Estrogen Synthesis in Brain and its Functional Role

类固醇激素深刻地影响着结构和功能 中枢神经系统在发育过程中和整个 脊椎动物的寿命 虽然主要来源 睾丸激素和雌二醇来自性腺，大脑也 产生类固醇 芳香化酶负责 雄激素向雌激素的代谢局限于 特定的目标神经元在离散的大脑区域，如 下丘脑 在某些脊椎动物中，芳香化酶不是 发现于睾丸或肾上腺。 施林格医生会决定 这些男性体内循环雌激素的主要来源 源自大脑中雄激素的芳香化。 这 具有重要的理论意义，因为大脑可能 不仅是类固醇激素的目标，而且也是 循环类固醇 他还将研究大脑的作用 雌激素合成在脑性别差异调节中的作用 发展和功能。 为了实现这些目标，博士。 Schlinger将测量雌激素的恢复量， 离散的大脑区域、非神经组织和血管 注射雄激素后的系统。 然后他会确认 大脑产生雄激素底物的来源 雌激素. 最后，施林格博士将量化 芳香化酶和确定其亚细胞定位 在下丘脑的神经元中。 这些研究将导致 对脑损伤机制的新认识 交互. 增加我们对基本过程的了解 潜在的正常神经内分泌事件将有助于 更好地了解出生缺陷， 不充分和/或过度暴露于特定类固醇 激素.

Steroid hormones profoundly influence the structure and function of the central nervous system during development and throughout the vertebrates' lifespan. While the major source of testosterone and estradiol comes from the gonads, the brain also produces steroids. Aromatase enzymes responsible for the metabolism of androgen into estrogen are localized within specific target neurons in discrete brain regions, such as the hypothalamus. In some species of vertebrates, aromatase is not found in testes or adrenals. Dr. Schlinger will determine whether the major source of circulating estrogen in these males is derived from aromatization of androgens in the brain. This has important theoretical ramifications because the brain may not only be a target of steroid hormones but also a major source of a circulating steroid. He will also examine the role of brain estrogen synthesis in the regulations of sex differences in brain development and function. To accomplish these goals, Dr. Schlinger will measure the amount of estrogen recovered in discrete brain regions, non-neural tissues and the vascular system following injection of androgen. He will then identify the source of the androgen substrate for the brain to produce estrogen. Finally, Dr. Schlinger will quantify the activity of aromatase enzymes and define their subcellular localization within neurons of the hypothalamus. These studies will lead to new insights in the mechanisms underlying hormone-brain interactions. Increasing our knowledge about the basic processes underlying normal neuroendocrine events will contribute towards to a better understanding of birth defects that result from insufficient and/or excessive exposure to a particular steroid hormone.