RUI: Non-Genomic Metabotropic Effects of Thyroid Hormone in Adult Rat Brain

甲状腺激素对许多细胞类型（包括脑细胞）的生长和发育具有深远的影响，并且还调节基础代谢率和成人组织的其他功能。 甲状腺激素在大脑中的作用被认为仅限于影响早期发育期间的基因表达，但新的证据表明，激素可以影响成年大脑。 从生物化学和分子生物学的角度研究甲状腺激素在成人中枢神经系统中的作用机制。 使用无细胞核的脑组织突触体制备物，将检查甲状腺激素对蛋白质磷酸化的调节的细节。 这项研究将增加对甲状腺激素在成人大脑中作用的新机制的理解。 这些发现的意义将超越神经内分泌学领域，增加对细胞生物学中细胞信号通路的一般理解。 该项目还为本科生提供了在具有良好教育历史的实验室进行神经内分泌学研究培训的机会。

Thyroid hormones have profound effects on growth and development of many cell types (including brain cells) and also regulate the basal metabolic rate and other functions of adult tissues. The actions of thyroid hormones in brain were believed to be limited to effects on gene expression during the early developmental period, but new evidence has shown that the hormones can influence the adult brain. Biochemical and molecular approaches are used to study the mechanism of actions of thyroid hormone in adult central nervous system. Using a synaptosomal preparation of brain tissue without cell nuclei, the details of regulation of protein phosphorylation by thyroid hormones will be examined. The research will increase the understanding of a novel mechanism of action of thyroid hormones in adult brain. The significance of the findings will extend beyond the field of neuroendocrinology to add to the general comprehension of cell signaling pathways in cell biology. The project also offers undergraduates opportunities for neuroendocrinology research training in a laboratory that has an excellent history of such education.