Social Isolation, Behavior, and Autonomic Function

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案通过研究雌性草原田鼠社会隔离的影响，阐述了情感行为、神经内分泌功能和自主活动相互作用的中枢催产素能机制。这项研究与社会行为、抑郁、焦虑和心脏病等健康问题直接相关。研究1采用放射免疫测定法，酶免疫测定法，免疫细胞化学法，以调查的时间过程中的激素变化的血浆和下丘脑脑组织后，社会隔离田鼠（目的1）。研究2检查抑郁和焦虑样行为和内分泌功能，并使用无线电遥测来测量自主参数，以响应社会隔离（目标2）。研究3通过检查催产素和/或催产素拮抗剂的中枢（脑室内）给药以改变对社会隔离的行为、神经内分泌和自主神经反应，研究了可能是应激诱导变化的基础的特定催产素能机制（目的3）。目前的研究将提高我们对社会环境如何影响行为，生理和大脑功能的理解，并有助于为情感障碍和心血管疾病患者开发新的治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal addresses central oxytocinergic mechanisms underlying the interactions of affective behaviors, neuroendocrine function, and autonomic activity by investigating the effects of social isolation in female prairie voles. This research is directly relevant to health issues such as social behavior, depression, anxiety, and heart disease. Study 1 employs radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, and immunocytochemistry to investigate the time course of hormone changes in plasma and hypothalamic brain tissue following social isolation in voles (Aim 1). Study 2 examines depression- and anxiety-like behaviors and endocrine function, and uses radiotelemetry to measure autonomic parameters, in response to social isolation (Aim 2). Study 3 investigates specific oxytocinergic mechanisms that might underlie stressor-induced changes by examining central (intracerebroventricular) administration of oxytocin and/or an oxytocin antagonist to alter the behavioral, neuroendocrine, and autonomic responses to social isolation (Aim 3). The present research will enhance our understanding of how the social environment impacts behavior, physiology, and brain function, and can aid in developing new treatments for patients with affective disorders and cardiovascular disease.