NEUROENDOCRINE CONTROL OF MALE REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

我对雄性仓鼠生殖行为的研究主要集中在 环境因素和类固醇激素在调节 生殖和社会相关性的发展和成人表达 交际行为 在雄性仓鼠中， 雌性成功受孕所需的行为是 严重依赖于睾丸激素和女性气味 来自雌性的化学感受信息通过嗅觉和 犁鼻系统的男性，这些系统传达基本的神经 通过特定的途径输入到下丘脑， 雄激素集中神经元 (1)我研究的一个主要目标， 使用大脑植入技术，是为了确定（a）睾丸激素 这些核团的活动促进生殖行为和排放 超声波发声，如果是这样，是否（B）这些激素的影响， 依赖于或独立于与化学感受器的相互作用， 刺激. (2)第二个目标是确定围产期是否 睾丸分泌物对（a）男性的 对性相关的女性气味的吸引力，以及（B） 这种对成年期睾酮促进的反应。 额外 研究的目的是（c）了解这种引诱剂的反应可能与 雄性的特定化学行为， 与一个接受性的女性互动，（d）发现这些 行为对于获得化学感觉刺激是重要的， 必须引起交配。 (3)第三个目标是调查 光周期线索是调节雄性仓鼠 生殖活动 具体地说，我将检验一个假设， 改变光周期刺激可以抑制雄性交配 行为通过其对睾酮依赖性和 睾丸激素非依赖性化学感受机制。 由于关键的 各种内部和外部线索在控制 雄性仓鼠的性行为，这个物种代表了一个理想的模式系统 用于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.