NEUROANATOMY OF TACHYKININS IN THE MATING BEHAVIOR PATHWAY

性腺类固醇对于正常雄性交配的表达是必不可少的 行为。边缘系统的三个区域，即大脑内侧核 杏仁核(M)、终纹BE核(BNST)和内侧核 视前区(MPOA)是类固醇作用于雄性交配的靶点 行为。这些区域的神经元含有神经活性多肽，而 这些多肽的水平受性腺类固醇的调节。因此，性腺 类固醇可能通过调节激素水平来调节交配行为 神经肽。要进一步检验这些假设，重要的是1) 识别神经肽并确定特定的神经肽是否 存在于单独的神经元中，或者它们是否共同出现在个体中 神经元；2)确定传入来源和传出位置 这些多肽特定群体的靶点；以及3)确定其作用 M、MPOA和BNST中神经肽对雄性交配的调节作用 行为。此外，为了阐明类固醇通过何种细胞机制 调节多肽水平，重要的是1)确定 睾酮，或其代谢物之一，调节这些细胞的多肽水平。 以及2)决定类固醇是否直接作用于肽能 神经元。拟议的实验将通过以下方式提供这一信息 解剖学和行为学技术。这些研究将澄清 神经肽在雄性交配行为调节中的作用 性腺类固醇激素影响卵巢功能的细胞机制 神经元参与交配行为的调节。

Gonadal steroids are essential for the expression of normal male mating behavior. Three areas of the limbic system, the medial nucleus of the amygdala (M), the be nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and the medial preoptic area (MPOA), are targets for steroid actions on male mating behavior. Neurons in these ares contain neuroactive peptides, and the levels of these peptides are regulated by gonadal steroids. Thus, gonadal steroids may regulate mating behavior by regulating levels of neuropeptides. To further test this hypotheses it is important to 1) identify the neuropeptides and determine whether specific neuropeptides are present in separate neurons, or whether they co-occur in individual neurons; 2) identify the location of sources of afferents, and the efferent targets of these peptide specific populations; and to 3) determine the role of neuropeptides in M, MPOA and BNST in the regulation of male mating behavior. Moreover, to clarify the cellular mechanisms by which steroids regulate peptide levels, it is important to 1) determine whether testosterone, or one of its metabolites, regulates peptide levels in these neurons, and 2) determine whether steroids act directly on peptidergic neurons. The proposed experiments will provide this information using anatomical and behavioral techniques. These studies will clarify both the role of neuropeptides in the regulation of male mating behavior, and the cellular mechanisms by which gonadal steroids influence the function of neurons involved in the regulation of mating behavior.