M. Haug – författare

Behaving like the other sex has been observed in a number of species of mammals, although such behaviour is generally more common in the female than the male. This study discusses why such capacity is so common in sexually differentiated animals. The contributors gather together information on the generation of heterotypical sexual behaviour and on certain forms of aggression. They provide a review of the current state of knowledge from both animal experimentation and human clinical studies, looking at the role of physiological mechanisms and experiences in such controversial topics as the genesis of homosexuality.

M. HAUG Universite Louis Pasteur, Laboratoire de Psychophysi%gie, URA 1295, 7, rue de /'Universite, 67000 Strasbourg, France This varied and impressive volume is a record of the major presentations at the NATO sponsored Advanced Research Workshop on The Development of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behaviour held at the Chateau de Bonas, Gers, France July 14-18, 1992. It is fitting that a meeting evaluating masculine and feminine 'characteristics' was located in the Gascony region immortalised in Alexandre Dumas epic, macho tale of The Three Musketeers. It is even more satisfying that Marc HAUG the French Director (a D' Artagnan equivalent) was ably assisted by a US/French Consortium of three co-Directors (Drs. Richard E. WHALEN, Claude ARON and Kathie L. OLSEN). The ARW also provided opportunities to explore the region around the Chateau, to appreciate the complex history of the area and to sample armagnac and other local gastronomic creations. A lively and varied cultural programme (classics to jazz) was also provided to maintain the interests and enthusiasms of the participants.

Etienne E. Baulieu* The theme of this book, Heterotypical Behaviour in Man and Animals, should be of great interest to physiologists, endocrinolo­ gists, physicians, and workers in social sciences. Although Heterotypical Sexual Behaviour is a major theme, this volume attempts to display wide interest in reproductive medicine, general physiology, and behaviour in the two sexes. The editors explore the psycho-social dimension, not only of sexuality, but of eroticism which, as recalled by John Money, has its etymological root in the Greek word for love. Being an endocrinologist, who has studied hormone function in terms of synthesis, metabolism, distribution and receptors of these messenger molecules, I would like to recall some data which are basic when considering the overall human machine. It is common knowledge that androgens and oestrogens are formed in both sexes, differences being observed only in concen­ trations and rhythms of secretion. In the brain of the two sexes, there appear to be the same enzymes which may transform androgens to oestrogens, a process which could explain some aspects of CNS differentiation and activity. Both males and females have androgen and oestrogen receptors, and neural! y these receptors appear to be present at the same order of magnitude and distributed according to the same pattern. There is even a similar distribution of receptors for progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy, in the brains of males and females. Therefore, several important pieces of the machinery transmitting sexual information * Laureat of the 1989 Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award.