Biopsychology of Reproduction

虽然已知卵巢和肾上腺类固醇激素参与生殖行为的调节，但问题仍然是雄激素和雌激素所起的具体作用。虽然曾经被认为是一个直截了当的问题，但现在这个问题变得复杂起来，因为发现主要的雄激素--睾酮在外周和神经组织中被代谢成雌激素。由于越来越多的有力证据表明，雄激素在人类和灵长类动物的雌性行为表达中都发挥了作用，因此了解调节每种功能的激素的身份变得至关重要。里斯曼博士开发了一个模型系统来研究这个重要的问题。她使用了食虫目的一种小型原始哺乳动物物种的成员，这种动物具有许多与人类相似的显著特征。里斯曼博士设计了一系列实验，以确定雄激素是直接作用于雌激素，还是通过神经代谢作用于雌激素。一旦她有了这个信息，里斯曼博士将确定荷尔蒙在大脑中的作用位置。这些研究将为理解潜在的神经机制提供重要信息。此外，这项工作可能非常有益于为绝经后妇女和因医疗目的切除卵巢和/或肾上腺的妇女开出激素治疗处方。

While it is known that ovarian and adrenal steroid hormones are involved in the regulation of reproductive behaviors, the question remains as to the specific role that androgen and estrogen play. While once considered a straightforward question, it is now complicated by the finding that testosterone, the major androgen, is metabolized into estrogen in peripheral and neural tissues. Since strong evidence is accumulating to suggest a function for androgen in expression of female behavior in both humans and primates, it becomes imperative to know the identity of the hormone mediating each function. Dr. Rissman has developed a model system to examine this important question. She uses members of a small primitive mammalian species of the order of Insectivora which have a number of striking features similar to humans. Dr. Rissman has designed a series of experiments to determine whether androgen is acting directly or by its neural metabolism to estrogen. Once she has this information, Dr. Rissman will define the location in the brain where the hormone is acting. These studies will provide important information towards understanding the underlying neural mechanisms. Moreover, this work could be very beneficial in prescribing hormonal therapy for postmenopausal women and women who have had their ovaries and/or adrenals removed for medical purposes.