GENES, PROGESTINS, AND FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

孕激素（P）促进性接受行为的表达 在非灵长类雌性哺乳动物中， 人类的周期性情绪变化（经前综合征）。 的机制 P及其初级代谢产物5 α-二氢孕酮 (DHP)，影响神经组织和行为，然而，还没有 完全描述。 因为受体结合被认为是 第一步，在生产类固醇介导的影响，目标的 拟议的研究将是研究P和DHP的相互作用， 脑中的细胞孕酮受体（PR）。 这将是完成 通过开发可使用3 H-P和3 H-DHP的神经PR测定法， 作为配体，这是一种目前无法获得的方法。 证明试剂盒 然后用于比较两种小鼠品系（CD-1， Swiss-Websster）对行为效应的敏感性差异 P和DHP。 由于CD-1女性对两种孕激素都有反应，而SW 女性对DHP不敏感，菌株比较应提供 一个强大的工具，用于表征敏感性的可能分子基础 (or不敏感性），以及提供有关的信息， 诱导这些受体。 因此，结果应该提供 深入了解参与周期性神经内分泌的主要神经内分泌过程， 女性行为的变化，也可能有助于产生新的假设 关于孕激素在经前综合征中的可能作用。

Progesterone (P) facilitates the expression of sexually receptive behaviors in non-primate female mammals and has been implicated in the etiology of cyclical mood changes in humans (premenstrual syndrome). The mechanisms through which P and its primary metabolite, 5Alpha-dihydroprogesterone (DHP), affect neural tissues and behavior, however, have not yet been completely described. Because receptor binding is recognized as a critical first step in the production of steroid-mediated effects, the goal of the proposed research will be to examine the interaction of P and DHP with cellular progestin receptors (PR) in the brain. This will be accomplished by developing an assay for neural PR in which 3H-P and 3H-DHP can be used as ligands, a procedure which is currently unavailable. The assay will then be used to compare P and DHP binding in two strains of mice (CD-1, Swiss-Websster) that are differentially sensitive to the behavioral effects of P and DHP. Since CD-1 females respond to both progestins while SW females are insensitive to DHP, the strain comparison should provide a powerful tool for characterizing a possible molecular basis for sensitivity (or insensitivity) to P and DHP as well as providing information about the induction of these receptors. The results should therefore provide insights into a major neuroendocrine process involved in cyclical behavioral changes in females and may also help generate new hypotheses concerning the possible role of progestins in premenstrual syndrome.