Structure-Function Studies of a Sonic (Acoustic) Motor System

脊椎动物的声音交流是一种表现出性别二态特征的行为(即雄性和雌性不同)。巴斯博士选择将硬骨鱼作为这类行为的模型系统进行研究。在被研究的物种中，雄性会发出声音来吸引雌性来筑巢，但雌性没有这种行为。以往的研究表明，发声时的行为性别差异与构成声运动通路的肌肉和神经元的解剖和生理特征有关。拟议的研究将研究这些差异的潜在基础。我们将分析参与这些反应的神经细胞的电生理特性。该系统中特定神经细胞的形态特征和化学性质将被识别。睾酮是一种具有生殖活性的类固醇激素，它引起的变化将从生理和解剖学两方面进行测量。这些研究将有助于了解类固醇激素在调节脊椎动物神经细胞功能和性别分化行为中的作用。

Vocal communication in vertebrate animals is one behavior that displays sexually dimorphic characteristics (i.e., males and females are different). Dr. Bass has chosen to study teleost fishes as a model system of this type of behavior. In the species to be studied males generate vocalizations in order to attract females to the nest, but no such behavior is seen in the females. In previous studies it has been shown that the behavioral sex differences in vocalizations are correlated with anatomical and physiological traits of the muscles and neurons that comprise the sonic motor pathway. The proposed research will study the underlying basis of these differences. The electrophysiological properties of the nerve cells involved in these responses will be analysed. The morphological features and the chemical nature of specific nerve cells in this system will be identified. Changes induced by testosterone, a reproductively active steroid hormone, will be measured both physiologically and anatomically. These studies will contribute to fundamental knowledge about the role of steroid hormones in the regulation of nerve cell function and sexually differentiated behaviors in vertebrates.