SOCIAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL REGULATIONS OF MATURATION

描述(申请人摘要)：实验的长期目标 +_ 在这里提出的是理解社会互动通过的机制 影响神经系统。具体地说，社交接触是如何在 个体在大脑中产生特定于细胞的变化？这将是 通过研究硬骨鱼和硬骨鱼明确定义的社会系统进行调查 在受控实验室中操纵其社会和生殖状态 模拟其自然环境的条件。前脑大细胞 含有促性腺激素释放激素(GnRH)的神经元将被分析 新开发的细胞和分子探针以及新技术。 在这个系统中，我们已经证明，当雄性赢得领土冲突时， 含有促性腺激素释放激素的神经元体积放大约8倍，当雄性丢失时 遇到这样的情况，这些细胞就会收缩。该系统提供了许多 在分析社会行为的细胞后果方面的优势。 前脑GnRH神经元组成了一个系统发育古老的系统，它扮演着一个 调节垂体通过性腺控制生殖的中枢作用 在所有脊椎动物中都有控制力。在形状和大小方面的显著保存 在脊椎动物500MYR的进化过程中，GnRH可以分析机制 在脊椎动物中保存，在一个特别适合于 实验，因为它允许使用自然发生的行为 对细胞和分子事件的研究。生殖控制系统是 在哺乳动物中由于新皮质功能的叠加而变得复杂， 但是在硬骨鱼中可以很容易地研究基底前脑的控制，而不是 有这些结构。 计划进行实验，以解决关于细胞的四个关键问题 行为行为的后果：什么分子机制负责 GNM丰度控制的变化？社会变化是否调节促性腺激素释放激素 分子水平上的受体？是什么机制导致了 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，因为 它们直接调节脑下垂体功能。例如，这些单元格是 与生长或成熟相关的疾病有关，如性腺机能减退和 少年化的相貌。了解促性腺激素释放激素的生产是如何社会化的 规范将增强我们处理这一重要故障的能力 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.