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

神经肽是否通过影响记忆来塑造替代性交配策略和繁殖成功？

• 批准号: 1354760
• 负责人: Alexander Ophir
• 金额: $ 63万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-08-15 至 2019-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1354760&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Do; neuropeptides; shape; alternative; mating

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.

对记忆如何影响生殖决策的神经机制有了清楚的了解，就能揭示很多关于决定决策的基本神经生物学的知识。交配和生殖决定是一个人将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环境的现状。不幸的是，社会和空间记忆对群体中个体如何倾向于交配的影响（例如，与一个或多个伙伴，或交配系统）往往被忽视。此外，我们对大脑调节这些决定的方式以及记忆和择偶决定之间的关系几乎一无所知。该项目将使用草原田鼠来研究已知在社会/空间记忆和一夫一妻制生殖决策中重要的两个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以塑造生殖选择。该项目将研究草原田鼠的生殖选择，草原田鼠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，其目的是确定（1）自然条件下的交配决定和记忆测试中的实验室表现是否相互关联，以及（2）海马和压后皮质中的催产素或加压素如何影响空间和社会认知，塑造这些行为。工作假设是，九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制或非一夫一妻制的交配策略中取得成功。将使用自然生活条件、评估社会和空间认知的行为测定、监测家域和社会互动范围的无线电追踪、评估交配策略的DNA采样、测量催产素和加压素1A受体密度的放射照相术，和海马内或压后传递缓慢-释放受体反义寡核苷酸来敲低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，各级学生将接受广泛的技能培训，使他们能够开始在生物医学研究，医学或高等教育和学术领域的竞争性职业生涯。PI还将继续他在促进代表性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，就必须了解模拟和自然环境对行为的影响。