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EDRI Federal Project Inventory:
Progesterone and the Neural Mechanisms of Behavior
- Sponsor Organization: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
- Project Title: PROGESTERONE AND THE NEURAL MECHANISMS OF BEHAVIOR
- Project Focus: HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS
- Description: Progesterone is an important steroid hormone for regulating many
aspects ofphysiology and behavior. According to the classical
approach, steroid hormones exerttheir effects by entering cells,
binding with a receptor inside the cell, and then thesteroid-receptor
complex acts on specific sites on the chromosomes to change
whichproteins that cell is producing. This mechanism of action has
been described invirtually every cell that responds to steroid
hormones. However, it appears to beabsent in the ventral midbrain.
Dr. DeBold's previous studies have shown that a formof progesterone
that cannot enter neurons is effective in altering behavior
whenadministered in the midbrain but not in other steroid sensitive
areas. Therefore, theprimary focus of the proposed studies is to
determine how progesterone is acting onneurons to influence behavior
and the connectivity of these neurons. Dr. DeBold willidentify the
neurons containing these unique characteristics by labeling
progesteronewith a fluorescent tag and identifying the cell to which
it binds and then usingneurochemical procedures, characterize the type
of cells containing these novelreceptors. Using selective
pharmacological agents, the role of other neurotransmittersin
mediating progesterone actions will be established. These studies
investigate noveleffects of steroid hormones and will be extremely
beneficial in understanding thephysiology and pathophysiology of these
essential molecules.
- References:
- Category: MODELS
- Subcategory: BASIC RESEARCH
- Keywords for Experimental System/Species: RODENT, MAMMAL, IN VIVO, LABORATORY STUDY
- Keywords for Experimental Endpoints: NEUROLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, HORMONE MEASURES, SEX STEROIDS, PEPTIDE
HORMONES,PHYSIOLOGY, BREEDING BEHAVIOR,
- Chemical Agents: Sex Steroids
- Performing Institution: Tufts University
- Contact: Joseph F DeBold, Medford, MA 02155 617 628-5000
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