In: Biology
what is the role of hypothalamus in gender identity?
Testosterone is the major hormones, that influence the development of the fetal brain into male direction and absence of this hormone fetal brain develop into the female direction. In genitals, sex differentiation occurs up to two months after pregnancy and sexual differentiation occur after three months of pregnancy. Transsexuality will arise when these both process, genitals and sex differentiation done independently. Sex differentiation and sexual orientation process are depending on the structural and functional orientation of Hypothalamus. Hypothalamus involve in this process by a specific neuronal circuit. That depends on the levels of circulating hormones, showing in many hypothalamic and brain structures. Because of hormone’s effect pheromones are released for example progesterone depends pheromones are ten-time higher in female than in male those indicating hypothalamic circuits directly related to sexual orientation or gender identity.
Conclusion:
Hypothalamus is present in a small region of the brain. That stimulates hormone secretion and after pregnancy stimulated testosterone and progesterone level to decide the genital and sexual differentiation in human being by realising pheromones in the hypothalamic neuronal circuit.