NEUROPEPTIDES RECEPTORS AND PHOTOPERIODISM

许多脊椎动物的促性腺激素有季节性变化 分泌物、性行为和体重。的影响 性腺类固醇激素对这些功能的影响因时间而异。 年。日长的波动提供了最接近的 触发这些变化的环境线索，以及 光周期信号通过神经内分泌传递到神经内分泌大脑 松果体。这些现象在金色的 仓鼠，这将是拟议研究的主题。这个 松果体介导的神经化学机制 人们对这些变化仍然知之甚少。对阿片类药物的反应性 然而，激动剂和拮抗剂依赖于光周期，并且 日长可能会影响神经肽的浓度。 包括内源性鸦片类药物。日长可能会影响响应- 调节性腺激素表达对性腺类固醇激素的敏感性 在特定的大脑区域对它们进行编码的基因。 拟议的实验将利用体外受体 用放射自显影来确定日照时长和 性腺类固醇在阿片受体调节中的作用 确定松果体在这些效应中的作用。这个 Mu、Delta和kappa受体的数量和定位将 在不同的光周期和类固醇条件下进行检测。 这些操作对模式的影响 β内啡肽、甲硫氨酸脑啡肽和强啡肽的免疫组织化学染色 也有待研究。阿片肽、雄激素和雌激素受体 基因表达将利用原位技术在特定的基因座上进行量化 杂交。阿片类药物调节男性性行为的基因座 将通过全身和颅内应用阿片类药物进行检查 受体激动剂和拮抗剂。在不同的实验中 光周期的神经化学基础--雌性仓鼠 本课程将考察对性感受性诱导的影响。 通过研究雌二醇与白昼长度之间的相互作用，确定了雌二醇与白昼的相互作用。 催产素和GABA-a受体的调节。 通过控制光周期和性腺类固醇浓度，我们 将决定内源性阿片类药物在整合中的作用 内部和外部产生的信号。这将是 有助于我们理解特定的角色 神经肽在内分泌和行为协调中的作用 过程，阐明环境和激素对中枢神经系统的影响 功能，扩展我们对大脑可塑性的知识，并指示- 控制与滥用有关的阿片类药物的反应性和 上瘾。

Many vertebrate species display seasonal changes in gonadotropin secretion, sexual behavior, and body weight. The effects of gonadal steroid hormones upon these functions vary with time of year. Fluctuations in daylength provide the proximate environmental cue which triggers these changes, and the photoperiodic signal is relayed to the neuroendocrine brain by the pineal gland. These phenomena are exemplified in the golden hamster, which will be the subject of the proposed research. The neurochemical mechanisms which are responsible for pineal-mediated changes remain poorly understood. Responsiveness to opiate agonists and antagonists depends upon photoperiod, however, and daylength may influence the concentration of neuropeptides including endogenous opiates. Daylength may influence respon- siveness to gonadal steroid hormones by regulating the expression of the genes which encode them in specific brain regions. The proposed experiments will utilize in vitro receptor autoradiography to determine the interaction between daylength and gonadal steroids in the regulation of opiate receptors, and establish the role of the pineal gland in these effects. The quantity and localization of mu, delta, and kappa receptors will be examined under different photoperiodic and steroidal conditions. The influence of these manipulations on the pattern of immunostaining of beta endorphin, met-enkephalin,and dynorphin will also be studied. Opiate peptide, androgen and estrogen receptor gene expression will be quantified in specific loci using in situ hybridization. Loci at which opiates regulate male sexual behavior will be examined by systemic and intracranial application of opiate receptor agonists and antagonists. In separate experiments on female hamsters, the neurochemical basis of photoperiodic influences on the induction of sexual receptivity will be examined by study of the interaction between estradiol and daylength in the regulation of oxytocin and GABA-a receptors. By manipulating photoperiod and gonadal steroid concentrations, we will determine the role of endogenous opiates in the integration of internally and externally generated signals. This will contribute to our understanding of the role of specific neuropeptides in the coordination of endocrine and behavioral processes, elucidate environmental and hormonal influences on CNS function, expand our knowledge of brain plasticity, and indi- cate controls over responsiveness to opiates relevant to abuse and addiction.