Females display changes in distinct behaviors along the estrous cycle. Levels of circulating ovarian sex steroid hormones peak around ovulation, which occur around estrus phase of the cycle. This increase of sex hormones is thought to be important for changes in behaviors, however, neural circuit mechanisms of periodic behavioral changes in females are not understood well. Different lines of research indicate sex hormonal effects on several forms of neuronal plasticity. This review provides an overview of behavioral and plastic changes that occur in an estrous cycle-dependent manner and explores the current research linking these changes to understand neural circuit mechanisms that control female behaviors.

雌性在发情周期中表现出不同行为的变化。循环的卵巢性类固醇激素水平在排卵前后达到峰值，这发生在周期的发情期前后。这种性激素的增加被认为对行为改变很重要，然而，女性周期性行为改变的神经回路机制尚不清楚。不同的研究方向表明性激素对几种形式的神经元可塑性的影响。本综述概述了以发情周期依赖性方式发生的行为和可塑性变化，并探讨了将这些变化联系起来以了解控制女性行为的神经回路机制的当前研究。