CELLULAR BASIS FOR STEROID ACTION IN AN EXCITABLE CELL

这项提议旨在了解性类固醇激素在细胞中的作用机制。 D 激素（雄激素，雌激素）改变了 一种两性电异形鱼类的电器官 器官分泌物 本文描述的7个部分可以概括为 试图描述类固醇激素对生物物理的作用 这些组织的特性，特别是离子电导。 此外，本发明还提供了一种方法， 将对这些细胞进行形态学分析，以确定 突触和尖峰膜，因为这将有助于解释 生物物理数据 还有一个髓核，叫做起搏核， 驱动电动器官，将在其方面进行调查， 在影响电器官中的锋电位波形中的潜在作用。 这项研究的意义是双重的。 首先，通过了解 类固醇激素改变了易兴奋细胞的离子电导， 将填补性类固醇和行为之间的“黑匣子”。 已知的是 性类固醇在大脑中结合的地方，它们可能会改变神经活动， , 但其机制尚不清楚。 因此，这可能是一个好处， 了解荷尔蒙对行为的调节，也许， 功能障碍 另一个更普遍的观点是，这项工作将 阐明了一个基本的问题，即一个兴奋的 膜可以调节。

This proposal aims to understand the cellular mechanisms by which sex stero d hormones (androgens, estrogens) alter the waveshape of spikes generated by the electric organ in a species of fish with a sexually dimorphic electric organ discharge. The 7 sections described herein can be summarized as an attempt to describe the action of steroid hormones on the biophysical properties, specifically ion conductances, of this tissue. In addition, these cells will be analyzed morphologically to determine the extent of synaptic and spiking membrane as this will aid in the interpretation of the biophysical data. Also, a medullary nucleus, called the pacemaker nucleus, which drives the electric organ, will be investigated in terms of its potential role in influencing spike waveshape in the electric organ. The significance of this study is two fold. First, by understanding how steroid hormones alter the ion conductances of excitable cells, this work will fill in the "black-box" between sex steroids and behavior. It is know where sex steroids bind in the brain and that they may alter neural activit , but their mechanisms re unknown. Thus, this may be a benefit to an understanding of hormonal modulation of behavior and, perhaps, sexual dysfunction. The other, more general, point is that this work will illuminate the fundamental question of how excitability of an excitable membrane may be regulated.