King Steven R
Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
J Androl. 2008 Sep-Oct;29(5):524-33. doi: 10.2164/jandrol.108.005660. Epub 2008 Jun 20.
Although gonadal and adrenal steroids heavily impact sexual function at the level of the brain, the nervous system also produces its own steroids de novo that may regulate sexual behavior and reproduction. Current evidence points to important roles for neurosteroids in sexual and gender-typical behaviors, control of ovulation, and behaviors that strongly influence sexual interest and motivation like aggression, anxiety and depression. At the cellular level, neurosteroids act through stimulating rapid changes in excitability and direct activation of membrane receptors in neurons. Thus, unlike peripheral steroids, neurosteroids can have immediate and specific effects on select neuronal pathways to regulate sexual function.
虽然性腺和肾上腺类固醇在大脑水平上对性功能有重大影响，但神经系统也能从头合成自身的类固醇，这些类固醇可能调节性行为和生殖。目前的证据表明，神经类固醇在性行为和性别典型行为、排卵控制以及对性兴趣和动机有强烈影响的行为（如攻击、焦虑和抑郁）中发挥重要作用。在细胞水平上，神经类固醇通过刺激兴奋性的快速变化和直接激活神经元中的膜受体来发挥作用。因此，与外周类固醇不同，神经类固醇可以对特定的神经元通路产生即时和特定的影响，从而调节性功能。
