Connections and function of reproductive neural circuits

描述(申请人提供)：杏仁内侧后背侧核(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地调节生殖行为的关键。我们的长期目标是阐明基因定义的MEApd和BSTpr神经元亚群的连通性和功能，以确定负责将激素和化学感觉输入转换为特定行为输出的特定电路和机制。在这项建议中要检验的具体假设是，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做出必要但独特的贡献。这一假说将通过以下三个具体目标得到验证：1)使用经典的神经解剖学示踪来确定MEApd和BSTpr中是否存在具有不同连接性的多个神经元亚群；2)使用依赖CRE的跨神经元示踪剂确定MEApd是否接受AOB和MOB的输入；3)使用基因消融来测试不同的MEApd和BSTpr神经元亚群在调节男性生殖行为中发挥独特功能的假设。

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.