Roslyn Holly Fitch (1995) Estrogen is Still Important
. Psycoloquy: 6(42) Sex Brain (8)
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Psycoloquy 6(42): Estrogen is Still Important
ESTROGEN IS STILL IMPORTANT
Reply to McCarthy on Sex-Brain
Roslyn Holly Fitch
Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience
Rutgers University
197 University Ave.
Newark, NJ 07102
Victor H. Denenberg
Biobehavioral Sciences Graduate Degree Program
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269-4154
holly@axon.rutgers.edu
dberg@uconnvm.uconn.edu
Abstract
McCarthy (1995) provides an excellent review of
less known, but potential feminizing agents, and asserts that this
area of research should not focus on estrogen to the exclusion of
other factors. We agree, but also reiterate that data show specific
and significant feminizing effects of estrogen. Such findings argue
that although estrogen may not be the sole feminizing influence, it
is nevertheless a critical one.
Keywords
corpus callosum, development, estrogen, feminization,
ovaries, sensitive period.
References
- Fitch, R.H. & Denenberg, V. (1995) A Role For Ovarian Hormones In Sexual Differentiation of the Brain. PSYCOLOQUY 6(5) sex-brain.1.fitch.
- Frankfurt, M., Gould, E., Woolley, C. S. & McEwen, B.S. (1990) Gonadal steroids modify dendritic spine density in ventromedial hypothalamic neurons: a golgi study in the adult rat. Neuroendocrinology 51: 530-535.
- Mack, C.M., Fitch, R.H., Cowell, P.E., Schrott, L.M. & Denenberg, V.H. (1993) Ovarian estrogen acts to feminize the rat's corpus callosum. Developmental Brain Research 71: 115-119.
- McCarthy, M. (1995) How About Sexually Differentiating Factors Other Than Estrogen? PSYCOLOQUY 6(32) sex-brain.7.mccarthy.
- Pappas, C.T.E., Diamond, M.C. & Johnson, R.E. (1979) Morphological changes in the cerebral cortex of rats with altered levels of ovarian hormones. Behavioral and Neural Biology 26: 298-310.
- Stewart, J. & Cygan, D. (1980) Ovarian hormones act early in development to feminize open field behavior in the rat. Hormones and Behavior 14: 20-32.