Social Isolation, Behavior, and Autonomic Function

描述(由申请人提供)：这项建议通过研究社会隔离对雌性草原田鼠的影响，解决了情感行为、神经内分泌功能和自主活动相互作用的中枢催产素能机制。这项研究与社会行为、抑郁、焦虑和心脏病等健康问题直接相关。研究1采用放射免疫分析、酶免疫分析和免疫细胞化学方法，研究了田鼠社会隔离后血浆和下丘脑组织中激素变化的时程。研究2检查抑郁和焦虑样行为和内分泌功能，并使用无线电遥测来测量自主神经参数，以回应社会孤立(目标2)。研究3通过检查中枢(脑室内)给予催产素和/或催产素拮抗剂来改变行为、神经内分泌和自主神经对社会隔离的反应，来研究可能导致应激源诱导的变化的特定催产素能机制(目标3)。本研究将加深我们对社会环境如何影响行为、生理和脑功能的理解，并有助于开发新的情感障碍和心血管疾病治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal addresses central oxytocinergic mechanisms underlying the interactions of affective behaviors, neuroendocrine function, and autonomic activity by investigating the effects of social isolation in female prairie voles. This research is directly relevant to health issues such as social behavior, depression, anxiety, and heart disease. Study 1 employs radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, and immunocytochemistry to investigate the time course of hormone changes in plasma and hypothalamic brain tissue following social isolation in voles (Aim 1). Study 2 examines depression- and anxiety-like behaviors and endocrine function, and uses radiotelemetry to measure autonomic parameters, in response to social isolation (Aim 2). Study 3 investigates specific oxytocinergic mechanisms that might underlie stressor-induced changes by examining central (intracerebroventricular) administration of oxytocin and/or an oxytocin antagonist to alter the behavioral, neuroendocrine, and autonomic responses to social isolation (Aim 3). The present research will enhance our understanding of how the social environment impacts behavior, physiology, and brain function, and can aid in developing new treatments for patients with affective disorders and cardiovascular disease.