A NEW NEUROENDOCRINE MODEL OF SEASONAL BEHAVIORS

季节性行为的新神经内分泌模型

• 批准号: 2675449
• 负责人: MARY T MENDONCA
• 金额: $ 10.15万
• 依托单位: AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 1997
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1997-07-01 至 2002-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2675449
• 关键词: Chiroptera; adrenalectomy; arousal; behavioral /social science research tag; cold temperature; ethology; gonadotropin releasing factor; hibernation; hormone regulation /control mechanism; male castration; neuroendocrine system; ovariectomy; seasons; sex behavior; sex hormones

DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): Comparative studies shed light on alternate neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying reproduction and its attendant sexual behaviors. By exploring alternate mechanisms and comparing them to the established paradigm, one can illuminate which neural substrates are basic and critical tot he expression of these behaviors. Bats are the second most prolific radiation of mammals yet they remain relatively unstudied. They display great diversity in their reproductive patterns and vespertilionid bats, in particular, constitute an excellent alternative model system to study neuroendocrine mechanisms affecting reproductive behavior due to unique features of their life history. They 1) have a dissociated pattern of reproduction, mating when gonads are regressed and sex steroids are basal, and 2) are heterothermic, with arousal from hibernation being a potent and rapid stimulator of sexual behavior. Therefore, an external cue (i.e. temperature change) appears to activate sexual behavior independent of the classical role played by sex steroids. Preliminary data indicate that male and female big brown bats, Eptesicus fuscus, a vespertilionid, can mate months (at least 6 for males and 18 for females) after gonadectomy when given the proper temperature regimen. The specific research objectives of this proposal are to test the hypotheses that this species has 1) become relatively (if not completely) independent of sex steroids as an activator of reproductive behavior and sexual behavior. If these hypotheses are supported, the PI proposes a starting point to explore which alternative neuroendocrine mechanisms may be replacing the classic mechanism of sex steroid activation of sexual behavior. To achieve these objectives, two intertwined lines of research will be established. One will document the extent to which the expression of sexual behavior by males and females is independent from gonadal sex steroids by removal of gonads at different points in the seasonal cycle as well as removal of possible extragonadal sources of sex steroids. Replacement sex steroids will be given at these points to determine their efficacy in re-instating the behavior in animals. The second line will document the pattern of torpor and arousal and how sex steroids change in relation to these states. It will also determine what degree of exposure to low temperature (or entrance into a torpid state) insures the expression of mating and how this is modified by the presence or absence of sex steroids. Preliminary experiments will administer intracerebroventricular doses of GnRH antagonist and agonist to begin testing if this is a potential neuroendocrine mechanism linking arousal from hibernation and mating in this species.

描述（改编自申请人的摘要）：比较研究棚 揭示生殖及其背后的替代神经内分泌机制 随之而来的性行为。 通过探索替代机制并进行比较 将它们与既定范式联系起来，我们可以阐明哪些神经基质 对于这些行为的表达来说是基本且关键的。 蝙蝠是 哺乳动物中第二多产的辐射，但它们仍然相对 未经研究。 它们的生殖模式表现出巨大的多样性 尤其是 vespertilionid 蝙蝠，是一个极好的替代品 研究影响生殖的神经内分泌机制的模型系统 由于其生活史的独特特征而产生的行为。 他们 1) 有一个 生殖模式分离，性腺退化时交配， 性类固醇是基础性的，2）是异温性的，由 冬眠是性行为的有效而快速的刺激因素。 因此，外部提示（即温度变化）似乎会激活 性行为独立于性类固醇所发挥的经典作用。 初步数据表明，雄性和雌性大棕蝠（Eptesicus） fuscus 是 vespertilionid 的一种，可以交配几个月（雄性至少 6 个月，雄性至少 18 个月）。 女性）在性腺切除术后，如果给予适当的温度方案。 本提案的具体研究目标是检验假设 该物种具有 1）变得相对（如果不是完全）独立 性类固醇作为生殖行为和性行为的激活剂 行为。 如果这些假设得到支持，PI 会提出一个起始方案 探讨哪些替代神经内分泌机制可能是 取代性类固醇激活性功能的经典机制 行为。 为了实现这些目标，将进行两条相互交织的研究 已确立的。 人们将记录性表达的程度 男性和女性的行为独立于性腺类固醇 在季节周期的不同时间点去除性腺以及 去除性类固醇可能的性腺外来源。 替代性行为 将在这些时间点给予类固醇以确定其功效 恢复动物的行为。 第二行将记录 麻木和唤醒的模式以及性类固醇如何变化 这些状态。 它还将确定暴露于低水平的程度 温度（或进入麻木状态）确保了表达 交配以及如何通过性类固醇的存在或不存在来改变交配。 初步实验将给予脑室内剂量 GnRH 拮抗剂和激动剂开始测试是否有潜力 将冬眠唤醒和交配联系起来的神经内分泌机制 物种。