NEUROCHEMICAL CORRELATES OF SOCIAL STATUS IN CRAYFISH

小龙虾社会地位的神经化学相关性

基本信息

批准号：
6232611
负责人：
Robert Huber
金额：
$ 2.72万
依托单位：
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2000
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2000-06-16 至 2001-05-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6232611
关键词：
amines behavioral /social science research tag crayfish ecdysone hemolymph hormone regulation /control mechanism neurochemistry neurohormones social dominance social model social status

项目摘要

This proposal aims to extend our behavioral studies of dominance status in crayfish to a search for neurochemical correlates. Hierarchical structures are remarkably similar in social groups ranging from molluscs to humans with individuals embedded in an often linear arrangement of social ranks. Individual characteristics such as size or stamina define the initial states but final ranks are acquired and reinforced through self- structuring processes. Changes in behavior that result from wins or losses play an essential role where winning encourages further success and losses lead to further losses. A behavioral characterization in systems ranging from social insects to children at day-care centers has lead to a new understanding of the fundamental principles that organize the acquisition and defense of social status. The proximate mechanisms of these winner/loser effects, however, are neither well understood nor intuitively obvious. Instances of neurochemical plasticity have been reported in the context of aggressive state, dominance, winning, or social status, but a consistent picture has yet to emerge with regard to the main substances of interest, the sign and magnitude of such effects, or their time course. Crayfish hierarchies, a naturally simple model system, are uniquely suited for such work: status is determined by dyadic and directly observable, stereotyped behaviors; aggressive state and physical superiority are the main determinants of dominance; no coalitions exist; and strong winner and loser effects lead to linear hierarchies via self-structuring. Our current work on the behavioral effects of wins and losses generates detailed behavioral profiles for several hundred individuals, including estimates of initial aggressive state, the types of fighting strategies used, readiness for retreat, and changes in all of these over time as dominance develops. Neurochemical feed-back loops involving amines and steroids are likely candidates for the behavioral re-enforcement mechanisms and determinants of rank. We can now apply our expertise in the analyses of dynamic phenomena to the functioning of neuromodulatory and neurohormonal systems in individuals with known behavior. Specifically, we will evaluate whether changes in behavior are accompanied by shifts in neurochemical function. Our main effort will focus on amines and ecdysteroids in the CNS or hemolymph, and we plan to develop the groundwork for a future R01 focusing on changes in gene expression of key enzymes and receptors. Multiple levels of organization are readily accessible in this model system. It thus offers unique opportunities for exploring the nature of neurochemical changes at a level of analysis that is difficult to achieve in more complex mammalian systems. Results from this work will allow us to refine and focus the search for neurochemical correlates of social status in vertebrates.

该提案旨在将我们对小龙虾优势地位的行为研究扩展到寻找神经化学相关性。从软体动物到人类，社会群体的等级结构非常相似，个体通常处于线性的社会等级排列中。体型或耐力等个人特征定义了初始状态，但最终排名是通过自我构建过程获得和加强的。因胜利或失败而导致的行为变化起着至关重要的作用，胜利会鼓励进一步的成功，失败会导致进一步的损失。从社会昆虫到日托中心儿童的系统行为特征使人们对组织社会地位的获得和捍卫的基本原则有了新的理解。然而，这些赢家/输家效应的直接机制既不被很好理解，也不直观明显。在攻击性状态、支配性、获胜或社会地位的背景下已经报道了神经化学可塑性的实例，但关于主要感兴趣的物质、此类效应的迹象和程度或其时间，尚未出现一致的图景课程。小龙虾等级制度是一种天然简单的模型系统，特别适合此类工作：地位由二元的、可直接观察到的刻板行为决定；攻击性状态和身体优势是统治地位的主要决定因素；不存在任何联盟；强大的赢家和输家效应通过自我结构导致线性等级制度。我们目前对胜利和失败的行为影响的研究为数百人生成了详细的行为档案，包括对初始攻击状态的估计、使用的战斗策略类型、撤退准备，以及随着统治地位的发展，所有这些随着时间的推移而发生的变化。涉及胺和类固醇的神经化学反馈回路可能是行为强化机制和等级决定因素的候选者。现在，我们可以将动态现象分析方面的专业知识应用于具有已知行为的个体的神经调节和神经激素系统的功能。具体来说，我们将评估行为的变化是否伴随着神经化学功能的变化。我们的主要工作将集中在中枢神经系统或血淋巴中的胺和蜕皮类固醇，我们计划为未来的 R01 奠定基础，重点关注关键酶和受体基因表达的变化。在此模型系统中可以轻松访问多个级别的组织。因此，它为在更复杂的哺乳动物系统中难以实现的分析水平上探索神经化学变化的本质提供了独特的机会。这项工作的结果将使我们能够完善和集中寻找脊椎动物社会地位的神经化学相关性。