Brain Mechanisms of Reproductive Behavior

在激素、神经和遗传机制的分析方面取得了很大进展。 简单的性行为，前凸。现在，了解导致以下行为的行为流将是令人兴奋的 交配。此外，还探讨了女性这些前倾行为背后的行为倾向。 我们在雌性小鼠身上发现了主动的走近和起搏行为，这些行为以前被认为是不存在的。 在老鼠身上进行的新实验将使“最先进”的基因阐明成为可能。 (目标I)：完成对这些运动、接近、处理和起搏行为的仔细描述。 包括在半自然环境中的定量分析，这些环境鼓励了全方位的社会 雌性在其自然形态下的行为。我们已经发现了直接的方法，掉头， 跳跃和停止，以及飞镖/返回起搏响应。这项工作即将完成，不会花很长时间。 (目标I1)：我们将确定它们的激素促进作用。第一次在小鼠身上，相对重要性 将探索雌激素(E)、孕激素(P)及其组合。比较P的作用的新数据 与半自然环境相比，鞋盒小笼子里的PR基因已经向我们展示了 语境在辨别荷尔蒙/基因/行为因果关系中的重要性。 (目标III)：我们将发现它们的激素作用和遗传影响的中枢神经系统部位。对于遗传学来说， 首先，将使用一种新的反义技术。荷尔蒙实验和反义DNA 实验将包括使用一种新的荷尔蒙和反义dna的“微球”输送系统。 试剂。反义和微球技术，在其他地方有很好的记录，可以应用于 第一次到小鼠中枢神经系统。 使用雌性小鼠可以让我们应用新的遗传工具。分析整个行为序列 在此之前，我们可以解决有关生殖行为的令人兴奋的科学问题 并不简单，而且具有重要的生物学意义。这些行为在正确的时间聚集在一起， 有繁殖能力的同种人。此外，越来越多的人关注更广泛的激素依赖 行为倾向使我们更接近女性健康的重要问题。

Great progress has been made in the analysis of hormonal, neural and genetic mechanisms underlying a simple sex behavior, lordosis. Now, it would be exciting to understand the flow of behaviors leading up to mating. Also, to explore the behavioral dispositions underlying these proceptive behaviors by the female. We have discovered active approach and pacing behaviors, previously thought to be absent, in female mice. New experiments with mice will allow for 'state of the art' genetic elucidation. (Aim I.): To finish carefully characterizing these locomotor, approach, proceptive and pacing behaviors. Included are quantitative analyses in seminatural environments which encourage a full range of social behaviors by the female, in their natural form. We have already discovered Direct Approaches, Head Turns, Hop-and-Stops, and Dart/Return Pacing responses. This is almost finished and will not take long. (Aim I1.): We will determine their hormonal facilitation. For the first time in mice, the relative importance of estrogens (E), progestins (P) and their combination will be explored. New data comparing the roles of P and the gene for PRs in small shoebox cages compared to a seminatural environment already show us the importance of context in discerning hormone/gene/behavior causal relations. (Aim III): We will discover their CNS sites of hormone action and genetic influences. For the genetics, primarily, a novel antisense technology will be used. Both hormonal experiments and antisense DNA experiments will include the use of a new 'microsphere' delivery system for hormones and for antisense DNA reagents. The antisense and microsphere techniques, well documented elsewhere, can be applied for the first time to the mouse CNS. Using female mice allows us to apply novel genetic tools. Analyzing the entire sequence of behaviors preceding lordosis, we can address scientifically exciting questions about reproductive behaviors which are not simple and which are biologically important. These behaviors bring together, at the right time, conspecifics who are competent to reproduce. Further, increasing attention to broader, hormone-dependent behavioral dispositions brings us one step closer to issues important for women's health.