behavior of natural steroid hormones in cow manure waste during biological treatments and ozone oxidation. J Biosci Bioeng 103 27-31... 

Regarding the adrenal steroids, the behavioral activation of hormonal secretion in stress is part of a mechanism for restoring homeostatic balance. For example, an encounter with a predator may require rapid evasive action, in which neural activity and rapidly mobilized hormones such as epinephrine play a role. Adrenal steroid secretion is slower, reaching a peak minutes after the stressful event, and therefore is not expected to play a role in coping with the immediate situation. If the evasive action is successful and... 

As described above, steroid hormones can affect many aspects of human behavior. However, correlations between specific steroid hormones and a given behavior often are weak. Many factors, including genetics, developmental experiences, cognitive states, and context variables determine human behavior, and may of course contribute to behavioral expression. 

Among these factors, social organizations, including inter- and intrasexual relationships, provide a matrix within which other behaviors occur. The behavioral effects of steroid hormones, especially in humans, have for the most part not been considered in these contexts. 

Because neuropeptides are active in very small amounts within the CNS they are more difficult to manipulate and study than steroid hormones. In addition, at present there is no simple method for administering neuropeptides within the CNS. (In animals, it is necessary to inject chemicals or their antagonists directly into the CNS, which is not feasible in humans.) Thus, most research on the behavioral effects of either oxytocin or vasopressin in humans is correlational, and subsequently difficult to interpret. However, animal studies also support the hypotheses described here (Carter, 1992 Uvnas-Moberg, 1996). 

Bronson, F. H., and Desjardins, C. 1971. Steroid hormones and aggressive behavior in mammals. In Eleftheriou, B.E., and Scott, J. P. (eds) Physiology of Aggression and Defeat. New York Plenum Press, pp. 

The tenn corticosteroids refers to steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiologic systems such as stress response, immune response, and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism, blood electrolyte levels, and behavior. 

Sexual receptivity. The effects of THC on sexual behavior in female rats and its influence on steroid hormone receptors and neurotransmitters in the facilitation of sexual receptivity was examined. Results revealed that the facilitatory effect of THC was inhibited by antagonists to both progesterone and dopamine D(l) receptors. To test further the idea that progesterone receptors (PR) and/or dopamine receptors (D[1]R) in the hypothalamus were required for THC-facilitated sexual behavior in rodents, antisense, and sense oligonucleotides to PR and D(1)R were administered intra-cerebroventricularly into the third cerebral ventricle of ovariectomized, estradiol benzoate-primed rats. Progesterone- and THC-facilitated sexual behavior was inhibited in animals treated with antisense oligonucleotides to PR or to D(1)R. Antagonists to... 

In most species, androgens appear to exert a significant influence on the form and degree of aggressive behavior (Rubinow and Schmidt, 1996). Steroid hormones are thought to play two distinct roles in modulating be-... 

From the viewpoint of the steroid structure, SAAF (30) has several unique features. The hydroxylation pattern at the 3, 4, 7, and 26 positions of a cholestane skeleton has not been reported in any other natural products.73 The positions of the C-3 and C-26 sulfate esters are also unique among sulfated polyhydroxysterols of marine origin. In general, steroid hormones act on nuclear receptors and activate gene expression. However, the chemotactic behavior of sperm occurs within a few seconds, and the sperm nucleus is condensed, indicating that genes could not be expressed in the sperm. Furthermore, since SAAF has a hydrophilic nature due to the presence of two hydroxyl and two sulfated esters, it may bind to receptors located on the sperm plasma membrane. 

O Malley, B.W. (1994) Convergent pathways for steroid hormone- and neurotransmitter-induced rat sexual behavior. Science 265 1246-1249. 

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