Behavioral Actions of Neuropeptides

压力、攻击性和繁殖都是受类固醇激素影响的行为。最近，人们已经清楚地认识到，另一类被称为神经肽的激素对行为有重大影响。摩尔博士将研究类固醇激素和神经肽在大脑中相互作用以调节行为的机制。他将运用现代解剖学和分子技术，在一个简单的两栖动物模型系统中确定性腺类固醇激素对神经肽精氨酸缩宫素的影响。通过量化神经元中的缩宫素受体，测量行为重要的大脑区域中的缩宫素浓度，并确定单个脑细胞中缩宫素基因的活性，摩尔博士将确定血管生成素系统的季节变化或性别差异是否与行为状态有关，以及维持生殖行为的性腺类固醇激素是否影响该神经肽系统。这些研究之所以成为可能，是因为两栖动物大脑结构的复杂性较低，再加上它们对神经内分泌操纵的独特刻板反应。通过该模型系统获得的见解将为理解具有更大复杂性的动物中类固醇激素和神经肽之间的功能关系奠定基础。

Stress, aggression, and reproduction are examples of behaviors that are affected by steroid hormones. Recently, it has become clear that another class of hormones, called neuropeptides, have major effects on behaviors. Dr. Moore will investigate the mechanisms by which steroid hormones and neuropeptides interact in the brain to regulate behavior. He will employ modern anatomical and molecular techniques to determine the effects of gonadal steroid hormones on the neuropeptide, arginine vasotocin, in a simple amphibian model system. By quantifying vasotocin receptors in neurons, measuring vasotocin concentrations in behaviorally important brain areas, and determining the activity of vasotocin genes in individual brain cells, Dr. Moore will determine whether seasonal changes or sexual differences in the vasotocinergic system are associated with the behavioral state and whether gonadal steroid hormones that maintain reproductive behaviors influence this neuropeptide system. These studies are possible because of the reduced structural complexity of the amphibian brain in combination with their distinct stereotyped responses to neuroendocrine manipulations. Insights gained with this model system will lay the groundwork in understanding of the functional relationship between steroid hormones and neuropeptides in animals with much greater complexity.