Testosterone action in the sexual differentiation of the mammalian nervous system and behaviour

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There are many sex differences in the structure and function of the mammalian nervous system. Sex differences homologous to those in humans are also found in the nervous system and behaviour of laboratory rodents, providing an opportunity to study experimentally the processes that result in sex differences. Of the many sex differences identified in the rodent nervous system, only one has an unambiguous function and has been studied sufficiently that we have a clear model to explain its sexual differentiation. The spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) is a neuromuscular system mediating sexual reflexes and has been exceptionally successful in uncovering general principles of sexual differentiation that are thought to apply generally to the nervous system.