Gene Expression in Oxytocin Neurons During Lactation

Summy-Long博士正在利用她的职业发展奖来学习 先进的分子技术可以让她 独立研究大细胞中基因表达 神经分泌细胞 大细胞神经元合成 加压素，一种调节体液平衡和血液的肽 压力，催产素，一种在哺乳期释放的肽， 在哺乳和分娩时开始排奶 收缩子宫 催产素能神经元作为 大细胞系统经历可塑性， 在妊娠中期怀孕并持续到哺乳期。 这 可塑性表现为新的和可逆的 涉及神经元生长和适应的突触。 虽然 形态学变化和电生理活性良好 了解，控制这些适应性变化的知识， 细胞水平是基本的。 桑米·朗医生会检查 原癌基因，特别是c-fos，在 催产素能神经元在哺乳期间经历可塑性。 这些研究为进一步探讨如何和 当原癌基因在神经元中表达时。 这项研究 对生殖神经内分泌学以及 癌症，因为了解原癌基因表达在正常 生理变化过程中的细胞可能提供线索， 这一规律就变得异常。

Dr. Summy-Long is using her Career Advancement Award to learn the state of the art molecular techniques which will allow her to investigate independently gene expression in magnocellular neurosecretory cells. Magnocellular neurons synthesize vasopressin, a peptide that regulates fluid balance and blood pressure, and oxytocin, a peptide released during lactation to initiate milk let-down in response to suckling and at parturition to contract the uterus. The oxytocinergic neurons as part of the magnocellular system undergo plasticity beginning during pregnancy at mid-gestation and lasting through lactation. This plasticity is expressed in the formation of new and reversible synapses involving growth and adaption of neurons. Although the morphological changes and electrophysiological activity are well understood, knowledge of the control of these adaptive changes at the cellular level is rudimentary. Dr. Summy-Long will examine the role that proto-oncogenes, especially c-fos, play in oxytocinergic neurons that undergo plasticity during lactation. These studies provide a foundation for probing further how and when proto-oncogenes are expressed in neurons. The research has implications for reproductive neuroendocrinology as well as for cancer, since understanding proto-oncogene expression in normal cells during changes in physiology may provide clues as to how this regulation becomes aberrant.