Seasonal regression of brain regions involved in the control of birdsong provides a striking and unique opportunity to investigate the mechanisms regulating neuronal degeneration and protection associated with naturally occurring variation in steroid hormones, and the functional consequences of neuroprotection for a learned sensorimotor behavior.
The aims i n this proposal address fundamental issues of hormones as neuroprotective agents in adult brains. These include the role of indirect genomic signaling pathways in hormonal neuroprotection (Aims 1-4), the role of kinase cascades in mediating transynaptic neuroprotective effects of hormones (Aim 3), and whether steroids can have neuroprotective effects in a manner independent of hormone receptors (Aim 2). The birdsong system excels as a model for studies of hormonal mechanisms of neuroprotection. It is a well-defined and tractable neural circuit that shows extreme seasonal patterns of hormone-regulated neuronal regression and protection. These processes of neural degeneration and protection occur with breeding-related hormonal cycles and thus can be studied in vivo without invasive manipulations. This research will advance the field by 1) providing the first evidence in the song system that kinase cascades are indirect genomic contributors to hormonal neuroprotection (Aims 1-4); 2) investigating the mechanisms by which hormones act transynaptically to have neuroprotective effects, and whether kinase cascades mediate this effect (Aim 3); and 3) determining whether the contribution of kinase cascades to the neuroprotective effect of steroids requires hormone receptor activation (Aim 2), an issue of continuing uncertainty.

Public Health Relevance

Steroid hormones have potential for use as neuroprotective agents in the treatment of brain injury and a variety of neurodegenerative and mental health disorders. They are also of increasing concern as drugs of abuse. This work will examine the fundamental mechanisms by which these potent hormones act to protect the brain.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS075331-04
Application #
8792257
Study Section
Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, Rhythms and Sleep Study Section (NNRS)
Program Officer
Gnadt, James W
Project Start
2012-02-15
Project End
2017-01-31
Budget Start
2015-02-01
Budget End
2016-01-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$327,781
Indirect Cost
$109,031
Name
University of Washington
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
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Brenowitz, Eliot A; Remage-Healey, Luke (2016) It takes a seasoned bird to be a good listener: communication between the sexes. Curr Opin Neurobiol 38:12-7
Larson, Tracy A; Lent, Karin L; Bammler, Theo K et al. (2015) Network analysis of microRNA and mRNA seasonal dynamics in a highly plastic sensorimotor neural circuit. BMC Genomics 16:905
Brenowitz, Eliot A; Larson, Tracy A (2015) Neurogenesis in the adult avian song-control system. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 7:
Brenowitz, Eliot A (2015) Transsynaptic trophic effects of steroid hormones in an avian model of adult brain plasticity. Front Neuroendocrinol 37:119-28
Small, Thomas W; Brenowitz, Eliot A; Wojtenek, Winfried et al. (2015) Testosterone Mediates Seasonal Growth of the Song Control Nuclei in a Tropical Bird. Brain Behav Evol 86:110-21
Brenowitz, Eliot A; Zakon, Harold H (2015) Emerging from the bottleneck: benefits of the comparative approach to modern neuroscience. Trends Neurosci 38:273-8
Larson, Tracy A; Thatra, Nivretta M; Lee, Brian H et al. (2014) Reactive neurogenesis in response to naturally occurring apoptosis in an adult brain. J Neurosci 34:13066-76
Larson, Tracy A; Wang, Tsu-Wei; Gale, Samuel D et al. (2013) Postsynaptic neural activity regulates neuronal addition in the adult avian song control system. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:16640-4
Brenowitz, E A (2013) Testosterone and brain-derived neurotrophic factor interactions in the avian song control system. Neuroscience 239:115-23

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