Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Control of Reproduction in a Sex Reversing Frog

本研究将：1)在田间探索黄缕黄属植物自然性别逆转能力的普遍性。染色体分析将试图确定性别反转个体的频率。2)为这些青蛙建立繁殖地。3)分析三种动物（雌性、遗传和性别逆转的雄性）的血浆、性腺和喉部样本，并将循环SEC类固醇水平与形态和行为变化联系起来。4)比较三组个体和接受睾酮和氟他胺（一种抗雄激素）治疗的女性下丘脑脑核体积。5)测试i.)组组成，ii.)外源性睾酮和氟他胺，iii.)促性腺激素释放激素激动剂和拮抗剂对不同组情况下雌性动物性别逆转的影响。6)记录遗传雄性和性别反转雄性的声音，分析录音以确定它们是否不同，如果不同，在现场进行呼叫回放实验以确定雌性是否区分两者。在这个初步的冒险中获得的数据将为许多未来的研究提供一个跳板，范围从神经内分泌到进化。这种独特的模型系统肯定会为在近似和最终水平上控制秒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.