Steroid hormones act in specific regions of the brain to alter behaviour and physiology. Although it has been well established that the bioavailability of the steroid and the expression of its receptor is critical for understanding steroid action in the brain, the importance of nuclear receptor coactivators in the brain is becoming more apparent. The present review focuses on the function of the p160 family of coactivators, which includes steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), SRC-2 and SRC-3, in steroid receptor action in the brain. The expression, regulation and function of these coactivators in steroid-dependent gene expression in both brain and behaviour are discussed.
Keywords: SRC-2 (GRIP1/TIF2/NCoA-2); androgen receptor; hypothalamus; oestrogen receptor; progestin receptor; sex behaviour; steroid hormones; steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1/NcoA-1).
© 2013 British Society for Neuroendocrinology.