SEXUAL DIFFERENTIATION OF BEHAVIOR AND LH SECRETION

本提案中概述的研究目标是 阐明性别差异的机制 对类固醇激素的行为和激素反应 雌激素和孕激素。 要测量的终点有两个 这些类固醇引发的生理事件，即 性感受性（脊柱前凸）的表达和 促黄体生成激素（LH）分泌。 获得的数据将 增强我们对基本细胞机制的理解， 哪种类固醇激素对中枢神经系统有影响 系统，并有助于我们的知识的性 这些机制的差异。 实验的重点是调节 特定脑内类固醇激素受体浓度 核和参与的电子能系统， 决定对类固醇激素的反应。 成年男性 和雌性大鼠将被研究，将轻度雄激素化 雌性大鼠，因为它表现出对类固醇的反应性丧失 激素，因为它从一个发情周期的状态进展到一个 不排卵 一种新的类固醇激素方案，能够诱导 去势男性中炔雌醇促进的脊柱前凸， 女性，将被用来测试的假设，诱导 在脑的特定核团中的胞质溶胶中， 性别差异，正如一些研究人员所声称的那样。 此外，这种激素治疗触发LH的能力 雄性和无发情期的雄性化雌性会出现激增， 评估。 由于血清素活性已被报道， 抑制男性脊柱前凸的表达， 药理学和损伤技术将用于研究 操纵中枢神经系统对 激素诱导的脊柱前凸，LH分泌和 类固醇激素受体在特定的脑核，介导 类固醇对性行为和LH分泌的影响。 最后，性别差异的影响，类固醇激素对 5-羟色胺受体的浓度和解剖学 共定位的神经元和类固醇， 将评估大脑中积累的细胞， 阐明这两者之间的相互作用，这可能是 负责对类固醇反应性的性别差异 荷尔蒙

The objective of the research outlined in this proposal is the elucidation of the mechanism(s) underlying sex differences in behavioral and hormonal responsiveness to the steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone. The endpoints to be measured are two physiological events triggered by these steriods, namely the expression of sexual receptivity (lordosis) and the stimulation of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. The data obtained will enhance our understanding of the basic cellular mechanisms by which steroid hormones exert effects on the central nervous system, and contribute to our knowledge of the sexual differentiation of these mechanisms. The focus of the experiments is on the regulation of the concentration of steroid hormone receptors in specific brain nuclei and the participation of the serotonergic system in determining responsiveness to steroid hormones. The adult male and female rat will be studied, as will the lightly androgenized female rat, as it exhibits a loss of responsiveness to steroid hormones, as it progresses from a state of estrous cyclicity to one of anovulation. A novel steroid hormone regimen, capable of inducing progesterone-facilitated lordosis in gonadectomized males and females, will be used to test the hypothesis that the induction of cytosol progestin receptors in specific nuclei of the brain is sexually differentiated, as some investigators have claimed. Furthermore, the ability of this hormone treatment to trigger LH surges in males and anestrous, androgenized females will be evaluated. Since serotonin activity has been reported to tonically inhibit the expression of lordosis in males, a combination of pharmacological and lesion techniques will be used to study the effects of manipulation of the central serotonergic system on steroid-induced lordosis, LH secretion and the concentration of steroid hormone receptors in specific brain nuclei which mediate the effects of steroids on sexual behavior and LH secretion. Finally, sex differences in the effects of steroid hormones on the concentration of serotonin receptors and anatomical colocalization of serotonin-containing neurons and steroid- accumulating cells in the brain will be evaluated, in order to elucidate interactions between these two, which may be responsible for sex differences in responsiveness to steroid hormones.