STEROID ACTIONS ON NEURONAL OSCILLATORS

性腺类固醇调节许多脊椎动物物种的生殖行为， 包括人类 关于类固醇如何介导 控制生殖行为的大脑区域的解剖学属性。 然而，这些大脑区域的复杂性使得很难 确定类固醇激活和修饰的生理机制 行为 研究类固醇对生物物理的作用 类固醇敏感神经元的特性对于理解如何 类固醇对神经元的作用改变了行为。 控制电器官放电的神经回路 电鱼是研究类固醇作用的理想系统， 神经元 这些神经回路对类固醇敏感， 简单. 因此，有可能分析的生物物理特性， 组成这些回路的神经元。 本研究的目的是：（1）绘制中枢神经系统类固醇受体的分布图 从而确定类固醇作用的假定位点; (2)以确定类固醇是否通过以下方式改变电器官放电： 改变控制神经元的内源性放电频率， 行为;（3）确定类固醇是否改变了 这些神经元通过改变密度或动力学的离子电导 这些神经元。 通过解决这些问题，我们将更好地了解类固醇如何 对神经元的作用改变了行为，以及离子电导如何有助于 节律行为背后的神经元振荡

Gonadal steroids regulate reproductive behavior in many vertebrate species, including humans. Much is known of how steroids mediate changes in anatomical attributes of brain regions controlling reproductive behavior. The complexity of these brain regions, however, has made it difficult to identify physiological mechanisms by which steroids activate and modify behavior. Investigating the actions of steroids on the biophysical properties of steroid-sensitive neurons is important to understand how steroid actions on neurons modify behavior. The neural circuit controlling the electric organ discharge of weakly electric fish is an ideal system in which to study steroid actions on neurons. These neural circuits are steroid-sensitive and relatively simple. It is therefore possible to analyze the biophysical properties of the neurons that comprise these circuits. The goals of this proposal are; (1) to map steroid receptors in the CNS of weakly electric fish and thus identify putative sites of steroid action; (2) to determine if steroids modify the electric organ discharge by changing the endogenous firing frequencies of neurons that control the behavior; and (3) to determine if steroids change the firing frequencies of these neurons by altering the density or kinetics of ionic conductances of these neurons. By addressing these questions, we will better understand how steroid actions on neurons modify behavior and how ionic conductances contribute to neuronal oscillations underlying rhythmic behaviors.