OVARIAN HORMONE REGULATION OF NA NEURONS

描述(申请人摘要)：参与调节排卵和生殖行为的特定去甲肾上腺素(NA)细胞群对雌二醇和/或黄体酮的反应知之甚少。最近，有研究表明，A1、A2和A6脑干核团是视前区和下丘脑NA的主要来源。本研究旨在探讨1)酪氨酸羟化酶(TH：NA合成限速酶)基因水平的变化与排卵前黄体生成素高峰和女性性行为开始的关系。在所有实验中，我将使用双标记原位杂交组织化学来共定位TH mRNA和雌激素受体(ER)-α、ER-β或孕激素受体(PR)mRNA。此外，我还将测定在黄体生成素激增和出现前凸行为的当天和次日的不同时间，TH信使核糖核酸水平的变化。该项目的结果将提供有关卵巢激素和NA系统之间相互作用的新信息，为更好地了解类固醇激素影响生殖功能的机制提供了更好的信息。

DESCRIPTION (applicant's abstract): Little is known about how specific noradrenergic (NA) cell groups involved in regulating ovulation and reproductive behaviors respond to estradiol and/or progesterone. Recently, it has been suggested that A1, A2, and possibly A6 brainstem NA nuclei are the major sources of NA to the preoptic area and hypothalamus. The present research is designed to examine 1) changes in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH: rate-limiting enzyme for NA synthesis) mRNA levels in relation to the onset of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge and the onset of female sexual behavior. In all experiments, I will use dual-label in situ hybridization histochemistry to colocalize TH mRNA and estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha, ER-beta, or progestin receptor (PR) mRNA. Additionally, I will determine changes in levels of TH mRNA at various times of the day of and the day after the LH surge and onset of lordosis behavior. The results of this project will provide new information regarding the interactions between ovarian hormones and the NA system, providing a better understanding of the mechanisms by which steroid hormones influence reproductive functions.