雄性鸣禽体内循环的雌激素源自大脑。

Schlinger B A, Arnold A P

Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1563.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992 Aug 15;89(16):7650-3. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.16.7650.

Gonadal steroids act on brain to regulate the development and expression of vertebrate reproductive behavior. In addition, steroid targets in brain are an integral part of the feedback regulation of gonadal steroidogenesis. The actions of androgens in brain are often mediated by enzymatic activation or inactivation of circulating hormone, including local conversion of androgen to estrogen. We now report that in zebra finches, the brain synthesizes large quantities of estrogen from androgen and releases this estrogen into blood. Since there appears to be no other significant source of estrogen synthesis in adult male zebra finches, it is likely that the brain directly controls plasma levels of this steroid by contributing most or all of the high levels of estrogen found in the circulation.

性腺类固醇作用于大脑，以调节脊椎动物生殖行为的发育和表达。此外，大脑中的类固醇靶点是性腺类固醇生成反馈调节不可或缺的一部分。雄激素在大脑中的作用通常是通过循环激素的酶促激活或失活来介导的，包括雄激素向雌激素的局部转化。我们现在报告，在斑胸草雀中，大脑从雄激素合成大量雌激素，并将这种雌激素释放到血液中。由于成年雄性斑胸草雀似乎没有其他重要的雌激素合成来源，大脑很可能通过提供循环中发现的大部分或全部高水平雌激素来直接控制这种类固醇的血浆水平。