NEUROANATOMY OF TACHYKININS IN THE MATING BEHAVIOR PATHWAY

性腺类固醇是表达正常雄性交配所必需的 行为 边缘系统的三个区域， 杏仁核（M）、终纹旁核（BNST）和内侧核（MNT） 视前区（MPOA）是雄性交配中类固醇作用的目标 行为 这些战神的神经元含有神经活性肽， 这些肽的水平由性腺类固醇调节。 因此，性腺 类固醇可以通过调节 神经肽 为了进一步验证这一假设，重要的是1） 识别神经肽并确定特定的神经肽是否 存在于单独的神经元中，或者它们是否共同存在于个体中， 神经元; 2）确定传入神经源的位置，传出神经源的位置， 这些肽特异性群体的靶点;以及3）确定这些肽特异性群体的作用 MPOA和BNST中神经肽在雄性交配调控中的作用 行为 此外，为了阐明类固醇通过细胞机制 调节肽水平，重要的是1）确定是否 睾丸激素或其代谢物之一，调节这些细胞中的肽水平， 神经元，和2）确定类固醇是否直接作用于肽能 神经元 拟议的实验将提供这一信息， 解剖学和行为学技术。 这些研究将阐明 神经肽在调节雄性交配行为中的作用， 性腺类固醇影响细胞功能的细胞机制 参与交配行为调节的神经元。

Gonadal steroids are essential for the expression of normal male mating behavior. Three areas of the limbic system, the medial nucleus of the amygdala (M), the be nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and the medial preoptic area (MPOA), are targets for steroid actions on male mating behavior. Neurons in these ares contain neuroactive peptides, and the levels of these peptides are regulated by gonadal steroids. Thus, gonadal steroids may regulate mating behavior by regulating levels of neuropeptides. To further test this hypotheses it is important to 1) identify the neuropeptides and determine whether specific neuropeptides are present in separate neurons, or whether they co-occur in individual neurons; 2) identify the location of sources of afferents, and the efferent targets of these peptide specific populations; and to 3) determine the role of neuropeptides in M, MPOA and BNST in the regulation of male mating behavior. Moreover, to clarify the cellular mechanisms by which steroids regulate peptide levels, it is important to 1) determine whether testosterone, or one of its metabolites, regulates peptide levels in these neurons, and 2) determine whether steroids act directly on peptidergic neurons. The proposed experiments will provide this information using anatomical and behavioral techniques. These studies will clarify both the role of neuropeptides in the regulation of male mating behavior, and the cellular mechanisms by which gonadal steroids influence the function of neurons involved in the regulation of mating behavior.