DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Sex Pheromone Chemoreception in a Non-mammalian Tetrapod

信息素蝾螈的化学感受除了视觉和触觉刺激外，化学物质还经常用于动物之间的交流。在脊椎动物中，化学信号可以引起强烈的行为反应，包括吸引配偶和攻击。然而，在大多数脊椎动物系统中，从信号接收到行为反应的神经和生理途径尚不清楚。红腿蝾螈（Plethodon shermani）将被用来研究雌性对雄性产生的求爱信息素的行为反应的神经基础。这项工作的目的是确定(1)雄性求偶信息素是否通过激活一类特定的辅助嗅觉受体来刺激雌性，以及(2)雌性大脑中的哪些区域被自然的求偶行为（包括雄性求偶信息素的传递）激活。解决这些问题的研究方法将涉及使用分子生物学工具（如聚合酶链反应，PCR），以及生理学工具。这项工作将是首次展示化学信号如何影响两栖动物行为的研究之一。这一结果将具有广泛的科学影响，因为它提供了有关化学信号处理如何发生在一个研究不足的脊椎动物群体（两栖动物）中的信息。此外，研究成果将从基因、生理、行为、进化等方面进行解读，并整合到面向农村社区大学生的讲座中。感兴趣的学生将被招募来帮助进行行为试验。这些大学生还将接触到从事科学事业的女性。

PI Lynne D. HouckProposal number: IOS-0808589Pheromone Chemoreception in SalamandersAlong with visual and tactile stimulation, chemicals are often used for communication between animals. In vertebrates, chemical signals can elicit powerful behavioral responses, including mate attraction and aggression. However, the neurological and physiological pathways from signal reception to behavioral response are poorly understood in most vertebrate systems. The red-legged salamander (Plethodon shermani), will be used to investigate the neural basis for female behavioral response to male-produced courtship pheromones. The aims of the proposed work are to determine (1) whether the male courtship pheromone stimulates the female by activating a specific class of accessory olfactory receptors, and (2) what areas in the female brain are activated by natural courtship behavior that includes the delivery of male courtship pheromones. The research approach to addressing these questions will involve the use of molecular biology tools (such as polymerase chain reaction, PCR), as well as physiological tools. This work will be one of the first studies to show how a chemical signal affects behavior in amphibians. The results will have broad scientific impact by providing information on how the processing of chemical signals occurs in an under-studied vertebrate group (amphibians). In addition, the research results will be interpreted in terms of genes, physiology, behavior, and evolution and integrated into lectures for rural community college students. Interested students will be recruited to help with behavioral trials. These college students also will gain exposure to women pursuing scientific careers.