RUI: Corticotropin-Releasing Factor and Infant Behavior

非自愿与母亲分离的婴儿可能会 遭受严重的生理和行为后果。 大部分 我们所知道的生理效应 从非人类灵长类动物的研究中 这些影响包括 交感神经活动增加，神经递质变化 水平，并增加垂体肾上腺系统的活动， 与压力有关的神经内分泌系统。 多年来 只有在灵长类动物身上才有可能研究这些问题， 普通实验室啮齿动物被认为对 分离的方式与灵长类动物完全不同， 可能是人类 在他以前的NSF支持，博士轩尼诗 证明了年轻豚鼠对母亲的反应， 分离在很多方面与灵长类相似。 的 豚鼠模型为灵长类动物研究提供了另一种选择 这又提供了许多实际的优点。 轩尼诗博士 将继续他的研究，以进一步了解如何 短暂的母亲分离会改变神经内分泌和 行为功能 他将研究促肾上腺皮质激素的作用- 释放因子（CRF），因为这种下丘脑神经激素是 在身体的各种生理和 在威胁情况下的行为反应。 亨尼西医生 将研究中心和外围的作用， 施用的促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子及其拮抗剂 在调节压力引起的行为变化方面。 这些基本 研究将有助于我们理解 母婴分离和依恋的过程， 阐明了年轻人应激反应的本质。

Infants that are involuntarily separated from their mothers may suffer severe physiological and behavioral consequences. Most of what we know concerning the physiological effects has derived from studies using nonhuman primates. These effects include increases in sympathetic activity, changes in neurotransmitter levels, and increased activity of the pituitary-adrenal system, a neuroendocrine system associated with stress. For many years, it was only possible to study such questions in primates since common laboratory rodents have been thought to respond to separation in a fundamentally different way than to primates, and possibly humans. In his previous NSF support, Dr. Hennessy demonstrated that the responses of young guinea pigs to maternal separation are in many ways similar to those of primates. The guinea pig model provides an alternative to primate research which, in turn, offers many practical advantages. Dr. Hennessy would continue his research to further our understanding of how brief periods of maternal separations alter neuroendocrine and behavioral function. He will examine the role of corticotropin- releasing factor (CRF) since this hypothalamic neurohormone is of primary importance in the body's diverse physiological and behavioral responses in threatening situations. Dr. Hennessy will investigate the role of centrally and peripherally administered corticotropin-releasing factor and its antagonists in mediating stress-induced behavioral changes. These basic studies will contribute to our understanding of the consequences of mother-infant separation and processes of attachment and elucidate the nature of the stress response in young.