Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Control of Reproduction in a Sex Reversing Frog

本研究将：1)探索田间金丝桃自然性逆转能力的共性。染色体分析将试图确定性别反转个体的频率。2)建立这些青蛙的繁殖群体。3)分析三类动物(雌性、遗传和性反转雄性)的血浆、性腺和喉部样本，并将循环中秒类固醇水平与形态和行为变化联系起来。4)比较三组受试者以及服用睾酮和抗雄激素的氟他胺治疗的女性下丘脑核团的体积。5)测试i.)群组成，ii.)外源性睾酮和氟他胺和III。)促性腺激素释放激素激动剂和拮抗剂对不同群体情况下雌性性逆转的影响。6)记录遗传和性别颠倒的男性的发声，分析录音以确定它们是否不同，如果不同，则在现场启动呼叫回放实验，以确定女性是否区分两者。在这项初步研究中获得的数据将为未来从神经内分泌到进化范围的许多研究提供跳板。这一独特的模型系统肯定会为在最近和最终两个层面上控制SEC的机制提供新的见解。

This study will: 1) explore the generality of the natural sex- reversing ability of Hyperolius viridiflavus in the field. A chromosomal analysis will attempt to determine the frequency of sex-reversed individuals. 2) establish a breeding colony of these frogs. 3) analyze plasma, gonad and larynx samples of the three categories of animals (females, genetic and sex-reversed males) and correlate circulating sec steroid levels to morphological and behavioral changes. 4) compare volumes of hypothalamic brain nuclei of individuals in the three categories and in females treated with testosterone and flutamide, an anti-androgen. 5) test the effectiveness of i.) group composition, ii.) exogenous testosterone and flutamide and iii.) gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and antagonist in affecting sex-reversal in females housed in different group situations. 6) record vocalizations of genetic and sex- reversed males, analyze the recording to determine if they differ, and if so, initiate call playback experiments in the field to determine if females distinguish between the two. The data obtained in this preliminary venture will provide a springboard to many future studies ranging from the neuroendocrine to the evolutionary in scope. This unique model system is sure to provide new insights into mechanisms controlling sec at both the proximate and ultimate levels.