PROLACTIN EFFECTS ON BEHAVIOR--SITES AND MODES OF ACTION

催乳素（PRL）是临床上重要的垂体激素， 神经肽，它与多种 脊椎动物的行为模式 然而，在绝大多数情况下， PRL作用的特异性和位点，以及PRL与 剂量和行为反应仍然未知。 因此，拟议的 研究将详细描述PRL与 几种不同的PRL敏感的行为在一个单一的物种，环 鸽子（Streptopelia risoria）。 这个物种非常适合这些 研究的原因是：1）有更多的证据表明， 与其他脊椎动物相比， 和2）有证据表明，中枢和外周部位的作用， 催乳素促进了该物种的各种行为变化。 三 将探索PRL依赖性行为。 1)催乳素诱导的摄食 行为：时间过程，剂量反应特性和特异性 PRL对食物和水摄入的中枢介导作用将是 特征在于脑室内（ICV）注射纯化的 绵羊催乳素。 为了提供PRL行为的神经内分泌相关性， 行动，平行研究将进行催乳素诱导的抑制 促性腺激素分泌，这似乎也是中枢介导的。 （二） 催乳素诱导的亲代行为：侧脑室注射催乳素对 父母的行为在非育种鸽将进行测试，以确定 是否父母行为的增加， 激素的全身注射是由于PRL对 大脑或对外周靶器官的影响。 3)PRL对 孵化行为：将进行研究，以确定是否 皮下注射催乳素可防止催乳素下降和提前终止妊娠 鸽子通常会进行的坐姿活动， 在孵化期的早期就开始交配。 PRL的澄清 保持持续孵化的作用将有助于解释以前的 研究结果表明，PRL保持准备孵化巢剥夺鸽子。 总的来说，拟议的实验将大大有助于 对行为和神经内分泌病理学的理解， 高催乳素血症的男性和女性，并应进一步了解， 神经抑制药物作用的机制。 这些结果也将有助于 阐述神经肽和蛋白质激素作用的一般原理 关于行为。

Prolactin (PRL) is a clinically important pituitary hormone and neuropeptide which has been implicated in the expression of a variety of vertebrate behavior patterns. In the vast majority of cases, however, the specificity and site(s) of PRL action, and the relationship between PRL dose and behavioral response remain unknown. Accordingly, the proposed research would characterize in detail the relationship between PRL and several different PRL-sensitive behaviors in a single species, the ring dove (Streptopelia risoria). This species is ideally suited for these studies because: 1) there is more evidence for the existence of PRL-dependent behavior patterns in the ring dove than in other vertebrates, and 2) there is evidence for both central and peripheral sites of action of PRL in promoting various behavior changes in this species. Three PRL-dependent behaviors would be explored. 1) PRL-induced ingestive behavior: The time course, dose-response properties and specificity of PRL's centrally mediated action on food and water intake would be characterized following intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of purified ovine PRL. To provide a neuroendocrine correlate of PRL's behavioral actions, parallel studies would be conducted on PRL-induced suppression of gonadotropin secretion, which also appears to be centrally mediated. 2) PRL-induced parental behavior: The effects of ICV injections of PRL on parental behavior in non-breeding doves would be tested to determine whether the increase in parental behavior which is observed following systemic injection of the hormone is due to a direct action of PRL on the brain or to effects on peripheral target organs. 3) PRL effects on incubation behavior: A study would be conducted to determine if subcutaneous PRL injections can prevent the decline and early termination of sitting activity which normally occurs in doves which are separated from their mates during the early incubation period. Clarification of PRL's role in maintaining ongoing incubation will help to interpret previous findings that PRL maintains readiness to incubate in nest-deprived doves. Collectively, the proposed experiments would contribute significantly towards an understanding of the behavioral and neuroendocrine pathology of hyperprolactinemia in men and women and should further our knowledge of the mechanism of neuroleptic drug action. These results will also help in formulating general principles of neuropeptide and protein hormone action on behavior.