Sotomayor-Zarate Ramon, Cruz Gonzalo, Renard Georgina M, Espinosa Pedro, Ramirez Victor D
Laboratorio de Neuroquimica y Neurofarmacologia, CNPC, Instituto de Fisiologia, Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de Valparaiso. Av. Gran Bretana N°1111, Playa Ancha, Valparaiso, Postal code: 2360102, Chile.
Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem. 2014;14(2):62-71. doi: 10.2174/1871524914666141226105137.
Sex hormones exert differential effects on a variety of sensitive tissues like the reproductive tract, gonads, liver, bone and adipose tissue, among others. In the brain, sex hormones act as neuroactive steroids regulating the function of neuroendocrine diencephalic structures like the hypothalamus. In addition, steroids can exert physiological effects upon cortical, limbic and midbrain structures, influencing different behaviors such as memory, learning, mood and reward. In the last three decades, the role of sex hormones on monoamine neurotransmitters in extra-hypothalamic areas related to motivated behaviors, learning and locomotion has been the focus of much research. The purpose of this thematic issue is to present the state of art concerning the effects of sex hormones on the neurochemical regulation of dopaminergic midbrain areas involved in neurobiological and pathological processes, such as addiction to drugs of abuse. We also discuss evidence of how neonatal exposure to sex hormones or endocrine disrupting chemicals can produce long-term changes on the neurochemical regulation of dopaminergic neurons in the limbic and midbrain areas.
性激素对多种敏感组织，如生殖道、性腺、肝脏、骨骼和脂肪组织等，发挥着不同的作用。在大脑中，性激素作为神经活性类固醇，调节下丘脑等神经内分泌间脑结构的功能。此外，类固醇可对皮质、边缘系统和中脑结构产生生理影响，影响记忆、学习、情绪和奖赏等不同行为。在过去三十年里，性激素对与动机行为、学习和运动相关的下丘脑外区域单胺类神经递质的作用一直是众多研究的焦点。本期专题的目的是呈现关于性激素对参与神经生物学和病理过程（如药物成瘾）的多巴胺能中脑区域神经化学调节作用的最新研究状况。我们还讨论了新生儿暴露于性激素或内分泌干扰化学物质如何能对边缘系统和中脑区域多巴胺能神经元的神经化学调节产生长期变化的证据。
