Neuropeptide-steroid interactions in amphibian brain

两栖动物大脑中神经肽-类固醇的相互作用

• 批准号: 6694642
• 负责人: ERIN L O'BRYANT
• 金额: $ 4.16万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-02-01 至 2006-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6694642
• 关键词: Anura; androgen receptor; animal communication behavior; arginine; behavioral /social science research tag; biological signal transduction; estrogen receptors; immunocytochemistry; in situ hybridization; intermolecular interaction; messenger RNA; neuroendocrine system; neuropsychology; neuroregulation; peptide hormone biosynthesis; postdoctoral investigator; radioimmunoassay; seasons; sex behavior; social behavior; testosterone; vasotocin

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Arginine vasotocin (AVT) plays a critical role in the expression of social behaviors in a wide variety of non-mammalian vertebrates. AVT is also known to stimulate reproductive behavior in the presence of testotserone (T) in males. However, the way in which AVT and T interact to produce male sexual behavior is unclear. This study will test the overarching hypothesis that T facilitates AVT induced male courtship behavior by modulating the AVT system in the brain of the green treefrog, Hyla cinerea. First, the distribution of AVT immunoreactivity (-ir) will be assessed and in males exposed to a social stimulus. Next, AVT-ir will be examined in males treated with an androgen receptor blocker or an estrogen receptor blocker. I will next determine the effects of the successful receptor antagonist on AVT-ir in males exposed to a social stimulus. Finally, I will examine AVT mRNA using in situ hybddization in control males compared to gonadectomized males, as changes in immunoreactivity can reflect either changes in release or synthesis. The second experiment will entail examining whether a seasonal difference exists in the AVT system of males in parallel with behavioral differences, and testing whether hormones delivered at the end of the breeding season will prevent the seasonal decline in AVT-ir. Lastly, if time permits, I will do double-label immunohistochemistry with AVT and either the androgen receptor or estrogen receptor, in an effort to determine if co-localization occurs between the two neurochemicals. This experiment will provide valuable information on where in the brain these two hormones are likely to act to influence courtship behavior in the green treefrog.

描述（由申请人提供）：精氨酸血管素（AVT）在各种非哺乳动物脊椎动物的社会行为表达中起着至关重要的作用。众所周知，AVT在男性的睾丸酮（T）存在下刺激了生殖行为。但是，AVT和T相互作用以产生男性性行为的方式尚不清楚。这项研究将检验以下总体假设，即通过调节绿色树蛙Hyla Cinerea的大脑中的AVT系统来促进AVT引起的男性求爱行为。首先，将评估AVT免疫反应性（-iR）的分布，并在暴露于社会刺激的男性中。接下来，将在用雄激素受体阻滞剂或雌激素受体阻滞剂治疗的男性中检查AVT-IR。接下来，我将确定成功受体拮抗剂对暴露于社会刺激的男性中AVT-IR的影响。最后，我将使用对照雄性的原位杂化来检查AVT mRNA与雌性雄性相比，因为免疫反应性的变化可以反映释放或合成的变化。第二个实验将需要研究与行为差异并行的AVT男性系统中是否存在季节性差异，并测试在繁殖季节结束时提供的激素是否会阻止AVT-IR的季节性下降。最后，如果时间允许，我将使用AVT和雄激素受体或雌激素受体进行双标签免疫组织化学，以确定两个神经化学之间是否发生共定位。该实验将提供有关这两种激素在大脑中的位置的宝贵信息，以影响绿色树蛙中的求爱行为。