Dissertation Research: Neuroendocrine mechanisms regulating sexual behavior in female túngara frogs

繁殖的决定是动物做出的最重要的决定之一。雌性在繁殖上投入了很大比例的能量，因此繁殖的时间受到严格的控制。生殖行为的时间是通过生殖激素(如雌二醇)的神经调节来调节的。这项拟议研究的主要目标是更好地了解雌二醇如何调节神经系统，以调节生殖行为的表达。生殖行为的一个重要组成部分包括那些调解雌性选择配偶的行为。研究人员将以túngara蛙为研究对象，研究雌二醇对雌蛙用来回应雄蛙交配信号的感觉系统的影响。雌性青蛙根据它们的发声来选择配偶，当它们的雌二醇水平较高时，它们会优先对自己物种的发声做出反应，而当它们的雌二醇水平较低时，它们会优先反应。这项研究将测试雌二醇是否通过改变大脑中的神经化学物质来影响听觉系统的活动。为了测量神经活动，研究人员将评估与神经活动相关的基因表达的变化。他们预测，雌二醇会导致女性对男性发声做出选择性反应，因为它会对听觉系统中的一类神经化学物质儿茶酚胺产生影响。这项研究的结果将拓宽我们对荷尔蒙如何在关键的行为决策(如择偶)中调节大脑功能的理解。该项目还将为研究生和本科生提供培训机会。

The decision to reproduce is one of the most important decision an animal makes. Females invest a large proportion of energy in reproduction and the timing of reproduction is therefore highly regulated. The timing of reproductive behavior is regulated through neural modulation by reproductive hormones, such as estradiol. The primary goal of the proposed research is to better understand how estradiol modulates neural systems to regulate the expression of reproductive behavior. An important component of reproductive behavior includes those behaviors that mediate a female's choice of a mate. Using túngara frogs, the researchers will investigate the effects of estradiol on the sensory systems that females use to respond to male mating signals. Female frogs choose mates based on their vocalizations, and they respond preferentially to vocalizations of their own species when their estradiol levels are high compared to when their estradiol levels are low. This research will test if estradiol influences activity in the auditory system through changes in neurochemicals in the brain. To measure neural activity, the researchers will assess changes in gene expression that are correlated with neural activity. They predict that estradiol causes females to respond selectively to male vocalizations because of its effects on catecholamines, a class of neurochemicals, in the auditory system. The results of this research will broaden our understanding of how brain function is modulated by hormones during critical behavioral decisions such as mate choice. The project will also provide training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students.