Sex Differences in Brain and Behavior Development

大脑和行为发展的性别差异

• 批准号: 6747574
• 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/6747574
• 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）：本研究将重点研究斑胸草雀鸣叫系统的性别分化，以阐明对神经系统、肌肉和行为发育重要的基因及其产物。只有雄性会唱歌，而且控制唱歌的大脑区域和肌肉比雌性大。在许多脊椎动物中，这些二态性的发育是由性腺类固醇调节的。在斑胸草雀中，分化可以通过雌激素治疗而改变，但最近的数据表明，前脑鸣声控制区的分化独立于性腺分泌物。因此，在形态学和歌唱行为的发育过程中，将对端脑中以两性二态模式表达的基因进行筛选。然后，将更详细地研究调节细胞结构和/或特定功能（例如学习）的基因/蛋白质。利用这种策略，发现了神经钙素的女性特异性转录本。实验将阐明它们和钙在神经发育中的调节作用。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）在歌曲控制核和涉及歌曲感知的区域的发育中的作用。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（男性已经获得了详细的信息），然后将测试BDNF调节两性端脑结构和歌曲相关功能发育的假设。最后，将确定调节前脑发育的机制是否适用于运动核和发声器官肌肉，以及这一水平的性别分化是否通常由性腺类固醇介导，类似于其他二态模型系统。独立科学家奖的候选人是密歇根州立大学的副教授，她的教学负担和服务义务都很繁重。该奖项将为她提供时间：(1)加强她在分子技术方面的训练（那些与其他科学家合作提出的，以及对未来实验有用的新技术）；(2)拓宽她的解剖学知识；(3)更直接地为拟议的研究作出贡献，这将加快进展速度；(4)通过与她所在领域的领导者建立一个系列研讨会，加强她日益增长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。