A large number of sex differences have been described in the mammalian central nervous system. Such morphological dimorphisms may underlie well-documented sex differences in behavior, in susceptibility to certain drugs, and in the incidence of human neurological disorders. In many cases, neural sex differences have been shown to be due to gonadal steroid hormones acting early in development. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms governed by hormones in the developing nervous system are not well understood. The long-range objective of this candidate for an Independent Scientist Award is to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms of sexual differentiation in the brain and spinal cord. Dr. Forger is a professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Massachusetts. She is a member of the Neuroscience and Behavior program and enjoys the support of a cohesive and very visible group of colleagues in the Center for Neuroendocrine Studies. The candidate will soon be directing several major research efforts. Her teaching load within the Psychology Department is substantial. The award will allow her time to intensively focus on funded projects, to interact more with trainees and colleagues, and to pursue new areas of research. In particular, this award will support training in confocal microscopy and molecular biological techniques. The research plan outlines strategies for investigating the mechanisms underlying hormonally controlled cell death in three well-studied model systems: the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus, the anteroventral periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Mice will be used throughout, to take advantage of the power of genetically manipulated strains. An R01 proposal describing these studies was recently reviewed and received outstanding priority ratings. An Independent Scientist Award would ensure the success of this program.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research (K02)
Project #
5K02MH072825-02
Application #
7022968
Study Section
Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section (NCF)
Program Officer
Sieber, Beth-Anne
Project Start
2005-02-22
Project End
2010-01-31
Budget Start
2006-02-01
Budget End
2007-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$125,291
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
153926712
City
Amherst
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01003
Holmes, Melissa M; Niel, Lee; Anyan, Jeff J et al. (2011) Effects of Bax gene deletion on social behaviors and neural response to olfactory cues in mice. Eur J Neurosci 34:1492-9
Holmes, Melissa M; Seney, Marianne L; Goldman, Bruce D et al. (2011) Social and hormonal triggers of neural plasticity in naked mole-rats. Behav Brain Res 218:234-9
Anyan, Jeff J; Seney, Marianne L; Holley, Amanda et al. (2011) Social status and sex effects on neural morphology in Damaraland mole-rats, Fukomys damarensis. Brain Behav Evol 77:291-8
Hisasue, Shin-ichi; Seney, Marianne L; Immerman, Eleanor et al. (2010) Control of cell number in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis of mice: role of testosterone metabolites and estrogen receptor subtypes. J Sex Med 7:1401-9
Forger, Nancy G; de Vries, Geert J (2010) Cell death and sexual differentiation of behavior: worms, flies, and mammals. Curr Opin Neurobiol 20:776-83
Holmes, M M; McCutcheon, J; Forger, N G (2009) Sex differences in NeuN- and androgen receptor-positive cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis are due to Bax-dependent cell death. Neuroscience 158:1251-6
Holmes, Melissa M; Goldman, Bruce D; Goldman, Sharry L et al. (2009) Neuroendocrinology and sexual differentiation in eusocial mammals. Front Neuroendocrinol 30:519-33
Seney, Marianne L; Kelly, Diane A; Goldman, Bruce D et al. (2009) Social structure predicts genital morphology in African mole-rats. PLoS One 4:e7477
Forger, Nancy G (2009) The organizational hypothesis and final common pathways: Sexual differentiation of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. Horm Behav 55:605-10
Murray, Elaine K; Hien, Annie; de Vries, Geert J et al. (2009) Epigenetic control of sexual differentiation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Endocrinology 150:4241-7

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