REPRODUCTIVE EXPERIENCE, DOPAMINE, AND MATERNAL BEHAVIOR

漏斗部多巴胺是催乳素的主要抑制剂 在脑垂体前叶分泌催乳素。生殖 经验降低循环催乳素水平和多巴胺 拮抗剂刺激催乳素释放。这种催乳素的抑制 出生和哺乳后的分泌可能是长期的结果， 结节漏斗多巴胺系统或多巴胺 催乳素细胞表面的受体。 的目标 拟议的研究是检查生殖经验的影响， 对正中隆起内多巴胺释放的影响以及对 突触后多巴胺受体 此外，我将研究 催产素，另一种中枢抑制剂， 催乳素释放，无论是关于催产素介导的 多巴胺的释放以及催产素降低 催乳素释放。 最后，我将研究生殖的影响。 多巴胺介导的运动和母性行为的经验。 一起 这些研究应该阐明观察到的长期变化是否 催乳素分泌的变化是由于结节漏斗 DA系统的变化以及这种变化是否受到中枢催产素的影响。 此外，这些研究将解决优先均等的可能性 影响对多巴胺能药物的行为反应。

Tuberoinfundibular dopamine is the predominant inhibitor of prolactin secreting lactotrophs within the anterior pituitary. Reproductive experience decreases both circulating prolactin levels and dopamine antagonist stimulated prolactin release. This dampening of prolactin secretion following birth and lactation may be the result of long-term changes in the tuberoinfundibular dopamine system or in the dopamine receptors on the cell surface of the lactotrophs. The goals of the proposed studies are to examine the effect of reproductive experience on dopamine release within the median eminance as well as the effect on postsynaptic dopamine receptors. In addition, I will examine the effect of reproductive experience on oxytocin, another central inhibitor of prolactin release, both with regard to oxytocinergic mediation of dopamine release as well as the ability of oxytocin to decrease prolactin release. Finally, I will examine the effect of reproductive experience of dopamine-mediated motoric and maternal behavior. Together these studies should elucidate whether the observed long-term changes in prolactin secretion are due to alterations in the tuberoinfundibular DA system and whether such changes are influenced by central oxytocin. Furthermore, these studies will address the possibility of prior parity influencing behavioral responses to dopaminergic drugs.