BEHAVIOR, HORMONES AND BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS

拟议工作的主要目的是确定和表征 调节繁殖季节性周期的外部和内部因素 和能量平衡，并精心制作产生 哺乳动物行为和生理的昼夜节律。 模式物种 被研究的是草原田鼠和叙利亚仓鼠。 具体 项目包括1）确定睾丸激素在 介导体重和食物摄入量的下降， 秋季和冬季; 2）性腺激素对个体的贡献 摄食量和体重的差异，3）光周期在 诱导对雄激素的增重作用的不应性，4） 松果体在光周期调节中的作用 能量平衡，5）神经通路的规范， 光周期影响食物摄入量和体重，6）的作用 光周期在抵消肥胖产生的卵巢切除术或 下丘脑腹内侧核的破坏，7） 昼夜节律调节中冗余度的规范 视交叉上核的节律。 需要测量的参数包括 体重、摄食量、自发活动、血浆睾酮水平 以及其他几个生殖状态或能量平衡的指标。 的 拟议的研究将开发与理解有关的概念和数据， 和操纵人类的昼夜节律以及控制 通过非侵入性方式测量食物摄入量和体重。

The main aims of the proposed work are to identify and characterize the external and internal factors that mediate seasonal cycles in reproduction and energy balance and to elaborate the neural substrates that generate circadian rhythms in behavior and physiology of mammals. The model species to be studied are the meadow vole and the Syrian hamster. Specific projects include 1) determining the role of testicular hormones in mediating the decline in body weight and food intake that occurs during fall and winter, 2) the contribution of gonadal hormones to individual differences in food intake and body weight, 3) the role of photoperiod in inducing refractoriness to the weight-promoting effects of androgens, 4) the influence of the pineal gland in mediating the effects of photoperiod on energy balance, 5) specification of the neural pathways by which photoperiod influences food intake and body mass, 6) the role of photoperiod in counteracting the obesities produce by ovariectomy or by destruction of the ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus, 7) specification of the degree of redundancy in the mediation of circadian rhythms by the suprachiasmatic nuclei. Parameters to be measured include body weight, food intake, locomotor activity, testosterone levels in plasma and several other indices of reproductive status or energy balance. The proposed research will develop concepts and data relevant to understanding and manipulation of human circadian rhythms as well as for the control of food intake and body mass through non-invasive means.