MATERNAL HORMONE EXPOSURE IN THE DEVELOPING AVIAN BRAIN

说明(申请人摘要)：由于早期荷尔蒙暴露，是否 内源性或外源性，可能对一个人的行为产生长期影响 生物体，如成熟、繁殖和认知，重要的是 了解这些变化。脊椎动物卵中母体激素的存在 暗示母亲和后代之间存在荷尔蒙联系，这可能会使 母亲对后代的健康有不同的影响。目前的建议 旨在专门研究母体雄激素在 发育中大脑的组织及其对行为的影响 家雀，过客家禽，作为我们的工作榜样。我们的假设是 母体激素的不同沉积对禽蛋的影响 发育过程中的大脑分化导致行为差异 在兄弟姐妹和雏鸟之间。用放射免疫测定法测定雄激素 原位杂交检测雄激素的水平和免疫细胞化学 受体，这项研究将考察个体发育的行为差异 与个人健康有关的。这项研究的独特之处在于它将检查 在多个层面上的个体差异。除了神经元的差异，我 还将检查激素水平、生理(体重、羽毛)和 行为(攻击性、求爱、繁殖和认知)来决定是否 可变数量的母体荷尔蒙为特定的 个人。

DESCRIPTION (applicant's abstract): Because early hormonal exposure, whether endogenous or exogenous, may have long-lasting effects on the behavior of an organism, such as maturation, reproduction, and cognition, it is important to understand these changes. The presence of maternal hormones in vertebrate eggs suggest a hormonal link between the mother and the offspring which may allow the mother to differentially influence offspring fitness. The present proposal is designed to specifically investigate the role of maternal androgens in the organization of the developing brain and the effects on behavior using the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, as our working model. Our hypothesis is that maternal hormones deposited in variable amounts in the avian egg influence brain differentiation during development leading to differences in behavior among siblings and broods of birds. Using radioimmunoassays to measure androgen levels, and immunocytochemistry in in situ hybridization to detect androgen receptors, this study will examine the ontogeny of behavioral differences relating to individual fitness. This study is unique in that it will examine individual variation at multiple levels. In addition to neuronal differences, I will also be examining hormone levels, physiology (weight, plumage) and behavior (aggression, courtship, reproduction & cognition) to determine if variable amounts of maternal hormones provide a selective advantage to specific individuals.