CAREER: Molecular Biology of the Terminal Nerve System

动物的行为很大程度上受到大脑的感觉输入的影响。例如，鼻子中的“嗅觉”或嗅觉神经元将信号发送到大脑，在那里气味被感知并采取行动。感觉通路可以受到身体或大脑中反映动物生理状况的神经元的影响。鼻子中的“末端神经”分泌性激素（促性腺激素释放激素）到嗅觉神经元上。该实验室的实验表明，这种激素在细胞水平上改变了气味检测。究竟是什么控制着终末神经分泌这种激素还不清楚。这些实验将研究信息素是否增加GnRH基因的表达和/或生产在终末神经，以及这些变化是否通过嗅觉脑中心介导。本计画将结合一系列的程序，包括分子生物学、生物化学及神经活性技术于蝾螈模型中，Plethodon shermani。预期存在GnRH时嗅觉受体神经元活性会发生变化。这项工作将有助于展示激素如何调节感觉系统，从而让我们更好地了解动物行为。教育计划是让代表性不足的少数民族学生和教师（美洲原住民印第安人，非洲裔美国人和墨西哥裔美国人）参与研究和参与社区神经科学。学生和教师将参与研究，开发网站和教材，并在中学和边远社区举办神经科学研讨会和研讨会，并与国际同事互动。广泛的影响将是（1）整合研究，教学和社区外展活动的学生，（2）在互联网上提供科学和计划信息，通过公共通信和国际同事，和（3）目前我们的科学知识，以弱势群体位于距离高等教育机构。

Animal behavior is greatly influenced by sensory inputs to the brain. For example, "olfactory" or smell neurons in the nose send signals to the brain where odors are perceived and acted upon. Sensory pathways can be influenced by neurons in the body or brain that reflect the animal's physiological condition. The "terminal nerve" in the nose secretes a sex hormone (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) onto olfactory neurons. Experiments in this laboratory have shown that the hormone alters odor detection at the cellular level. What controls the secretion of the hormone from the terminal nerve is still unknown. These experiments will investigate whether pheromones increase GnRH gene expression and/or production in the terminal nerve and whether these changes are mediated through olfactory brain centers. This project will incorporate an array of procedures including molecular-biological, biochemical and neural-activity techniques in the salamander model, Plethodon shermani. Alterations in olfactory-receptor-neuron activity in the presence of GnRH are expected. This work will help to show how hormones can modulate sensory systems, thus giving us a much better understanding of animal behavior.The educational plan is to involve underrepresented minority students and teachers (Native American Indian, African-American and Mexican-American) in conducting research and in engaging the community in neuroscience. Students and teachers will participate in research, in developing Website and teaching materials, and in giving neuroscience workshops and seminars in secondary schools and outlying communities and interacting with international colleagues. The broad impact will be to (1) integrate research, teaching, and community outreach activities for students, (2) make available scientific and program information on the Internet, by public communications and to international colleagues, and (3) present our scientific knowledge to disadvantaged communities located at a distance from institutions of higher education.