Do neuropeptides shape alternative mating tactics and reproductive success through effects on memory?

清楚地了解支配记忆如何影响生育决定的神经机制，将揭示许多塑造决策的基本神经生物学。交配和生殖决定是个体面临的最重要的选择之一。为此，个人必须评估其所处的社会背景的当前状态。这包括知道在哪里可以找到与谁交配的机会。不幸的是，社会和空间记忆对群体中个体如何交配(例如，与一个或多个伴侣，或交配系统)的影响往往被忽视。此外，我们几乎不知道大脑调节这些决定的方式，也不知道记忆和配偶选择决定是如何相关的。这个项目将利用草原田鼠来研究两个已知在社会/空间记忆和一夫一妻制生殖决策中起重要作用的神经内分泌系统的表达，即催产素和加压素如何调节复杂的社会行为来塑造生殖选择。该项目将研究草原田鼠的生殖选择，这是一种可以在一夫一妻制和非一夫一妻制交配策略之间切换的物种，目的是确定(1)自然条件下的交配决定与记忆测试中的实验室表现是否相互关联，以及(2)海马体和脾后皮质中的催产素或加压素如何塑造这些行为，这两个区域与空间和社会认知有关。工作假说是，非肽神经调节支配社会空间记忆，这反过来又使动物在一夫一妻或非一夫一妻制的交配策略中取得成功。这一假设将通过以下几个方面进行验证：自然生活条件，评估社会和空间认知的行为分析，监测家庭范围和社会互动程度的无线电跟踪，评估交配策略的DNA采样，测量催产素和加压素1A受体密度的放射摄影术，以及在海马体内或脾后注射缓慢释放受体反义寡核苷酸，以击倒这些大脑结构中的催产素和加压素1A受体。在完成这个项目的过程中，所有级别的学生都将接受广泛的技能培训，为他们在生物医学研究、医学或高等教育和学术领域开始竞争激烈的职业生涯做好准备。国际学生联合会还将继续他在促进来自代表不足群体的学生的研究经验和专业发展方面的良好记录。如果我们想知道复杂的行为是如何产生的，那么了解在模拟和自然环境下对行为的影响是至关重要的。

A clear understanding of the neural mechanisms that govern how memory influences reproductive decisions will reveal much about the basic neurobiology that shapes decision-making. Mating and reproductive decisions are among the most important choices an individual will face. To this end, an individual must take stock of the current state of the social context in which it finds itself. This includes knowing with whom and where mating opportunities are to be found. Unfortunately, the influence of social and spatial memory on how individuals in a population tend to mate (e.g., with one or multiple partners, or a mating system) is often ignored. Moreover, we know virtually nothing about the ways the brain modulates these decisions or how memory and mate choice decisions are related. This project will use prairie voles to investigate how expression of two neuroendocrine systems known to be important in social / spatial memory and monogamous reproductive decision making, namely, oxytocin and vasopressin, modulate complex social behavior to shape reproductive choices. The project will study reproductive choices in the prairie vole, a species that can switch between monogamous and non-monogamous mating tactics, with the aims to determine (1) whether or not mating decisions in natural conditions and laboratory performance in memory tests relate to each other, and (2) how oxytocin or vasopressin in the hippocampus and the retrosplenial cortex, regions implicated in spatial and social cognition, shape these behaviors. The working hypothesis is that nonapeptide neuromodulation governs socio-spatial memory, which in turn, predisposes animals to succeed at either a monogamous or a non-monogamous mating tactic. This hypothesis will be tested using a combination of natural living conditions, behavioral assays to assess social and spatial cognition, radio-tracking to monitor extent of home range and social interactions, DNA sampling to assess mating tactic, radiography to measure oxytocin and vasopressin 1A receptor density, and intra-hippocampal or -retrosplenial delivery of slow-release receptor antisense oligonucleotides to knock down oxytocin and vasopressin 1A receptors in these brain structures. In the process of completing this project, students at all levels will be trained with a broad range of skills that will prepare them to begin competitive careers in biomedical research, medicine, or higher education and academics. The PI will also continue his strong record of promoting research experiences and professional development in students from underrepresented groups. It is essential to understand the influences on behavior under simulated and natural contexts if we are to know how complex behaviors are produced.