Endocrinology.In the brain, aromatase transforms testosterone, a hormone that drives sexual activity in males, into estradiol, which is a type of estrogen.Scientists have shown that estrogens are important for the control of reproductive function in both sexes.
In addition, estrogens are critical for functional and organizational roles in brain development and adult behavior.To determine whether brain aromatase is essential for normal male sexual activity, the Northwestern researchers developed mice that lacked aromatase in the brain.In these male mice, sexual activity was reduced by approximately 50%.