Integration of Neuroendocrine and Vocal Mechanisms

这些研究将确定神经肽（精氨酸缩宫素，AVT和异肽素，IT）和类固醇激素如何影响产生脊椎动物社会行为的神经回路，在这种情况下是发声。该项目将研究：(1)声音相关神经元的神经肽调节的发育和类固醇依赖的可塑性，以及(2)芳香化酶（一种将睾酮转化为雌二醇的酶）通过对神经肽的影响直接和/或间接调节类固醇对声音神经元的作用。这些目标将通过神经生理学、神经解剖学、生物化学和行为学方法来实现。发声行为是调解各种动物群体（如鱼类和人类）社会互动的核心。本实验室研究了两种雄性鱼类发声的神经内分泌控制。在海军军官候补生鱼中，“唱歌”的雄鱼会用“歌声”向雌鱼求爱，而“偷偷摸摸”的雄鱼既不唱歌也不向雌鱼求爱，而是从吸引雌鱼的唱歌雄鱼那里窃取受精。尽管所有的成年鸟都会发出激动的叫声，但声音的产生在这里也因社会环境的不同而不同。AVT和IT（哺乳动物中的精氨酸抗利尿激素和催产素的鱼类等效物）在视前区下丘脑前部的作用直接影响模式产生器的神经生理特性，下丘脑前部是控制所有脊椎动物的社会/发声行为的大脑区域。AVT和IT调节模式依赖于社会/发声行为，而不是性腺性别。这些模式也与声乐脑区域芳香化酶水平的差异相平行。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脑回路的单独和/或相互作用。

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.