What is the mechanism of defeminization of the male hypothalamus?

Defeminizing the Hypothalamus in the Male Complete ‘defeminization’ of the brain requires postnatal exposure to androgens. Continued exposure to androgens is required to render the surge centre inoperative. As a result, LH does not surge, it maintains a relatively consistent episodic pattern of secretion every day.

What does masculinization of the brain mean?

Masculinization is the organization of a neural substrate permissive to the adult expression of male sexual behavior. Defeminization is the loss of capacity as an adult to respond to the activational effects of estradiol and progesterone to induce female sex behavior.

What is the process of defeminization all about?

or defeminisation (diːˌfɛmɪnaɪˈzeɪʃən ) noun. 1. (in a developing organism) the process in which full development into a female of the species is prevented because of a male developmental characteristic. there are separate components of the nervous system that control masculinization and defeminization.

What hormone is responsible for masculinization?

Testosterone
Testosterone, produced by Leydig cells, promotes development of Wolffian duct derivatives and masculinization of the external male genitalia.

What causes Defeminization?

For males, the testes secrete hormones during the prenatal and early postnatal periods, and the resultant organizational effects of these secretions promote the development of a male reproductive tract and a masculinization and defeminization of those brain circuits that control sexual behavior.

Do males have a surge center in hypothalamus?

The surge centre is developed in females as the male hypothalamus has been de-feminized and the surge centre must have a positive feedback response to oestrogen. Nutrition and body mass index play a key role in the onset of puberty.

What influences the masculinization of human brain?

Thus, the neonatal developmental events that masculinize the brain occur at a time when there is ample testosterone in the circulation, conversion of this hormone into estrogen in the brain, but little AR expression in the relevant neural circuits.

Do males have estrogen?

Although it’s called the female hormone, a man’s body also makes estrogen. A healthy balance of estrogen and testosterone is important for sexual growth and development. When these hormones become imbalanced, your sexual development and function may be affected.

Is the hypothalamus bigger in males?

The volume of a specific nucleus in the hypothalamus (third cell group of the interstitial nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus) is twice as large in heterosexual men as in women and homosexual men.

What is GnRH surge center?

Brain-ovarian interactions. The hypothalamus of females contains two functional areas responsible for secretion of GnRH – the tonic (ARC) and surge (POA) centers. Follicular growth and luteal function are stimulated by tonic secretions of gonadotropins that occur in response to matched pulses of GnRH.