Social Isolation, Behavior, and Autonomic Function

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案通过研究社会隔离对雌性草原田鼠的影响，探讨了情感行为、神经内分泌功能和自主神经活动相互作用的中枢催产素机制。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采用放射免疫分析法、酶免疫分析法和免疫细胞化学研究田鼠社会隔离后血浆和下丘脑脑组织中激素变化的时间过程（目的1）。研究2检查抑郁和焦虑样行为和内分泌功能，并使用无线电遥测测量自主参数，以应对社会孤立（目标2）。研究3通过检查中枢（脑室内）给予催产素和/或催产素拮抗剂来改变对社会孤立的行为、神经内分泌和自主神经反应，研究了特定的催产素能机制，可能是应激源诱导变化的基础（目的3）。目前的研究将增强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.