Sex Differences in Brain and Behavior Development

大脑和行为发展的性别差异

• 批准号: 7110380
• 负责人: JULI S. WADE
• 金额: $ 12.31万
• 依托单位: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-07-01 至 2008-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7110380
• 关键词: animal communication behavior; animal developmental psychology; behavior test; behavioral /social science research tag; behavioral genetics; brain; brain derived neurotrophic factor; brain mapping; brain morphology; calcium binding protein; developmental genetics; developmental neurobiology; gender difference; gene expression; genetic screening; immunocytochemistry; in situ hybridization; learning; northern blottings; postdoctoral investigator; protein structure function; sex differentiation; songbirds; sound perception; steroid hormone; telencephalon; vocalization

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The studies, focusing on sexual differentiation of the song system in zebra finches, will elucidate genes and their products important for nervous system, muscle and behavioral development. Only males sing, and the brain areas and muscles that control song are larger than in females. In many vertebrates, development of these types of dimorphisms is regulated by gonadal steroids. In zebra finches, differentiation can be altered with estrogen treatment, but recent data suggest that the forebrain song control regions differentiate independent of gonadal secretions. Therefore, a screen will be conducted for genes expressed in a sexually dimorphic pattern in the telencephalon during development of morphology and singing behavior. Then, genes/proteins regulating cytoarchitecture and/or specific functions (e.g., learning) will be investigated in more detail. Using this strategy, female-specific transcripts for neurocalcin were discovered. Experiments will clarify their role and that of calcium regulation in neural development. Other studies target the role of the estrogen-sensitive protein, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in development of the song control nuclei and regions involved in song perception. These studies will clarify the importance of learning and the brain regions that are active during song perception in females (detailed information is already available for males), and will then test the hypothesis that BDNF modulates development of these telencephalic structures and song-related functions in both sexes. Finally, it will be determined whether mechanisms regulating development in the forebrain apply to the motor nucleus and vocal organ muscles, and whether sexual differentiation at this level is normally mediated by gonadal steroids, similar to other dimorphic model systems. The candidate for this Independent Scientist Award is an associate professor at Michigan State University, and her teaching load and service obligations are substantial. The award would provide her time to (1) enhance her training in molecular techniques (those proposed in collaboration with other scientists, and new ones useful for future experiments); (2) broaden her anatomical expertise; (3) contribute to the proposed studies more directly, which will increase the rate of progress; and (4) enhance collaborations and visibility of her growing neuroendocrine group, as well as training of students and postdocs, by establishing a seminar series with leaders in her field.

描述（由申请人提供）：研究重点是斑马雀科中歌曲系统的性别差异，将阐明基因及其对神经系统，肌肉和行为发展重要的产品。只有男性唱歌，控制歌曲的大脑区域和肌肉比女性大。在许多脊椎动物中，这些类型的二态性的发展受性腺类固醇调节。在斑马雀科中，可以通过雌激素治疗来改变分化，但最近的数据表明，前脑歌曲控制区域与性腺分泌区分无关。因此，在形态学和唱歌行为的发展过程中，将对在端脑中以性二态模式表达的基因进行筛选。然后，将更详细地研究调节细胞结构和/或特定功能（例如学习）的基因/蛋白质。使用这种策略，发现了针对神经加仑素的女性转录本。实验将阐明其作用和钙调节在神经发育中的作用。其他研究针对雌激素敏感蛋白，脑衍生的神经营养因子（BDNF）在歌曲控制核的发展中的作用以及与歌曲感知有关的区域的作用。这些研究将阐明学习的重要性以及在女性歌曲感知期间活跃的大脑区域（详细信息已适用于男性），然后将检验BDNF调节这些远程脑结构的发展的假设，并在两个性别中调节与歌曲相关的功能。最后，将确定调节前脑发育的机制是否适用于运动核和声音器官肌肉，以及该水平的性分化是否通常是由性腺类固醇介导的，类似于其他二态模型系统。该独立科学家奖的候选人是密歇根州立大学的副教授，她的教学负荷和服务义务很大。该奖项将为她提供（1）加强她在分子技术方面的培训（与其他科学家合作提出的培训，以及对未来实验有用的新培训）； （2）扩大她的解剖专业知识； （3）更直接地为拟议的研究做出贡献，这将提高进度率； （4）通过与她所在领域的领导者建立研讨会系列，增强了她不断增长的神经内分泌小组的合作和可见性，以及对学生和博士后的培训。