Cellular Mechanisms Mediating Acute Stress Hormone Action in Brain

糖皮质激素，例如皮质酮 (CORT)，是一组重要的类固醇激素，可调节细胞和行为对压力的反应。 它们的作用可能涉及细胞核中的基因组机制，也可能涉及细胞膜上受体的更快的非基因组作用。 与慢性应激不同，介导急性应激反应的细胞机制仍不清楚。 最近的证据表明，CORT 与行为重要的肽激素，特别是精氨酸催产素 (AVT) 的相互作用，在急性应激期间至关重要。 该项目利用蝾螈作为一种新颖且易于使用的系统，将生物化学与行为结合起来，研究 CORT 和 AVT 如何在脑细胞内相互作用以应对急性应激。 激素在触发细胞内生化信号通路方面的相互作用将在特定的环境下，在行为和神经内分泌状态方面进行测试。 结果对于理解脊椎动物应激激素作用的基本细胞机制非常重要。 其影响将超越神经内分泌学，扩展到内分泌学和压力相关行为，以及与信号传导相关的细胞生物学。 在这个富有成效的实验室中，对学生进行多个级别的宝贵培训也将继续包括残疾学生和来自代表性不足群体的学生。

Glucocorticoids, such as corticosterone (CORT), are an important group of steroid hormones that modulate cellular and behavioral responses to stress. Their action can involve genomic mechanisms in the cell nucleus, and also much faster non-genomic actions involving receptors on the cell membrane. The cellular mechanisms mediating responses to acute, as distinct from chronic, stress are still not well understood. Recent evidence suggests that CORT interactions with behaviorally important peptide hormones, in particular arginine vasotocin (AVT), are critical during acute stress. This project examines how CORT and AVT interact within brain cells in response to acute stress, using the salamander as a novel and accessible system to combine biochemistry with behavior. The interactions of the hormones in triggering intracellular biochemical signaling pathways will be tested in specific contexts, in terms of behavior and neuroendocrine state. Results will be important for understanding fundamental cellular mechanisms of stress hormone action in vertebrates. The impact will extend beyond neuroendocrinology to endocrinology and stress-related behavior, as well as cell biology related to signaling. Valuable training of students at several levels in this productive laboratory also will continue to include students with handicaps and those from underrepresented groups.