SOCIAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL REGULATIONS OF MATURATION

描述（申请人摘要）：实验的长期目标 +__________________________________ 这里提出的是理解社会互动的机制， 影响神经系统。具体来说， 个体在大脑中产生细胞特异性变化？这将是 通过研究硬骨鱼明确的社会系统进行调查， 在受控实验室中操纵其社会和繁殖状态 模拟自然环境的条件。前脑大细胞 将分析含有促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）的神经元 新开发的细胞和分子探针以及新技术。 在这个系统中，我们已经表明，当男性赢得了领土的遭遇， 含有GnRH的神经元在约1000 μ mol/L时增大。8-当雄性失去 这样的遭遇，这些细胞会收缩。该系统提供了许多 分析社会行为的细胞后果的优势。 前脑GnRH神经元包括一个遗传学上古老的系统， 调节垂体通过性腺控制生殖的中枢作用 控制所有脊椎动物。在形状和大小上的显著保存 5亿年脊椎动物进化过程中的GnRH允许分析机制 在脊椎动物中保守的系统特别适合于 实验，因为它允许使用自然发生的行为， 对细胞和分子活动的研究。生殖控制系统是 在哺乳动物中由于新皮层功能的叠加而变得复杂， 但基底前脑的控制可以很容易地在硬骨鱼中进行研究， 有这些结构。 实验计划解决四个关键问题的细胞 行为行动的后果：什么分子机制负责 GnM丰度控制的变化？社会变化是否调节GnRH 分子水平上的受体什么机制负责 将社会信息转化为细胞变化控制 含有GnRH的神经元对所有脊椎动物都有重要的影响， 它们直接调节垂体功能。例如，这些细胞是 与生长或成熟相关的疾病如性腺功能减退有关， 年轻化的外貌了解GnRH的产生是如何在社会上 监管将提高我们的能力，以治疗这一重要的故障 大脑系统

DESCRIPTION (applicant's abstract): The long term goal of the experiments +__________________________________ proposed here is to understand the mechanisms through which social interactions influence the nervous system. Specifically, how do social encounters between individuals produce cell specific changes in the brain? This will be investigated by studying the well defined social system of a teleost fish and manipulating its social and reproductive states under controlled laboratory conditions that mimic their natural environment. The forebrain magnocellular neurons which contain gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) will be analyzed with newly developed cellular and molecular probes as well as new techniques. In this system we have shown that when males win a territorial encounter, neurons containing GnRH enlarge by ca. 8-fold in volume and when males lose such an encounter, these same cells shrink. This system offers numerous advantages for the analysis of the cellular consequences of social behavior. Forebrain GnRH neurons comprise a phylogenetically ancient system that plays a central role in modulation pituitary control of reproduction through gonadal control in all vertebrates. The remarkable conservation of the form and size of GnRH during 500 myr of vertebrate evolution allows analysis of mechanisms conserved among vertebrates in a system particularly amenable to experimentation because it allows the use of naturally occurring behavior in the study of cellular and molecular events. The reproductive control system is complicated in mammals because of the superimposition of neocortical functions, but basal forebrain control can be readily studied in teleost fish that do not have these structures. Experiments are planned to address four key questions about the cellular consequences of behavioral action: What molecular mechanism are responsible for changes in the control of GnM abundance? Does social change regulate GnRH receptors at the molecular level? What are the mechanisms responsible for the transduction of social information into cellular change? Control of GnRH-containing neurons has important consequences for all vertebrates because they directly modulate pituitary function. For example, these cells are implicated in growth or maturation related diseases such as hypogonadism and juvenilized physiognomy. Understanding how production of GnRH is socially regulated will enhance our ability to treat malfunctions of this important brain system.