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Androgens

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior

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Synonyms

Male hormone; Sex hormone; Testosterone

Definition

Androgens are steroid hormones that play a determining role in the growth and perpetuation of male phenotype and reproductive functions.

Introduction

Androgens are synthesized and secreted into blood stream abundantly in the form of testosterone (T) and regulates the reproduction, physiology, and metabolism of males. In majority of the cases, androgens are found to exert their effects by genomic pathways, which involve binding of androgens to the androgen receptor (AR) present in the nucleus; ultimately, this hormone receptor combo binds to the specific portions of DNA and bring out the response (Kang et al. 2003). In some cases, AR-induced nongenomic mechanisms have also been reported. Adequate amount of androgens is very necessary for successful reproduction and metabolism of males, and any alterations in the amount or improper signaling result in diseased conditions like androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), infertility,...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

    Rachna Verma

Authors
  1. Rachna Verma
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachna Verma .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University , Rochester, MI, USA

    Jennifer Vonk

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University Department of Psychology, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

    Peggy Mason

  2. Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

    Yuri Sugano

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Verma, R. (2019). Androgens. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1364-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1364-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

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