Abstract
The hormones of the pituitary target organs, which include the gonads, adrenals and thyroid glands, exert profound feedback influences on brain-pituitary function to control pituitary trophic secretions. The target organ hormones also influence behavior. As a model of this feedback circuit, we shall emphasize brain-pituitary-ovarian interactions in which the ovarian steroids, estrogen and progesterone, influence sex behavior and the secretion of pituitary luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin. The latter hormones, in turn, control ovulation and the secretion of ovarian steroids. This circuit will be emphasized, because there is evidence that the action of estrogen may involve the amygdala, the subject of this conference, whereas the adrenal steroids seem to exert an important extrahypothalamic influence on the hippocampus.
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Sawyer, C.H. (1972). Functions of the Amygdala Related to the Feedback Actions of Gonadal Steroid Hormones. In: The Neurobiology of the Amygdala. Advances in Behavioral Biology, vol 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8987-7_28
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-8987-7_28
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