Steroids and Brain Function During Puberty

西斯克9602169 青春期是动物物种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的彻底理解一直是难以捉摸的。 Sisk博士的研究重点是雄激素类固醇激素，如睾酮，如何影响生殖不成熟和成年男性的大脑功能。 青少年男性对睾酮对生殖相关行为的影响相对反应迟钝，Sisk博士正在确定青春期前男性缺乏反应性的神经元成分及其根本原因。 此外，青春期是一个发展阶段，在此期间类固醇激素可以永久地塑造大脑组织和功能的想法正在得到解决。 这些研究将为了解青春期大脑过程如何变化做出重要贡献，也将对了解整个生命周期内激素对神经系统的影响具有更广泛的适用性。 这些调查有助于我们了解物种在自然环境中的生存和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.