Oxytocin and maternal motivation; Changes in oxytocin-immunoreactive innervation of the ventral striatum and amygdala during motherhood.
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Title
Oxytocin and maternal motivation; Changes in oxytocin-immunoreactive innervation of the ventral striatum and amygdala during motherhood.Author (s)
Tutor/Supervisor; University.Department
Martínez-García, Fernando; Bellés Esteller, María; Universitat Jaume I. Unitat Predepartamental de MedicinaDate
2019-07-25Publisher
Universitat Jaume IAbstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has not just an endocrine role in the control of
parturition and milk ejection, but also influences social interactions (including maternal
behavior) by means of its action as a ... [+]
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has not just an endocrine role in the control of
parturition and milk ejection, but also influences social interactions (including maternal
behavior) by means of its action as a neurotransmitter in specific circuits of the brain. In
the present study in mice, we combine the analysis of motivational aspects of maternal
behavior using the motivated pup retrieval test (MPRT), with assessment of the
oxytocinergic (OTergic) innervation of the central amygdala (CeA) and the nucleus
accumbens (Acb) in dams, godmothers (pup-exposed virgins) and pup-naïve virgin
females. This allows us to explore the possible roles of these nuclei and their OTergic
innervation in motivational aspects of maternal care. The results can also help to clarify
the relative roles of the endocrine regime of motherhood (present only in dams) and
pup stimulation (present in both dams and godmothers) in the changes in OTergic
innervation and/or maternal motivation associated to motherhood.
Our results reveal an increased OTergic innervation in the CeA of dams, as compared to
pup-naïve virgin females, likely related to the effect of hormones (estradiol after
progesterone withdrawal, lactogenic hormones) during pregnancy, parturition and/or
lactation. No increase in OTergic innervation is observed in the Acb. However, motivated
behavior is likely to be correlated with the density of the OTergic innervation of the Acb,
thus suggesting a role of this innervation in motivational aspects of maternal care.
Finally, there is a global, significant correlation between the innervation density of both
nuclei (Acb and CeA) suggestive of a common origin of the OT immunoreactive fibers of
both nuclei in the same or in closely related (physiologically) brain cells, very likely the
paraventricular hypothalamus and the rostral cell group in the anterior commissureanterodorsal preoptic area (AC/ADP). [-]
Subject
Description
Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Investigació en Cervell i Conducta. Codi: SBM024. Curs: 2018/2019.
Type
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