Connections and function of reproductive neural circuits

描述（由申请人提供）：内侧杏仁核后背核（MEApd）和终纹床核主核（BSTpr）被认为是整合激素和嗅觉信号并相应调节生殖行为的关键。我们的长期目标是阐明遗传定义的MEApd和BSTpr神经元亚群的连接和功能，以确定负责将激素和化学感觉输入转化为特定行为输出的特定回路和机制。在这个提议中要测试的具体假设是，MEApd和BSTpr包含多个功能不同的神经元亚群，每个亚群对生殖行为都有重要但独特的贡献。该假设将通过以下三个具体目标进行检验：1）使用经典的神经解剖示踪来确定MEApd和BSTpr中是否存在具有不同连接性的多个神经元亚群; 2）使用Cre依赖的跨神经元示踪剂来确定MEApd是否接收来自AOB和MOB的输入; 3）使用遗传消融来检验不同的MEApd和BSTpr神经元亚群在调节雄性生殖行为中发挥独特功能作用的假设。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The medial amygdala posterior dorsal (MEApd) and principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTpr) are thought to be critical for integrating hormonal and olfactory signals and modulating reproductive behavior accordingly. Our long term goal is to elucidate the connectivity and function of genetically defined MEApd and BSTpr neuronal subpopulations in order to determine the specific circuits and mechanisms responsible for translating hormonal and chemosensory inputs into specific behavioral outputs. The specific hypothesis to be tested in this proposal is that MEApd and BSTpr contain multiple functionally distinct neuronal subpopulations, each of which make essential but unique contributions to reproductive behavior. This hypothesis will be tested via the following three specific aims: 1) Use classical neuroanatomical tracing to determine if multiple neuronal subpopulations with distinct connectivity exist in MEApd and BSTpr; 2) Determine if MEApd receives input from both the AOB and MOB using Cre-dependent transneuronal tracers; 3) Use genetic ablations to test the hypothesis that distinct MEApd and BSTpr neuronal subpopulations serve unique functional roles in modulating male reproductive behavior.