Integration of Neuroendocrine and Vocal Mechanisms

神经内分泌和发声机制的整合

• 批准号: 9987341
• 负责人: Andrew Bass
• 金额: $ 61.44万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing grant
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-05-01 至 2006-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9987341&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Integration; Neuroendocrine; Vocal; Mechanisms

These studies will identify how the neuropeptides (arginine vasotocin, AVT and isotocin, IT) and steroid hormones influence neural circuits that generate vertebrate social behaviors, in this case vocalization. The project will investigate: (1) the development and steroid-dependent plasticity of neuropeptide modulation of vocal-related neurons, and (2) the role of aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to estradiol, in regulating steroid effects on vocal neurons either directly and/or indirectly via their influence on neuropeptides. The goals will be achieved using neurophysiological, neuroanatomical, biochemical and behavioral methods. Vocalization behaviors are central to mediating social interactions in animal groups as diverse as fish and humans. This lab studies the neuroendocrine control of vocalization in fish with two male types or morphs. Among midshipman fish, "singing" males court females with a "song", while "sneaking" males neither sing nor court females but instead steal fertilizations from singing males that have attracted females to their nest. Although all adults produce agonistic calls, sound production differs here too with social context for the male morphs and females. The neurophysiological properties of a pattern generator that establishes sex- and morph-typical vocalizations is directly influenced by the action of AVT and IT (the fish equivalents of arginine vasopressin and oxytocin in mammals) in the preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus, a brain region implicated in the control of social/vocal behaviors across all vertebrates. The pattern of AVT and IT modulation is dependent on social/vocal behavior, not gonadal sex. These patterns are also paralleled by differences in aromatase levels in vocal brain regions. Together, these findings provide a unique opportunity to investigate the separate and/or interactive effects of peptides and steroid hormones on brain circuitry that determines social behaviors.

这些研究将确定神经肽（精氨酸血管催产素，AVT 和异产素，IT）和类固醇激素如何影响产生脊椎动物社会行为（在本例中为发声）的神经回路。该项目将研究：（1）发声相关神经元的神经肽调节的发育和类固醇依赖性可塑性，以及（2）芳香酶（一种将睾酮转化为雌二醇的酶）在直接和/或通过对神经肽的影响间接调节类固醇对发声神经元的作用中的作用。这些目标将通过神经生理学、神经解剖学、生物化学和行为方法来实现。发声行为对于调节鱼类和人类等不同动物群体的社会互动至关重要。该实验室研究两种雄性鱼类或变体鱼类发声的神经内分泌控制。 在见习鱼中，“唱歌”的雄性用“歌曲”来求爱雌性，而“偷偷摸摸”的雄性既不唱歌也不求爱雌性，而是从唱歌的雄性那里窃取受精物，从而吸引雌性来到它们的巢穴。尽管所有成虫都会发出竞争性的叫声，但雄性变体和雌性变体的声音产生也因社会背景而异。建立性别和形态典型发声的模式发生器的神经生理学特性直接受到视前区下丘脑 AVT 和 IT（哺乳动物中精氨酸加压素和催产素的鱼类等效物）作用的直接影响，下丘脑前部是与所有脊椎动物的社交/发声行为控制有关的大脑区域。 AVT 和 IT 调节的模式取决于社交/声音行为，而不是性腺性别。这些模式也与发声脑区域芳香酶水平的差异相一致。总之，这些发现提供了一个独特的机会来研究肽和类固醇激素对决定社会行为的大脑回路的单独和/或相互作用的影响。