Abstract

PIP: Steroid hormones, i.e., corticosteroids, estrogens, androgens and progestogens are formed in the adrenal cortex, male gonads, and the female placenta. Relatively little is known of their influence on behavior and their neuroendocrine function. On the cellular level, the rate of increase of RNA message to produce albumen and avidin is directly proportionate to the presence of steroids and their amount. Corticosteroid receptors are found in the thymus, liver, spleen and heart. The brain has receptors both for the corticosteroids and the sex hormones. These receptors are scattered throughout different regions of the brain, but the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasome is found only in the pituitary which accounts for its role in stopping the secretion of ACTH. Testosterone undergoes metabolic changes in the brain, affecting behavior. The A chain undergoes an enzyme reduction to 5aDHT and androstandiol. Following enzyme changes, the A chain of male testosterone can become female estradiol. Laboratory tests prove that sexual behavior in males is affected only by those androgens that can convert to estrogens, while in females it is dependent on the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Lately psychiatrists have become very interested in the catechol estrogens, fairly new metabolites of estradiol which are produced in the hypothalamus and contain 2 hydroxyl groups (as compared with the 1 hydroxyl in estrogens). Catechol estrogens block estradiol receptors, behaving like antiestrogens. Researchers are investigating the possibility of signaling the desired neural messages without the concomitant effects that estrogen produces, through using catechol estrogens. They are examining this natural derivative of estradiol which may affect among others: sexual behavior, maturity, depression, migraines, and epileptic seizures.