IONIC BASIS OF STEROID ACTION ON NEURONAL OSCILLATORS

性腺类固醇调节许多脊椎动物的生殖行为 物种，包括人类。 关于类固醇如何介导 大脑区域的解剖学属性的变化， 生殖行为 然而，这些大脑区域的复杂性， 使得我们很难确定 类固醇激活并改变行为。 调查下列行为： 类固醇对类固醇敏感神经元生物物理特性的影响 了解类固醇对神经元的作用如何改变行为是很重要的。 控制两性电器官的神经回路 弱电鱼放电是一种理想的研究系统 类固醇对神经元的作用 这个神经回路对类固醇很敏感 并且相对简单。 因此，可以分析 构成该回路的神经元的生物物理特性，以及 将类固醇对这些性质的作用与类固醇诱导的 行为可塑性 该提案的目标是研究生物物理机制， 在类固醇调节的性二型性的频率下， 器官放电 具体来说，我们将确定 雄激素通过改变电性器官的放电使其雄性化， 神经元中离子电导的密度或动力学， 有节奏地开火以产生放电。 通过解决这个问题，我们将更好地了解类固醇如何 对神经元的作用改变行为以及离子电导如何起作用 到产生节律行为的神经元振荡。

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 that control 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 sexually dimorphic electric organ discharge of weakly electric fish is an ideal system in which to study steroid actions on neurons. This neural circuit is steroid-sensitive and relatively simple. It is therefore possible to analyze the biophysical properties of the neurons that comprise this circuit, and to relate steroid actions on these properties to steroid-induced behavioral plasticity. The goal of this proposal is to investigate biophysical mechanisms that underlie steroid-regulated sexual dimorphism in the frequency of electric organ discharge. Specifically, we will determine whether androgens masculinize the electric organ discharge by changing the density or kinetics of ionic conductances in the neurons that rhythmically fire to produce the discharge. By addressing this question, we will better understand how steroid actions on neurons modify behavior and how ionic conductances contribute to neuronal oscillations that generate rhythmic behaviors.