Male sex behavior and development of the pelvic ganglia

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究旨在阐明母性护理对实验大鼠生殖神经生物学和行为发育的影响。这一目标将通过同时评估由于产妇护理的变化而导致的行为和形态的变化来实现。该提案的具体目标是：1。测定增强的母性刺激对实验大鼠海绵体脊髓核（SNB）、骨盆神经节（MPG）发育和雄性生殖行为的影响。2. 确定母体刺激影响SNB和MPG形态的机制。3. 确定剥夺母体刺激对SNB和MPG发育以及男性生殖行为的影响。这些目标将通过使用两种一般模型来检查产妇护理变化对男性生殖健康的影响。一种模型利用了一些母鼠对其新生后代进行高水平舔舐和梳理的发现。这种加强的照料促进了雄性后代生殖效能的提高。第二个模型是一个产妇忽视，并提供了机会来研究机制，严重减少产妇护理导致男性生殖功能的缺陷。这两种模式在人类中都有相似之处，增强皮肤对皮肤的接触（袋鼠式护理）加速了人类婴儿自主神经和神经行为的成熟，而人类早期身体和情感的忽视增加了疾病的风险，并损害了生长和发育。无论是在育婴室触摸和抱着人类婴儿，还是在实验室或动物护理机构对幼小动物的母性刺激，早期同类型接触的重要性对后代成年后的健康和福祉至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of the proposed research is to clarify the relationship between the effects maternal care has on development of reproductive neurobiology and behavior in laboratory rats. This goal will be achieved by concurrent evaluation of the changes in behavior and morphology that result from variation in maternal care. The specific aims of the proposal are: 1. Determine the effects of enhanced maternal stimulation on the development of the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB), the major pelvic ganglion (MPG), and male reproductive behavior in the laboratory rat. 2. Determine the mechanism(s) by which maternal stimulation affects the morphology of the SNB and the MPG. 3. Determine the effects of deprivation of maternal stimulation on the development of the SNB and the MPG, and male reproductive behavior. These objectives will be archived by using two general models to examine the impact of variation in maternal care on the reproductive well being of males. One model takes advantage of the finding that some mother rats engage in high levels of licking and grooming of their neonatal offspring. This enhanced care facilitates the development of greater reproductive efficacy in the male offspring. The second model is one of maternal neglect and provides the opportunity to study the mechanisms by which severe reductions in maternal care lead to deficits in reproductive function in the male. Both models have parallels in the human where enhanced skin-to-skin contact (Kangaroo Care) accelerates autonomic and neurobehavioral maturation in human infants whereas early physical and emotional neglect in the human increase the risk of disease, and compromises growth and development. Whether it is touching and holding infant humans in a nursery or the maternal stimulation of young animals in a laboratory or animal care facility, the importance of early conspecific contact is of fundamental importance to the health and well-being of the offspring as adults.