Sex Differences in Brain and Behavior Development

大脑和行为发展的性别差异

• 批准号: 6677883
• 负责人: JULI S. WADE
• 金额: $ 12.31万
• 依托单位: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-07-01 至 2008-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6677883
• 关键词: animal communication behavior; animal developmental psychology; behavior test; behavioral /social science research tag; behavioral genetics; brain; brain derived neurotrophic factor; brain mapping; brain morphology; calcium binding protein; developmental genetics; developmental neurobiology; gender difference; gene expression; genetic screening; immunocytochemistry; in situ hybridization; learning; northern blottings; postdoctoral investigator; protein structure function; sex differentiation; songbirds; sound perception; steroid hormone; telencephalon; vocalization

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The studies, focusing on sexual differentiation of the song system in zebra finches, will elucidate genes and their products important for nervous system, muscle and behavioral development. Only males sing, and the brain areas and muscles that control song are larger than in females. In many vertebrates, development of these types of dimorphisms is regulated by gonadal steroids. In zebra finches, differentiation can be altered with estrogen treatment, but recent data suggest that the forebrain song control regions differentiate independent of gonadal secretions. Therefore, a screen will be conducted for genes expressed in a sexually dimorphic pattern in the telencephalon during development of morphology and singing behavior. Then, genes/proteins regulating cytoarchitecture and/or specific functions (e.g., learning) will be investigated in more detail. Using this strategy, female-specific transcripts for neurocalcin were discovered. Experiments will clarify their role and that of calcium regulation in neural development. Other studies target the role of the estrogen-sensitive protein, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in development of the song control nuclei and regions involved in song perception. These studies will clarify the importance of learning and the brain regions that are active during song perception in females (detailed information is already available for males), and will then test the hypothesis that BDNF modulates development of these telencephalic structures and song-related functions in both sexes. Finally, it will be determined whether mechanisms regulating development in the forebrain apply to the motor nucleus and vocal organ muscles, and whether sexual differentiation at this level is normally mediated by gonadal steroids, similar to other dimorphic model systems. The candidate for this Independent Scientist Award is an associate professor at Michigan State University, and her teaching load and service obligations are substantial. The award would provide her time to (1) enhance her training in molecular techniques (those proposed in collaboration with other scientists, and new ones useful for future experiments); (2) broaden her anatomical expertise; (3) contribute to the proposed studies more directly, which will increase the rate of progress; and (4) enhance collaborations and visibility of her growing neuroendocrine group, as well as training of students and postdocs, by establishing a seminar series with leaders in her field.

描述（由申请人提供）：这些研究侧重于斑胸草雀鸣唱系统的性别分化，将阐明对神经系统、肌肉和行为发育重要的基因及其产物。只有雄性会唱歌，而且控制歌声的大脑区域和肌肉比雌性大。在许多脊椎动物中，这些类型的二态性的发育是由性腺类固醇调节的。在斑胸草雀中，雌激素治疗可以改变分化，但最近的数据表明前脑鸣唱控制区的分化独立于性腺分泌物。因此，将进行筛选的基因表达在端脑的形态和歌唱行为的发展过程中的性二态模式。然后，调节细胞结构和/或特定功能的基因/蛋白质（例如，学习）将进行更详细的研究。使用这种策略，发现了神经钙蛋白的女性特异性转录本。实验将阐明其作用和钙调节神经发育。其他研究的目标是雌激素敏感蛋白，脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）在歌曲控制核团和歌曲感知区域发育中的作用。这些研究将阐明学习的重要性和女性在歌曲感知过程中活跃的大脑区域（男性的详细信息已经提供），然后将测试BDNF调节这些端脑结构和歌曲相关功能在两性中的发展的假设。最后，它将确定是否在前脑的机制调节发展适用于运动核和发声器官的肌肉，以及是否在这个水平上的性分化通常是由性腺类固醇介导的，类似于其他二态模型系统。本次独立科学家奖的候选人是密歇根州立大学的副教授，她的教学负荷和服务义务都很可观。该奖项将为她提供时间（1）加强她在分子技术方面的培训（2）扩大她的解剖学专业知识;（3）更直接地为拟议的研究作出贡献，这将加快进展速度;和（4）通过与她所在领域的领导者建立一系列研讨会，加强她不断壮大的神经内分泌小组的合作和知名度，以及对学生和博士后的培训。