Dissertation Research: Effects of mating on behavioral and neuronal stress response in male and female rats

论文研究：交配对雄性和雌性大鼠行为和神经元应激反应的影响

• 批准号: 1311145
• 负责人: Elaine Hull
• 金额: $ 1.91万
• 依托单位: Florida State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-08-01 至 2014-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1311145&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Effects; mating; behavioral

Mating is a socially rewarding experience that may exert protective benefits to health and fitness and buffers against the deleterious effects of stress across a number of mammalian and non-mammalian species. However, the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie these effects are poorly understood, and studies inclusive of female subjects are extremely limited. Using both male and female rodent models, the investigators will utilize a combination of behavioral, cellular, and neurochemical studies to better understand the impact of mating history on stress-related systems. In-vivo neurochemical studies will also allow for the collection and analysis of neurotransmitter release in awake and behaving animals during mating and a stressful encounter. Mating history is expected to dampen stress reactivity through neurochemical changes in regions of the brain that differ between males and females, and differences may be observed between males and females. The evolutionary advantage for the anxiety-reducing, stress-buffering, and rewarding aspects of mating may be to increase an animal's willingness to explore new environments to search for mating partners, and thus facilitate reproduction and ultimately pass on its genes. This research will advance a broader scientific field that includes our understanding of differences between males and females and similarities in the behavioral and neurobiological systems regulating stress and reproduction and how these systems interact. In addition, it will have a broader impact on a number of undergraduates who are trained in neuroscience research in this lab. These students currently include members of groups traditionally underrepresented in science. Further, the investigators will talk to K-12 students about the dissertation research and teach basic neuroscience through outreach activities including Brain Awareness Week and the North Florida Brain Bee, to promote scientific interest in the local community.

交配对许多哺乳动物和非哺乳动物物种来说都是一种有益的社会体验，可能对健康和适应性产生保护作用，并缓冲压力的有害影响。然而，这些影响背后的神经生物学机制尚不清楚，包括女性受试者在内的研究极为有限。使用雄性和雌性啮齿动物模型，研究人员将结合行为、细胞和神经化学研究来更好地了解交配历史对压力相关系统的影响。体内神经化学研究也将允许收集和分析在交配和压力遭遇期间清醒和行为的动物的神经递质释放。交配历史有望通过大脑中不同区域的神经化学变化来抑制应激反应，这在男性和女性之间是不同的，男性和女性之间可能会观察到差异。交配在减轻焦虑、缓解压力和获得回报方面的进化优势，可能会增加动物探索新环境、寻找交配伴侣的意愿，从而促进繁殖，并最终将其基因传递下去。这项研究将推进一个更广泛的科学领域，包括我们对男性和女性之间的差异以及调节压力和繁殖的行为和神经生物学系统的相似性的理解，以及这些系统如何相互作用。此外，它将对一些在本实验室接受神经科学研究训练的本科生产生更广泛的影响。目前，这些学生包括传统上在科学领域代表性不足的群体的成员。此外，研究人员将与K-12学生讨论论文研究，并通过包括大脑意识周和北佛罗里达大脑蜜蜂在内的外展活动教授基础神经科学，以促进当地社区的科学兴趣。