Neuroendocrine Control of Amphibian Metamorphosis

两栖动物变态的神经内分泌控制

• 批准号: 9219211
• 负责人: Charles Nicoll
• 金额: $ 22.59万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1993
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1993-04-01 至 1996-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9219211&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Neuroendocrine; Control; Amphibian; Metamorphosis

For over two centuries, amphibians have been primary models for embryological and developmental studies. Much of what we know about early embryonic development, the techniques for the successful culture of embryos in vitro, and the role of hormones in early development have come from studies on amphibian eggs and tadpoles. Because amphibian eggs develop outside of the mother's body, it is relatively easy to culture them in the laboratory and to experimentally manipulate them. The vast majority of what we have learned about the developmental biology of amphibians is directly applicable to our understanding of human development. Dr. Nicoll will examine the role of hormones in early development of amphibians, and will determine how external environmental variables can influence hormone production and the rate of development. He is focusing on the corticotropin-releasing hormone system since the release of this hormone may represent a phylogenetically ancient initiator or cue in development. He will determine how this neurohormone regulates the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormones, two pituitary hormones known to be important in the metamorphic process. The basic information gained from these studies will contribute to our understanding of the complex events which occur within the womb during human development. Moreover, given the recent global decline in amphibian populations, the findings are directly related to the conservation of biological diversity. Identification of the environmental and physiological factors which influence development, and the ways in which amphibians respond to these variables through careful, controlled experimentation will help in the design of effective conservation strategies.

两个多世纪以来，两栖动物一直是胚胎学和发育研究的主要模型。 我们对早期胚胎发育、成功体外培养胚胎的技术以及激素在早期发育中的作用的大部分了解都来自对两栖动物卵和蝌蚪的研究。 由于两栖动物卵在母体体外发育，因此在实验室中培养它们并进行实验操作相对容易。 我们对两栖动物发育生物学的绝大多数了解都直接适用于我们对人类发育的理解。 尼科尔博士将研究激素在两栖动物早期发育中的作用，并将确定外部环境变量如何影响激素的产生和发育速度。 他专注于促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素系统，因为这种激素的释放可能代表着系统发育上古老的启动子或发育线索。 他将确定这种神经激素如何调节促甲状腺激素和促肾上腺皮质激素的分泌，这两种垂体激素已知在变态过程中很重要。 从这些研究中获得的基本信息将有助于我们理解人类发育过程中子宫内发生的复杂事件。 此外，鉴于最近全球两栖动物种群数量下降，这些发现与生物多样性的保护直接相关。 通过仔细、受控的实验来识别影响发育的环境和生理因素，以及两栖动物对这些变量的反应方式，将有助于设计有效的保护策略。