Sex Hormones and Sexual Behavior

In some animal species, gonadal steroids affect the central nervous system during fetal or postnatal life (or both) in such a way that they influence sexual behavior and regulate gonadotropin secretion by the hypothalamic-pituitary system. For example, the administration of a single dose of androgen during the neonatal period can permanently imprint a tonic, male pattern of secretion of gonadotropins by the rat pituitary. It is not known how such imprinting is induced, but certain areas of the central nervous system have been identified as sites of action for some of the behavioral effects of gonadal steroids. In addition, the.