Sex, Hormones and Neurons

Hormones such as testosterone and estrogen help
sculpt the nervous system throughout life, from
early development through old age. Around the time
of birth, these hormones can decide which neurons
die off (or live) preferentially in males and which
die off (or live) more in females. Later, in
adulthood, testosterone no longer determines
neuronal survival, but does regulate aspects of
neuronal morphology, including cell size. Work
outlined in this book explores the role of
testosterone and the Bcl-2 family of proteins in
regulating both neuronal death during development
and neuronal morphology in adulthood in males and
females. This investigation will help researchers
studying the mechanism of sexual differentiation as
well as anyone interested in exactly how the nervous
system of males and females comes to be different.

Autorentext

Susan L. Zup holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Behavior with a special interest in Neuroendocrinology, and is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Klappentext

Hormones such as testosterone and estrogen help sculpt the nervous system throughout life, from early development through old age. Around the time of birth, these hormones can decide which neurons die off (or live) preferentially in males and which die off (or live) more in females. Later, in adulthood, testosterone no longer determines neuronal survival, but does regulate aspects of neuronal morphology, including cell size. Work outlined in this book explores the role of testosterone and the Bcl-2 family of proteins in regulating both neuronal death during development and neuronal morphology in adulthood in males and females. This investigation will help researchers studying the mechanism of sexual differentiation as well as anyone interested in exactly how the nervous system of males and females comes to be different.