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EDRI Federal Project Inventory:
Gonadal Hormone Involvement in Brain Activity
- Sponsor Organization: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
- Project Title: GONADAL HORMONE INVOLVEMENT IN BRAIN ACTIVITY
- Project Focus: HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS
- Description: The gonadal steroid hormones have long been known to influence female
behaviors. However, the mechanism by which these hormones generate
their behavioral effects islargely unknown. There are data that do
not conform to the classical mechanism forsteroid hormone action,
i.e. binding of hormone to intracellular receptors andsubsequently
altering nuclear gene transcription. Consequently, novel non-
genomiceffects have been postulated by investigators, including Dr.
Becker, to resolve thetemporal inconsistencies between the behavioral
observations and the time required toalter gene transcription. The
present research goes beyond this level to explore thenon- genomic
effects of the steroid hormones in specific brain regions and
investigatesthe ability of steroid hormones to influence dopaminergic
neuronal activity in thestriatum and accumbens, and how this classical
neurotransmitter acts in these areas tomodulate female behavior.
Moreover, other investigators have shown a stronginteraction between
striatal dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid in controllingmovement.
Logically, Dr. Becker will investigate how estrogen alters the
activity of theneurons containing these neurotransmitters and the
direct consequences on femalebehavior which is dependent on movement.
These studies are exciting and highlyinnovative. They will
revolutionize the thinking about female behaviors and thecomponents
required for their generation. Investigating the interaction of
dopamine-andgamma-aminobutyric acid- containing neurons in the
striatum may open new avenuesfor understanding presynaptic regulatory
mechanisms in the brain, which will impact notonly the
neuroendocrinology field, but may also reveal more about the behavior
ofanimals in their natural habitats and the critical cues that trigger
female behaviors.
- References:
- Category: MODELS
- Subcategory: BASIC RESEARCH
- Keywords for Experimental System/Species: RODENT, MAMMALS, IN VIVO, LABORATORY STUDIES
- Keywords for Experimental Endpoints: NEUROLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, HORMONE MEASURES, SEX STEROIDS, PEPTIDE
HORMONES,PHYSIOLOGY, BREEDING BEHAVIOR,
- Chemical Agents: Sex Steroids, Peptide Hormones
- Performing Institution: University of Michigan
- Contact: Jill Becker, 525 E. University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1274
313 764-1817 jbbecker@umich.edu
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