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EDRI Federal Project Inventory:
Hormonal Control of Sex Differences in Brain and Behavior
- Sponsor Organization: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
- Project Title: HORMONAL CONTROL OF SEX DIFFERENCES IN BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
- Project Focus: HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS
- Description: The neural system controlling avian song has proved a powerful model
forelucidating hormonal influence on neural organization and behavior.
Song is anandrogen-dependent behavior produced predominately in
males. Sex differences insong behavior are mirrored in the anatomy of
brain regions that control song. Neuronsize and number, androgen
binding activity, and the projections of song-related brainregions are
all much greater in males than in females. The striking
anatomicaldimorphisms result from differences in exposure to gonadal
steroids duringdevelopment. Dr. Nordeen will use sophisticated
anatomical techniques to examinehow gonadal steroids act on developing
song regions during the first few weeks afterhatching. He will
determine how hormones regulate the production, migration
and/orsurvival of neurons within these specific brain nuclei. These
experiments will provideinsights into the cellular mechanisms of
sexual differentiation. Possibly the mostexciting contribution
resulting from work on this model system is the recognition of
theplasticity of the brain during development and in adulthood. A
major outcome of thesestudies will be to increase our understanding of
those mechanisms that permit aspectsof neural plasticity and thus, may
eventually prove important in developing treatmentsfor enhancing the
recovery of function in humans that have been incapacitated
byaccidents or strokes.
- References:
- Category: MODELS
- Subcategory: BASIC RESEARCH
- Keywords for Experimental System/Species: AVIAN, IN VIVO, IN VITRO, LABORATORY STUDIES
- Keywords for Experimental Endpoints: NEUROLOGICAL, REPRODUCTIVE, HORMONE MEASURES, SEX STEROIDS, PEPTIDE
HORMONES,PHYSIOLOGY, BREEDING BEHAVIOR, GROWTH FACTORS, MOLECULAR,
GENE EXPRESSION,HORMONE RECEPTORS
- Chemical Agents: Sex Steroids, Growth Factors
- Performing Institution: University of Rochester
- Contact: Ernest J Nordeen & Kathy W Nordeen, Rochester, NY 14627 716
275-5911
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