MELATONIN IN THE CNS--REGULATION OF BEHAVIORAL CYCLES

我的研究的长期目标是理解 性行为的神经内分泌调控及其调控机制 它一年四季都在表达。大多数哺乳动物，包括人类， 在生理和行为方面表现出每日和每年的周期 流程。动物模型已被证明在研究脑缺血时非常有用。 这些节律的神经和内分泌基础。叙利亚仓鼠 (Mesocricus Auratus)已被广泛研究，因为它 年周期可以在实验室中进行实验操作 条件。日长(光周期)的增加和减少 季节变化的特点驱使仓鼠度过一年 生殖刺激和抑制的循环。这些周期是 反映在循环中荷尔蒙水平的波动，剧烈变化 在生殖器官的形态和功能上，并改变了 性行为和其他行为。内分泌和行为反应 要改变白天的长度需要松果体及其夜间活动 荷尔蒙褪黑激素的分泌。我们已经知道了很多关于 每晚褪黑激素信号产生的白天长度，但 神经内分泌过程对褪黑素的反应并导致改变 生殖潜力还没有被很好地理解。褪黑素结合部位 在中枢神经系统中的作用已经在药理学上被描述为 并通过体外放射自显影确定了它们的位置 I-褪黑素作为配基。褪黑激素结合部位已在 大脑中有许多区域，但对哪些区域知之甚少 一个或多个部位与调节褪黑素在体内的作用有关 日长信息的传递。这项研究中提出的实验 应用程序既使用男性也使用女性，他们强调行为。 褪黑激素将用于松果体切除的仓鼠，使用 的幅度、持续时间和定时的过程 褪黑激素信号。一种独特的微透析输液系统将是 被用来将褪黑激素输送到大脑的局部区域 含有褪黑素结合部位。这些站点响应能力 褪黑激素，并在那里将相关信息传递给光周期 将对应对系统进行评估。对雄性仓鼠的研究将会 研究光周期对行为和内分泌的影响 系统并将确定相同或不同的褪黑素位置 都与每一个相关。关于女性个体关联性的研究 褪黑素与每种行为反应的结合部位。这些实验 不仅会极大地扩展我们对季节性繁殖的认识 循环，但也将提供对相互作用的新见解 行为的内外部变量及其调控 潜力。

The long-term objective of my research is to understand the neuroendocrine control of sexual behavior and the mechanism that regulate its expression throughout the year. Most mammals, including humans, express daily and yearly cycles in physiological and behavioral processes. Animal models have proven extremely useful in studying the neural and endocrine bases of these rhythmics. The Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has been extensively investigate because its annual cycles can be experimentally manipulated under laboratory conditions. Increases and decreases in day length (photoperiod) that are characteristic of the changing seasons drive the hamster through annual cycles of reproductive stimulation and inhibition. These cycles are reflected in fluctuating levels of circulating hormones, drastic changes in reproductive organ morphology and function, and altered potential for sexual and other behaviors. Both the endocrine and behavioral responses to changing day lengths require the pineal gland and its nocturnal secretion of the hormone, melatonin. Much is known about the effect of day length on the generation of the melatonin signal each night, but the neuroendocrine processes that respond to melatonin and result in altered reproductive potential are not well understood. Melatonin binding sites in the central nervous system have been characterized pharmacologically and their location has been determined by in vitro autoradiography using I-melatonin as ligand. Melatonin binding sites have been found in numerous areas throughout the brain, yet very little is known about which site or sites are relevant for mediating the effects of melatonin in the transduction of day length information. The experiments proposed in this application use both males and females, and they emphasize behavior. Melatonin will be administered to pinealectomized hamsters using procedures that control the amplitude, duration, and timing of the melatonin signal. A unique microdialysis infusion system will be employed to deliver melatonin into localized regions of the brain that contain melatonin binding sites. The capacity for these site to respond to melatonin and there by convey relevant information to photoperiodic response systems will be evaluated. Studies with the male hamster will investigate photoperiodic influence on both behavioral and endocrine system and will determine whether the same or different melatonin sites are relevant to each. Studies with the female relevance of individual melatonin binding sites to each behavioral response. These experiments will not only greatly expand our knowledge of seasonal reproductive cycles, but will also provide new insights into the interaction of internal and external variables and their regulation of behavioral potential.