Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02338-5
Androgens — hormones that are generally present at higher levels in males than females — regulate intestinal transit, but their cellular targets and mechanisms of action are unclear. We identify the neurons that mediate androgen-dependent gut motility and reveal that androgen reactivation by a bacterial enzyme in the gut lumen is necessary for this vital neuroendocrine axis.