NEUROENDOCRINE CONTROL OF MALE REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

我对雄性仓鼠生殖行为的研究主要集中在 环境线索与类固醇激素在调节中的相互作用 生殖性和社会相关性的发育和成人表达 交际行为。在雄性仓鼠中，交配的组成部分 成功使雌性受孕所需的行为包括 严重依赖睾丸激素和女性气味线索。 来自雌性的化学感觉信息由嗅觉和 男性的犁鼻系统，这些系统传递必要的神经 通过特定的路径输入到下丘脑，这些路径包含 集中雄激素的神经元。(1)我研究的一个主要目标是， 使用脑植入技术，是为了确定(A)睾丸激素 这些核团中的活动促进了生殖行为和排放 如果是这样，是否(B)这些荷尔蒙效应 依赖于或独立于与化学感觉的相互作用 刺激。(2)第二个目标是确定围产期 睾丸分泌物对(A)男性的发育很重要 对与性有关的女性气味的吸引力，以及(B)对 成年后这种对睾丸素促进的反应。其他内容 研究的目的是(C)了解这种引诱反应可能与 对于男性在以下情况下使用的特定化学研究行为 与接受能力强的女性互动，以及(D)发现其中哪一种 行为对于获得化学感觉刺激是很重要的 唤起交配所必需的。(3)第三个目标是调查 光周期信号在调节雄性仓鼠的 生殖活动。具体地说，我将检验这一假设 改变光周期刺激可以抑制雄性交配 行为及其对睾丸素依赖和 睾丸激素非依赖的化学感觉机制。因为关键的 不同内外线索在控制中的作用 雄性仓鼠的性行为，这一物种代表了理想的模式系统 为了研究男性的神经和内分泌调节 哺乳动物的生殖行为。我的研究结果将提供 生理学和心理学领域的新的重要进展 行为内分泌学和神经科学。

My investigation of reproductive behavior in male hamsters focuses on the interactions between environmental cues and steroid hormones in regulating the development and adult expression of reproductive and socially relevant communicative behaviors. In male hamsters, the components of mating behavior that are required for successful impregnation of females are critically dependent on both testicular hormones and female odor cues. Chemosensory information from females is transduced by the olfactory and vomeronasal system of males, and these systems convey essential neural input to the hypothalamus via specific pathways which contain androgen-concentrating neurons. (1) A primary objective of my research, using brain implant techniques, is to determine whether (a) testosterone action in these nuclei facilitates reproductive behavior and the emission of ultrasonic vocalizations, and if so, whether (b) these hormonal effects are dependent on, or are independent of, interactions with chemosensory stimulation. (2) A second objective is to determine whether perinatal testicular secretions are important for the development of (a) the male's attraction to sexually relevant female odors, and (b) the sensitivity of this response to testosterone facilitation in adulthood. Additional studies are designed (c) to learn how this attractant response may relate to specific chemoinvestigatory behaviors employed by the male when interacting with a receptive female, and (d) to discover which of these behaviors is important for acquiring the chemosensory stimulation that is necessary to arouse copulation. (3) A third objective is to investigate photoperiodic cues which are critical in regulating male hamsters' reproductive activity. Specifically, I will test the hypothesis that altered photoperiodic stimulation can suppress masculine copulatory behavior by its influence both on testosterone-dependent and testosterone-independent chemosensory mechanisms. Because of the critical effects exerted by a variety of internal and external cues in controlling male hamster sexual behavior, this species represents an ideal model system for investigating the neural and endocrine regulation of masculine reproductive behavior in mammals. The results from my studies will provide new and important advances in the fields of physiological psychology and behavioral endocrinology and neuroscience.