RUI: Rapid Effects of Sex Steroids on Visual Processes Related to Social Communication

RUI：性类固醇对与社交沟通相关的视觉过程的快速影响

• 批准号: 0849102
• 负责人: Richmond Thompson
• 金额: $ 32.5万
• 依托单位: Bowdoin College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-06-01 至 2013-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0849102&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Rapid; Effects; Sex; Steroids

Steroid hormones exert profound effects on social behavior, but those effects are typically slow because steroids activate molecules that turn genes on and off, and changes in gene activity take a long time to produce effects on behavior. However, it has recently been shown that steroids can also affect behavior through more rapid mechanisms that do not depend on interactions with genes. Thompson will test the hypothesis that two sex steroids, testosterone and estradiol, affect reproductive behavior in male goldfish by rapidly changing how goldfish see the world, particularly female sexual stimuli. The proposal outlines a series of behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroanatomical experiments that will also determine the kinds of molecules in the brain that these steroid hormones act upon to produce behavioral effects. Additionally, the project will identify where within the brain hormones produce those effects. Together, these experiments will increase our understanding of the fundamental cellular mechanisms through which steroid hormones affect behavior, particularly those related to reproduction. The principal investigator will perform many experiments related to this grant in an upper level laboratory course at Bowdoin College, providing meaningful research experiences to undergraduate students. Dr. Thompson will also teach a summer neuroscience outreach program at Bowdoin College for teams of high school teachers and their students. This will be followed by his students setting up presentations in the classes of teachers who have participated.

类固醇激素对社会行为产生深远的影响，但是这些影响通常很慢，因为类固醇激活了开关和关闭基因的分子，基因活性的变化需要很长时间才能对行为产生影响。 但是，最近已经显示，类固醇也可以通过不依赖于与基因相互作用的更快的机制来影响行为。 汤普森（Thompson）将通过迅速改变金鱼看待世界，尤其是女性性刺激的方式来检验一种假设，即两种性类固醇（睾丸激素和雌二醇）会影响雄性金鱼的生殖行为。 该提案概述了一系列行为，电生理和神经解剖学实验，这些实验还将确定这些类固醇激素作用以产生行为效应的大脑中分子的种类。此外，该项目将确定在脑激素中产生这些影响的位置。 总之，这些实验将增加我们对类固醇激素影响行为的基本细胞机制的理解，尤其是与生殖有关的行为。 首席研究人员将在鲍登学院的上层实验室课程中进行许多与该赠款有关的实验，为本科生提供有意义的研究经验。 汤普森博士还将在鲍登学院（Bowdoin College）为高中老师及其学生团队教授夏季神经科学外展计划。紧随其后的是他的学生在参加的教师课程中进行演讲。