Androgen-Dependent Plasticity of Motoneurons

运动神经元的雄激素依赖性可塑性

• 批准号: 9421695
• 负责人: William Collins
• 金额: $ 18.49万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Stony Brook
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1995
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1995-05-01 至 1998-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9421695&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Androgen; Dependent; Plasticity; Motoneurons

9421695 William F. Collins The ability of the central nervous system cells to reconfigure their structure and contacts as result of environmental or chemical queues is paramount to learning, memory, behavior and brain function, in general. Reconstruction occurring in the central nervous system is defined as plasticity. Moreover, the impact of gonadal hormones, such as androgens, on brain structure and function is only beginning to become evident. However, other studies suggest that these powerful hormones are essential for the normal function of neurons and their loss results in atrophy and cell loss. Dr. Collins will use a well-characterized motoneuron model system to explore the anatomical and electrophysiological consequences of gonadal androgen deficiency on central nervous system motoneurons. Initially, Dr. Collins will assess the electrophysiological properties of motoneurons and their anatomical structure before and after androgen withdrawal, in some cases up to 6 months after the last exposure to androgens. Specifically, androgen dependence among dendrites will be examined. Finally, Dr. Collins will examine the efficacy of synaptic inputs to the identified motoneurons by electrically driving presynaptic cells and assess their post-synaptic influence in the presence or absence of androgens. These studies will reveal novel mechanisms of steroid hormone action on brain motoneurons and begin to elucidate mechanisms of androgen-dependent neuron plasticity. While little is understood about the role of neural plasticity in brain function, gonadal steroid hormones are effective in their ability to reorganize the critical brain centers that may be essential for such critical tasks as learning and memory in man and all species alike.

9421695威廉·F·柯林斯由于环境或化学物质的影响，中枢神经系统细胞重新配置其结构和接触的能力对学习、记忆、行为和大脑功能通常是至关重要的。发生在中枢神经系统的重建被定义为可塑性。此外，雄激素等性腺激素对大脑结构和功能的影响才刚刚开始显现。然而，其他研究表明，这些强大的激素对神经元的正常功能是必不可少的，它们的丢失会导致萎缩和细胞丢失。柯林斯博士将使用一个特征明确的运动神经元模型系统，探索性腺雄激素缺乏对中枢神经系统运动神经元的解剖学和电生理学影响。最初，柯林斯博士将评估雄激素停用前后运动神经元的电生理特性及其解剖结构，在某些情况下，评估时间长达最后一次接触雄激素后的6个月。具体地说，将检查树突之间的雄激素依赖性。最后，柯林斯博士将通过电驱动突触前细胞来检查突触输入到已识别运动神经元的有效性，并评估它们在存在或不存在雄激素的情况下对突触后的影响。这些研究将揭示类固醇激素对大脑运动神经元作用的新机制，并开始阐明雄激素依赖性神经元可塑性的机制。虽然人们对神经可塑性在大脑功能中的作用知之甚少，但性腺类固醇激素有效地重组了关键的大脑中枢，这些中枢可能对人类和所有物种的学习和记忆等关键任务至关重要。