Center for Neurovisceral Sciences & Women's Health

描述（申请人提供）：该中心神经内脏科学与妇女健康是由一个有凝聚力的临床研究人员和基础科学家与强大的独立赠款支持的研究计划之间的相互作用的神经系统和内脏，特别强调妇女的健康和功能性疼痛障碍，应激神经生物学（促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子[CRF]信号系统）的性别相关差异。大多数调查人员在目前资助的SCOR内有合作的记录。该中心的主要重点是确定在两种常见内脏疼痛综合征的发展、临床表现和治疗反应中发挥作用的性别相关因素，例如，肠易激综合征（IBS）和间质性膀胱炎（IC）。这两种疾病都很常见，更常见于女性，似乎在治疗反应方面显示出性别差异，并导致显著的发病率和生活质量受损。该中心有两个临床和两个基础科学项目，在主题，实验方法和假设方面紧密交织和重叠。最先进的技术，从分子生物学方法，细胞成像和完整的大脑将被用来研究这4个项目的具体目标：1。有和没有慢性盆腔内脏症状（IBS，IC）的女性之间的中枢应激回路反应性差异，以及慢性应激动物模型。2. IBS患者粘膜神经-内分泌-免疫相互作用的性别差异及其与症状的关系3.应激相关内脏表现的CRF信号通路：性别差异和雌激素β受体的调节作用。4.外周CRF信号系统在猫和啮齿动物模型中调节尿路上皮信号的作用，重点是性别差异。为了促进研究，该中心有一个行政核心和两个科学核心（神经内分泌测定，神经成像），并将利用现有的NIH资助的核心和校园服务设施，包括加州大学洛杉矶分校脑图谱中心和GCRC。该中心为调查人员之间的合作与协作提供了最佳环境，这些调查人员已经对该领域产生了重大影响，无论是个人还是作为一个有凝聚力的群体。因此，预期该中心的协同作用将对扩大对一个高度流行但治疗不足的妇女健康领域的研究产生重大影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Center for Neurovisceral Sciences & Women's Health is composed of a cohesive group of clinical investigators and basic scientists with strong independent grant-supported research programs in the interactions between the nervous system and the viscera, with special emphasis on women's health and functional pain disorders, and sex-related differences in stress neurobiology (corticotropin releasing factor [CRF] signaling system). The majority of investigators have a track record of collaborations within a currently funded SCOR. The main focus of the Center is the identification of sex-related factors that play a role in the development, clinical manifestation and treatment response of two common visceral pain syndromes, e.g., irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and interstitial cystitis (IC). Both disorders are common, occur more commonly in females, appear to show sex differences in treatment responses and cause significant morbidity and impairment in quality of life. The Center has two clinical and two basic science Projects, which closely interdigitate and overlap in terms of thematic, experimental approach and hypotheses. State of the art technology ranging from molecular biological approaches, imaging of cells and the intact brain will be used to study specific aims in these 4 Projects: 1. Differences in central stress circuit responsiveness between women with and without chronic pelvic visceral symptoms (IBS, IC), and in an animal model of chronic stress. 2. Sex differences in mucosal neuro-endocrine-immune interactions in IBS patients, and relationship to symptoms. 3. CRF signaling pathways in stress-related visceral manifestation: sex difference and modulatory role of estrogen beta receptors. 4. The role of the peripheral CRF signaling system in modulating urothelial signaling in cat and rodent models, with an emphasis on sex differences. To facilitate the research, the Center has an Administrative Core and two Scientific Cores (Neuroendocrine Assay, Neuroimaging) and will take advantage of existing NIH-funded core and service facilities on campus, including the UCLA Brain Mapping Center and the GCRC. The Center provides an optimal environment for cooperation and collaboration among its investigators, who already have had a major impact on the field both individually, and as a cohesive group. Thus, the synergy expected from the Center promises to have a large impact upon expanded research into a highly prevalent, but inadequately treated area of women's health.