Neurobiology and Behavior Graduate Program, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Front Neuroendocrinol. 2013 Oct;34(4):285-99. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.07.006. Epub 2013 Jul 31.
Sex-steroid hormones are well-known regulators of vocal motor behavior in several organisms. A large body of evidence now indicates that these same hormones modulate processing at multiple levels of the ascending auditory pathway. The goal of this review is to provide a comparative analysis of the role of estrogens in vertebrate auditory function. Four major conclusions can be drawn from the literature: First, estrogens may influence the development of the mammalian auditory system. Second, estrogenic signaling protects the mammalian auditory system from noise- and age-related damage. Third, estrogens optimize auditory processing during periods of reproductive readiness in multiple vertebrate lineages. Finally, brain-derived estrogens can act locally to enhance auditory response properties in at least one avian species. This comparative examination may lead to a better appreciation of the role of estrogens in the processing of natural vocalizations and mayprovide useful insights toward alleviating auditory dysfunctions emanating from hormonal imbalances.
性激素是几种生物中声音运动行为的重要调节因子。大量证据表明，这些相同的激素调节着上行听觉通路的多个水平的处理。本综述的目的是提供雌激素在脊椎动物听觉功能中的作用的比较分析。可以从文献中得出四个主要结论：第一，雌激素可能影响哺乳动物听觉系统的发育。第二，雌激素信号保护哺乳动物听觉系统免受噪声和年龄相关的损害。第三，雌激素在多个脊椎动物谱系的生殖准备期间优化听觉处理。最后，脑源性雌激素可以在至少一种鸟类中局部作用以增强听觉反应特性。这种比较研究可能会更好地了解雌激素在处理自然发声中的作用，并为缓解激素失衡引起的听觉功能障碍提供有用的见解。
