The DOI matches its Crossref record; 110 of the 111 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Puberty and the maturation of the male brain and sexual behavior: recasting a behavioral potential
Abstract
The pubertal transition from the juvenile to adult state requires significant changes in behavior to meet the demands for success and survival in adulthood. These behavioral changes during puberty must be mediated by changes in the structure and/or function of the central nervous system. Despite the profound consequences of puberty on an animal's behavioral repertoire, the mechanisms underlying pubertal maturation of the nervous system remain largely unknown. In this review, we provide a synthesis of neural development during puberty as it relates to maturation of male reproductive behavior. We first outline neuroendocrine events associated with puberty and review work from our laboratory that identifies pubertal changes in the neural substrate controlling male reproduction by comparing the neural responses of prepubertal and adult males to steroids and female chemosensory cues. We then raise the question of whether puberty is a sensitive period in which gonadal hormones influence the structural and functional organization of neural circuits underlying male reproductive behavior. The central thesis of this review is that the development of the nervous system during puberty alters the way in which the male responds to social stimuli, involving the restructuring of neural circuits that integrate steroidal and sensory information and ultimately mediate steroid-dependent social behaviors in adulthood.
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“For instance, in male Syrian hamsters, it is well-established how pubertal hormones influence the structure and function of neural circuits that integrate steroidal and sensory information, and how these changing neural circuits alter the way males respond to social stimuli and engage in mating behaviors (Romeo et al., 2002).”
From Becoming a sexual being: The “elephant in the room” of adolescent brain development (2017) · cites this paper as Romeo et al., 2002
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“In addition, it has been described in male hamsters that the DA and DRD1 levels increase gradually in various brain areas throughout the pubertal transition and this molecular plasticity of the dopaminergic system is associated with the neuronal remodeling that accompanies the maturation of reproductive behavior (Rome…”
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“The role of testosterone during prenatal development is vitally important for early sexual differentiation of the brain (Romeo et al., 2002).”
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“…needed throughout the lifespan, many brain functions required for emotion, cognition, and reproductive behaviors require secondary maturation during puberty for their full execution in adulthood (Blakemore et al., 2010, 2010; Piekarski et al., 2017; Romeo et al., 2002; Sigl-Glöckner et al., 2019).”
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“…hormones during puberty on the morphological and functional development of the CNS and the associated behaviours were conducted in males, resulting in a large gap in our knowledge of how these systems interact with one another in females (Romeo et al., 2002; Schulz et al., 2004, 2009a, 2009b).”
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Park, J., & Rissman, E. F. (2007) · Annual Review of Sex Research · doi:10.1080/10532528.2007.10559846 · Cited by 5
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“In the end, for full male-typical display of sexual behavior and preference, male-typical levels of androgens are required across all critical developmental periods, including puberty (Romeo et al., 2002).”
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Sisk, A. L., & Foster, D. L. (2004) · Cited by 4
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Metadata
- Authors
- Romeo, R. D., Richardson, H. N., & Sisk, C. L.
- Affiliations
- Michigan State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Sisk, Cheryl L.
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-05
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 381-391
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2095232389
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 111
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 1.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD-26483, R01HD026483)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Keywords
- puberty, male reproductive behavior, brain maturation, neuroendocrine regulation, sex steroids, neural circuits, sensitive period, social behavior, prepubertal males
- MeSH terms
- Androgens, Animals, Brain, Hormones, Humans, Male, Puberty, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Behavior, Animal
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