HORMONAL INFLUENCES ON THE NEUROBIOL OF EXCITABLE CELLS

我正在研究性腺类固醇激素对 动作电位的解剖和生理特性- 产生(即可电刺激的)细胞。我正在使用 Mormyrids的电动系统，一群弱电 来自非洲的鱼，作为一个示范系统。Mormyrids有一个电动的 位于尾部的器官，由修饰的肌肉细胞组成 被称为电细胞，它们共同产生一个电子器官 排放(EOD)。爆炸装置的特征特性包括 由细胞的解剖学和生理学决定。 单个电细胞产生的活动决定了 整个排爆现场。 我发现性腺类固醇激素(如睾酮)可以 在排泄物中诱导模拟自然性别差异的变化。 类固醇引起的EOD变化与变化相关 在电细胞的可兴奋膜的形态中 动作电位波形的持续时间。我也想 继续研究荷尔蒙背后的细胞机制- 电的解剖学和生理学引起的变化 管风琴。我还想扩大我对类固醇的解剖学研究- 电鱼大脑中的结合细胞。 类固醇激素对细胞的影响可能是 它们对其他电类的作用是基本的 兴奋性细胞，即神经元和肌肉纤维。爆炸品处理本身 有点独特，因为它既是一种行为，在一种 电子引导系统和社会交流，以及一种 离散的神经生理学事件。这样，我们就可以编织一个 类固醇激素在功能(即 行为)和机械或细胞水平。

I am studying the influences of gonadal steroid hormones on the anatomical and physiological properties of action potential- generating (i.e. electrically excitable) cells. I am using the electromotor system of mormyrids, a group of weakly electric fish from Africa, as a model system. Mormyrids have an electric organ located in the tail that consists of modified muscle cells called electrocytes that together generate an Electric Organ Discharge (EOD). The characteristic properties of the EOD are determined by the anatomy and physiology of the electrocytes. The activity generated by a single electrocyte determines the appearance of the entire EOD. I have found that gonadal steroid hormones (e.g. testosterone) can induce changes in the EOD that mimic natural sex differences. Steroid-induced changes in the EOD are correlated with changes in the morphology of the electrocyte's excitable membranes and the duration of their action potential waveforms. I want to continue studying the cellular mechanisms underlying hormone- induced changes in the anatomy and physiology of the electric organ. I also want to extend my anatomical studies of steroid- binding cells in the brain of electric fish. The effects of steroid hormones on electrocytes may be fundamental to their action on other classes of electrically excitable cells, namely neurons and muscle fibers. The EOD itself is somewhat unique in that it is both a behavior, important in an electrical guidance system and in social communication, and a discrete neurophysiological event. In this way, we can weave an interface between steroid hormone action at functional (i.e. behavior) and mechanistic or cellular levels.