The hippocampus is central to spatial learning and stress responsiveness, both of which differ in form and function in males versus females, yet precisely how the hippocampus contributes to these sex differences is largely unknown. In reproductively mature individuals, sex differences in the steroid hormone milieu undergirds many sex differences in hippocampal-related endpoints. However, there is also evidence for developmental programming of adult hippocampal function, with a central role for androgens as well as their aromatized byproduct, estrogens. These include sex differences in cell genesis, synapse formation, dendritic arborization, and excitatory/inhibitory balance. Enduring effects of steroid hormone modulation occur during two developmental epochs, the first being the classic perinatal critical period of sexual differentiation of the brain and the other being adolescence and the associated hormonal changes of puberty. The cellular mechanisms by which steroid hormones enduringly modify hippocampal form and function are poorly understood, but we here review what is known and highlight where attention should be focused.

中文翻译：

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雄激素和正在发育的海马体。

海马是空间学习和压力反应的中心，在男性和女性中，海马在形式和功能上都不同，但是确切地讲，海马如何促成这些性别差异尚不清楚。在生殖成熟的个体中，类固醇激素环境中的性别差异引起了海马相关终点的许多性别差异。然而，也有证据表明成人海马功能的发育程序，对雄激素及其芳香化副产物雌激素起着核心作用。这些包括细胞起源的性别差异，突触形成，树突状乔化和兴奋/抑制平衡。类固醇激素调节的持久作用发生在两个发育时期，第一个是典型的围产期大脑性别分化的关键时期，另一个是青春期以及与之相关的青春期激素变化。对甾族激素持久地改变海马形式和功能的细胞机制了解甚少，但是我们在这里回顾了已知的知识，并强调了应将注意力集中在哪里。