RPG: Neuropeptide Control of Territorial Aggression

RPG：神经肽控制领土攻击

• 批准号: 9407691
• 负责人: Catherine Marler
• 金额: $ 1.79万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1994
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1994-08-15 至 1996-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9407691&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RPG; Neuropeptide; Control; Territorial; Aggression

9407691 Marler ABSTRACT The goal of this research is to develop the mountain spiny lizard Sceloporus jarrovi as a model system for studying neuroendocrine control of territorial aggressive behavior. Aggressive behavior in this species is sterotypic, but there is both interseasonal and intraseasonal variation. Thus these lizards provide an ideal system for investigating how long term and short term gradations in aggression can be physiologically controlled while the animals are behaving in their natural environment. The focus for these studies will be the neuropeptide arginine vasotocin (AVT) which is known to influence reproductive behavior. A primary technique employed in the proposed research will be immunocytochemistry, which, through the use of image analysis techniques, will be used to compare concentrations of AVT within the brains of animals displaying varying levels of aggression. This technique will also allow identification of brain regions that may be associated with short and long term changes in aggression, as well as any morphological changes in AVT immunoreactive cells or fibers. Because of seasonal variation in the natural patterns of aggression and testosterone in S. jarrovi it will also be possible to uncouple the effects of testosterone and aggression on the expression of AVT-ir within the brain. Finally, the effects of artificially increased levels of AVT on territorial aggression will be examined while the animal is in its natural environment. These studies will begin to examine if AVT influences aggression in a strongly territorial species and how tightly coupled AVT is with testosterone and aggression.

9407691马勒摘要这项研究的目的是开发山刺蜥蜴sceloporus jarrovi，作为研究领土侵略行为神经内分泌控制的模型系统。 该物种的侵略性行为是静态的，但季节间和季节内变异既有变化。 因此，这些蜥蜴提供了一个理想的系统，用于研究动物在自然环境中的行为时，可以通过生理控制的长期和短期等级进行生理控制。 这些研究的重点是神经肽精氨酸血管素（AVT），该血管毒素（AVT）已知会影响生殖行为。 拟议研究中采用的主要技术将是免疫细胞化学，通过使用图像分析技术，将使用该技术比较表现出不同水平侵略水平的动物大脑中AVT浓度。 该技术还将允许鉴定可能与侵略性短期和长期变化以及AVT免疫反应性细胞或纤维的任何形态变化有关的大脑区域。 由于S. jarrovi的侵略性和睾丸激素的自然模式的季节性变化，也有可能使睾丸激素和侵略对大脑内AVT-IR表达的影响取消。 最后，将在动物处于自然环境中时人为地增加AVT水平对领土侵略的影响。 这些研究将开始检查AVT是否影响强烈领土物种的侵略性，以及AVT与睾丸激素和侵略性的紧密耦合。