Connections and function of reproductive neural circuits

杏仁内侧后背侧核和纹状体床核主核 终末蛋白(BSTpr)被认为对整合荷尔蒙和嗅觉信号以及调节 相应的生殖行为。我们的长期目标是阐明 基因定义的MEApd和BSTpr神经元亚群，以确定特定的回路 以及负责将荷尔蒙和化学感觉输入转化为特定行为的机制 产出。在该提案中要检验特定假设是MEApd和BSTpr包含多个 在功能上不同的神经元亚群，其中每一个都对 生殖行为。这一假设将通过以下三个具体目标进行检验：1)使用经典 神经解剖学示踪以确定是否存在具有不同连接性的多个神经元亚群 MEApd和BSTpr；2)使用依赖于CRE的方式确定MEApd是否从AOB和MOB两者接收输入 跨神经元示踪剂；3)使用基因消融来检验不同的MEApd和BSTpr 神经元亚群在调节男性生殖行为方面发挥着独特的功能作用。

The medial amygdala posterior dorsal (MEApd) and principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTpr) are thought to be critical for integrating hormonal and olfactory signals and modulating reproductive behavior accordingly. Our long term goal is to elucidate the connectivity and function of genetically defined MEApd and BSTpr neuronal subpopulations in order to determine the specific circuits and mechanisms responsible for translating hormonal and chemosensory inputs into specific behavioral outputs. The specific hypothesis to be tested in this proposal is that MEApd and BSTpr contain multiple functionally distinct neuronal subpopulations, each of which make essential but unique contributions to reproductive behavior. This hypothesis will be tested via the following three specific aims: 1) Use classical neuroanatomical tracing to determine if multiple neuronal subpopulations with distinct connectivity exist in MEApd and BSTpr; 2) Determine if MEApd receives input from both the AOB and MOB using Cre-dependent transneuronal tracers; 3) Use genetic ablations to test the hypothesis that distinct MEApd and BSTpr neuronal subpopulations serve unique functional roles in modulating male reproductive behavior.