Preface

Testosterone exerts varying effects on the physiological function and morphology of biological organisms at multiple stages of life. Thus, elucidation of mechanisms underlying development and sexual differentiation in many species, including humans, requires in-depth knowledge about the functions of testosterone. Research into testosterone leads to novel insights in medical and natural sciences as well as social sciences. By utilizing the knowledge from basic research on testosterone function, researchers can also develop novel ways to exploit its potential for therapeutic purposes. This book includes contributions from interdisciplinary fields, including internal medicine, molecular biology, veterinary medicine, and evolutionary psychology. It describes what is currently known about the androgenic function and its underlying mechanisms using state-of-the-art analytical techniques. Some chapters deal with the ethical and safety issues surrounding the clinical and practical application of achievements in testosterone research. I hope that readers will gain broad perspectives on the biology and function of testosterone and understand the diversity of academic fields impacted by incorporating insights from testosterone research.

> **Hirokazu Doi** Department of Information and Management Systems Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan

**1**

Section 1

Basics of Testosterone

Section 1
