CIRCANNUAL RHYTHMS, BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTION

拟议研究的主要目标是表征 神经内分泌底物参与环管生成 行为和生理的节奏，并确定环境 使这些内源性节律同步的刺激。 模型 要研究的物种是金背地松鼠。 具体项目包括：1）确定性测试日的作用 年周期节律夹带的长度，2）建立 视网膜舌骨丘脑束在光夹带中的作用 年周期节律，3）确定是否外侧隔核， 内侧视前区和乳头核是 神经基质的产生和表达 节奏，4）确定昼夜节律的周期是否 在一年周期的一部分时间里，温度是依赖的，5） 评估身体脂肪、能量和 生殖周期，以及，6）建立 不同脂肪库的脂质动员顺序 年周期的减肥阶段，以及 青少年和成年人在数量和大小上的差异 脂肪细胞 待测量的参数包括体重， 脂肪细胞数量和大小，血浆睾酮水平，昼夜节律 活动节律和外部生殖条件。 的 拟议的工作与内生机制有关， 人类的季节性情感障碍， 导致药理学以及非侵入性治疗， 了以下条件

The main goals of the proposed research are to characterize the neuroendocrine substrates involved in generation of circannual rhythms in behavior and physiology, and to identify environmental stimuli that synchronize these endogenous rhythms. The model species to be studied is the golden-mantled ground squirrel. Specific projects include: 1) A definitive test of the role of day length in entrainment of circannual rhythms, 2) establishing the role of the retinohyothalamic tract in photic entrainment of circannual rhythms, 3) determining if the lateral septal nuclei, medial pre-optic region and mammillary nuclei are part of the neural substrate for generation and expression of circannual rhythms, 4) establishing whether the period of circadian rhythms is temperature-dependent during part of the circannual cycle, 5) evaluating interactions among body fat, energetics and reproduction during the circannual cycle, and, 6) establishing the sequence of lipid mobilization from different fat depots during the weight loss phase of the circannual cycle, as well as differences between juveniles and adults in number and size of adipocytes. Parameters to be measured include body mass, adipocyte number and size, plasma testosterone levels, circadian activity rhythms, and external reproductive condition. The proposed work is relevant to mechanisms that underlie endogenous seasonal affective disorders in human beings, and could ultimately lead to pharmacological as well as non-invasive treatments for these conditions.