ABSTRACT
La testosterona es una hormona esteroide sintetizada a partir del colesterol en las células de Leydig de los testículos, y en menor concentración en las células de la teca del ovario y en la zona reticular de las glándulas suprarrenales. La testosterona interviene en la diferenciación testicular, cerebral y en el desarrollo de los caracteres sexuales primarios y secundarios. Además, modula la expresión de algunos comportamientos y rasgos de la personalidad, principalmente los relacionados con el mantenimiento del estatus social y con la reproducción. Por ejemplo, altas concentraciones de testosterona están asociadas con una mayor agresividad, competitividad, dominancia, libido sexual, búsqueda de pareja, entre otras. No obstante, la testosterona también ha sido asociada con algunos padecimientos relacionados con la salud mental, entre los que se encuentran los trastornos del estado de ánimo (ansiedad, depresión y trastorno bipolar), psicóticos (esquizofrenia) y trastornos de la personalidad. El objetivo del presente estudio fue realizar una revisión exhaustiva acerca de las principales investigaciones al respecto y ofrecer un panorama general sobre el papel de la testosterona en la incidencia de estos trastornos (AU)
Testosterone is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol in the Leydig cells of the testes, and in lower concentrations in the theca cells of the ovary and the zona reticularis of the adrenal glands. Testosterone is involved in the differentiation of the brain and the testes and in the development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics. This hormone also modulates the expression of certain behaviours and personality traits, especially those related to the maintenance of social status and reproduction. For example, high levels of testosterone are associated with aggressiveness, competitiveness, dominance, sexual libido, seeking mate, etc. However, testosterone has also been associated with some disorders related to mental health, mainly the mood disorders (anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder), psychotic disorders (schizophrenia), and personality disorders. The aim of this study was to conduct an exhaustive review of the main research on the matter and to provide an overview on the role of testosterone in the incidence of those disorders (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Testosterone , Mental Disorders/physiopathology , Personality Disorders/physiopathology , Sexual Behavior/physiology , Conduct Disorder/physiopathologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether male black-handed spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) undergo a reproductive decline as they age. The purpose of this work was investigating whether serum testosterone and semen quality decrease with age in these primates as occur in other species. METHODS: In this study, we assessed age variations in the concentration of serum testosterone, sperm counts, and motility in nine males. We took serum blood samples and semen samples by electroejaculation of anesthetized males throughout the fertile season. RESULTS: We found that testosterone levels and total sperm concentration, motile, progressive, fast linearly moving, medium linearly moving, slow linearly moving and immotile sperm significantly decreased with age. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that a reproductive decline occurs in male spider monkeys because of a decrease in sperm counts. These results are similar to those of rhesus monkeys and men, despite the phylogenetic distance between New and Old World primates.
