SYNAPTOLOGY OF NEURONS INVOLVED IN REPRODUCTION

我们的目标是进一步阐明的解剖和神经化学基础， 促性腺激素分泌促黄体生成素释放激素 产生性神经元在促性腺激素分泌中起主要作用。 然而，LHRH神经元不含类固醇受体，因此， 它们不是性腺激素的直接目标。的反馈效应 这些激素对LHRH释放的影响主要是由雌激素敏感的 神经元和回路连接到LHRH神经元。 本提案中概述的实验将进一步确定 这些传入系统的起源细胞，包括儿茶酚胺 和GABA能神经元，以及它们的内部和传入连接 与其他含有神经肽Y（NPY）和β-内啡肽（β-END）的 神经元，这是已知的发挥重要作用，在调节LHRH 神经元这些连接的描绘将扩展我们的 了解促性腺激素释放的中枢调节 并阐明为什么在不同的内分泌阶段， 对促性腺激素的释放产生相反的作用。此外，他们将 有助于阐明与内分泌疾病和年龄相关的病理机制 卵巢周期紊乱“经典”关联光和电子 显微技术将与最先进的电子技术相结合， 显微镜双重免疫染色法及顺逆行示踪剂 技术.拟议的实验将确定： 1)雌激素参与的解剖学基础是什么- 敏感的不确定性在调节LHRH释放？ 2)哪种类型的儿茶酚胺细胞参与β-END- 介导的LHRH释放控制？ 3)参与的GABA能系统的位置和类型是什么？ 直接和间接控制促性腺激素释放？ 4)哪些类型的NPY神经元参与了直接和间接的 LHRH神经元的调节 5)β-END和 多巴胺和脑干去甲肾上腺素系统

Our goal is to further elucidate the anatomical and neurochemical basis of gonadotropin secretion. Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) producing neurons play the primary role in gonadotropin secretion. However, LHRH neurons do not contain steroid receptors and, therefore, they are not direct targets of gonadal hormones. The feed-back effects of these hormones on LHRH release are mainly mediated by estrogen-sensitive neurons and circuits which are connected to the LHRH neurons. Experiments outlined in this proposal will further determine the location of the cells of origin of these afferent systems, including catecholamine and GABAergic neurons, as well as their inter- and afferent connections with other neuropeptide Y (NPY)- and beta-endorphin (beta-END)-containing neurons, which are known to play important roles in the regulation of LHRH neurons. The delineation of these connections will extend our understanding of the central regulation of gonadotropin hormone release and elucidate why, in different endocrine stages, the same transmitters can exert opposite effects on gonadotropin release. Furthermore, they will help to elucidate pathomechanisms of endocrine disease-and age-related malfunctions of the ovarian cycle. "Classic" correlated light and electron microscopic techniques will be combined with state-of-the-art electron microscopic double immunostaining methods and antero-and retrograde tracer techniques. The proposed experiments will define: 1) What is the anatomical basis of the involvement of the estrogen- sensitive zona incerta in the regulation of LHRH release? 2) Which type(s) of catecholamine cells are involved in the beta-END- mediated control of LHRH release? 3) What are the locations and types of GABAergic systems involved in the direct and indirect control of gonadotropin release? 4) Which type(s) of NPY neurons are involved in the direct and indirect regulation of LHRH neurons? 5) What is the synaptological basis of interactions between beta-END and dopamine, and brain stem norepinephrine systems?