Mortaud S, Degrelle H
URA CNRS 1294, Génétique, Neurogénétique et Comportment-Université René Descartes, Paris, France.
Behav Genet. 1996 Jul;26(4):367-72. doi: 10.1007/BF02359480.
In higher vertebrates, many behavioral characteristics can be attributed to effects in the central nervous system, in response to gonadal hormones secreted early in development. The lipophilic properties of steroids facilitate their easy passage in free form through the blood-brain barrier. At the cerebral level, the function of many nerve cells is influenced by steroid hormones originating from the periphery (synthesis of gluco-, and mineralo-corticosteroids in the adrenal glands and of sex steroids in the gonads and the placenta from cholesterol). However, the relationship between steroids and cerebral function may need reconsidering in light of the recent discovery of a biosynthetic pathway (independently of peripheral sources) of steroidal compounds ensuring the synthesis of neurosteroids from cholesterol in certain brain cells.
在高等脊椎动物中，许多行为特征可归因于中枢神经系统的效应，这是对发育早期分泌的性腺激素的反应。类固醇的亲脂性使其能够以游离形式轻松穿过血脑屏障。在大脑层面，许多神经细胞的功能受源自外周的类固醇激素影响（肾上腺中糖皮质激素和盐皮质激素的合成，以及性腺和胎盘中由胆固醇合成的性类固醇）。然而，鉴于最近发现了一种甾体化合物的生物合成途径（独立于外周来源），可确保某些脑细胞中由胆固醇合成神经甾体，类固醇与脑功能之间的关系可能需要重新审视。
