Bosch, Oliver J. (2011) Maternal nurturing is dependent on her innate anxiety: The behavioral roles of brain oxytocin and vasopressin. HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR, 59 (2). pp. 202-212. ISSN 0018-506X, 1095-6867
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
The maternal brain undergoes remarkable physiological and behavioral changes in the peripartum period to meet the demands of the offspring. Here, the brain neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin, together with prolactin, play important roles. These neuropeptides are critically involved in the regulation of maternal behavior. Furthermore, reduced anxiety in lactation is another adaptation of the maternal brain. Therefore, a link between maternal behavior and maternal anxiety has been repeatedly postulated. This is supported by our studies in rats bred for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behavior. While female HAB rats become less anxious in lactation, their anxiety level is still four times higher compared with LAB dams. Interestingly, HAB dams display an intense and protective mothering style including increased arched back nursing and pup retrieval whereas LAB dams display only low levels of maternal care. The amount of maternal care directed towards the pups correlates with the mother's innate anxiety. In addition to differences in maternal care, HAB dams are also more protective as they show heightened aggression against a virgin intruder compared with the less aggressive LAB dams. The level of maternal aggression correlates with both their innate anxiety level as well as with the release of oxytocin and vasopressin in hypothalamic and limbic brain areas. Importantly, manipulations of the brain oxytocin and vasopressin systems alter maternal behavior and depending on the brain region can also alter the dam's anxiety. Thus, the mother's innate anxiety determines her maternal performance and oxytocin and vasopressin are involved in both parameters. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | HYPOTHALAMIC PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS; PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS; MEDIAL PREOPTIC AREA; NEUROENDOCRINE STRESS RESPONSES; NULLIPAROUS FEMALE RATS; RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RNA; PROLACTIN RECEPTOR; TRAIT ANXIETY; LACTATING RATS; CENTRAL AMYGDALA; Arched back nursing; Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; HAB; LAB; Maternal aggression; Maternal care; Microdialysis; Medial preoptic area; Oxytocin; Vasopressin |
| Subjects: | 500 Science > 590 Zoological sciences |
| Divisions: | Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Tierphysiologie/Neurobiologie (Prof. Dr. Inga Neumann) |
| Depositing User: | Petra Gürster |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Apr 2020 06:21 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Apr 2020 06:21 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/21352 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
