Steroids and Brain Function During Puberty

SISK 9602169青春期是动物生殖功能和行为成熟的明确发育阶段。成熟过程以一种不明确的方式开始，并通过性腺类固醇敏感性的变化进一步传播。不幸的是，对引发青春期的机制一直难以彻底理解。西斯克博士的研究重点是睾酮等雄激素对生殖不成熟男性和成年男性大脑功能的不同影响。青少年男性对睾酮对与生殖相关的行为的影响相对反应迟钝，西斯克博士正在找出青春期前男性缺乏反应性的神经元元素及其潜在原因。此外，青春期是一个发育阶段，在这个阶段类固醇激素可以永久地塑造大脑组织和功能，这一观点正在得到解决。这些研究将为理解青春期大脑过程如何变化提供重要贡献，并将对理解荷尔蒙对整个生命周期中神经系统的影响具有更广泛的适用性。这些研究有助于我们理解物种在自然环境中的生存以及成功繁殖的神经生物学基础。

Sisk 9602169 Puberty is a well-defined developmental phase when reproductive function and behaviors mature in animal species. The maturation process begins in a poorly defined manner and is propagated further by changes in gonadal steroid sensitivity. Unfortunately, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms triggering puberty has been elusive. Dr. Sisk's investigations focus on how androgenic steroid hormones, such as testosterone, influence brain function differently in reproductively immature and adult males. Juvenile males are relatively unresponsive to the effects of testosterone on behaviors related to reproduction, and Dr. Sisk is identifying the neuronal elements of prepubertal males responsible for the lack of responsivity and the underlying causes. In addition, the idea of puberty as a developmental stage during which steroid hormones can permanently shape brain organization and function are being addressed. These investigations will provide important contributions to an understanding of how brain processes change during puberty, and will also have more general applicability to an understanding of hormonal influences on the nervous system throughout the lifespan. These investigations contribute significantly to our understanding of species survival in the natural setting and the neurobiological basis for successful reproduction.