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Middle childhood growth and development in the evolution of human life history

人类生命史演变中的童年中期成长和发展

基本信息

批准号：
2123574
负责人：
Rafaela Takeshita
金额：
$ 30万
依托单位：
Kent State University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2021
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2021-08-15 至 2025-07-31
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2123574&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Middle childhood growth development evolution

项目摘要

Humans are characterized by a uniquely extended period of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) secretion, yielding blood concentrations 10-fold those of chimpanzees, our species' closest living relative. This adrenal neurosteroid has been associated with longevity and plays an important role in regulating brain development. A number of non-human primates secrete very low levels of this hormone and the reason for these interspecies differences is unclear. The investigators use comparative primate endocrine, genetic, and morphological data to examine whether DHEA secreted by the adrenal gland may have contributed to brain steroid input during human evolution and provide insights into the biological mechanism of adrenal steroids in primate body and brain. This research fosters international collaboration, supports the training of undergraduate and graduate students, and develops public science outreach activities at zoos.The developmental period in humans and great apes is marked by middle childhood growth (adrenarche), the post-natal increase in the adrenal hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS). Both hormones are also secreted in the brain and have been associated with longevity and brain maturation. However, adrenarche is not apparent in lower primates, and the reasons for these interspecies differences are not well understood. This project uses endocrinology, microscopy and genetics in a comparative framework to examine the origins of adrenarche and its potential impact on primate brain and life history traits. Adrenal steroids and the enzymes necessary for steroid synthesis are quantified peripherally in living nonhuman primates as well as centrally in human and nonhuman postmortem brains to determine the connections between age, brain function, and adrenal steroids in primate life history. This study can impact our understanding of adrenal function in regulating primate development and contribute to debates about the role of DHEA in human evolution.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

人类的特点是脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)分泌期延长，血液浓度是黑猩猩的10倍，黑猩猩是我们物种最接近的亲属。这种肾上腺神经类固醇与长寿有关，并在调节大脑发育方面发挥着重要作用。许多非人类灵长类动物分泌的这种荷尔蒙水平非常低，物种间差异的原因尚不清楚。研究人员使用比较灵长类动物的内分泌、遗传和形态数据来检验在人类进化过程中，肾上腺分泌的脱氢表雄酮是否有助于脑类固醇的输入，并对灵长类动物体内和大脑中肾上腺类固醇的生物学机制提供了见解。这项研究促进国际合作，支持本科生和研究生的培训，并在动物园开展公共科学推广活动。人类和大猩猩的发育期标志着童年中期(肾上腺发育)，出生后肾上腺激素脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)和脱氢表雄酮硫酸盐(DHEAS)增加。这两种荷尔蒙也在大脑中分泌，与长寿和大脑成熟有关。然而，肾上腺原基在低等灵长类动物中并不明显，物种间差异的原因也不是很清楚。这个项目使用内分泌学、显微镜和遗传学在一个比较的框架内研究肾上腺原基的起源及其对灵长类大脑和生活史特征的潜在影响。肾上腺类固醇和类固醇合成所需的酶在活着的非人灵长类动物中被外周定量，在人类和非人类死后脑中被集中定量，以确定灵长类动物生活史中年龄、脑功能和肾上腺类固醇之间的联系。这项研究可能会影响我们对肾上腺功能在调节灵长类动物发育中的理解，并有助于关于DHEA在人类进化中的作用的辩论。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。