Changes in the Intensity of Maternal Aggression and Central Oxytocin and Vasopressin V1a Receptors Across the Peripartum Period in the Rat
Changes in the Intensity of Maternal Aggression and Central Oxytocin and Vasopressin V1a Receptors Across the Peripartum Period in the Rat
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02224.x
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发表时间：
2011-11-01
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
Meddle, S. L.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Caughey, S. D.;Klampfl, S. M.;Meddle, S. L.
母亲的攻击性行为可以保护后代免受伤害，是母亲行为的组成部分之一。不仅母亲的攻击性，而且母亲的护理和一般社会行为也受到大脑催产素（OXT）和加压素（AVP）系统的调节。在本研究中，我们在整个怀孕、分娩和哺乳期的关键时间点使用母体防御测试量化了母体攻击性的强度。此外，我们量化了中枢 OXT 和精氨酸 AVP V1a 受体 (V1a-R) 结合的变化，这些变化已知对调节母体攻击性很重要，旨在研究中枢变化是否与这种行为的强度一致。研究发现，攻击性的强度在围产期发生显着变化，首次出现在分娩前一天。攻击性强度在分娩后立即下降，但在哺乳期 4-7 天期间有所增加，然后在断奶时几乎消失。 OXT 受体 (OTR) 和 V1a-R 结合也显示出围产期的变化。与围产期的任何其他时间点相比，OTR 结合在分娩时的终纹床核内和内侧视前区以及哺乳第 4-7 天的外侧隔膜 (LS) 中最高。 OTR 结合与母体攻击性峰值呈正相关，表明 OXT 可能在 LS 中发挥作用，促进攻击性行为的表达。分娩时，V1a-R 结合在室旁核和中央杏仁核 (CeA) 中达到最高水平，并且在 LS 中，V1a-R 结合与攻击行为呈正相关。分娩时 CeA 内 V1a-R mRNA 表达也增加。总而言之，观察到的 OTR 和 V1a-R 结合在神经回路中的波动对于调节母体行为很重要，这可能确保母体攻击性在围产期的正确时间表达。
Maternal aggressive behaviour, which protects the offspring from harm, is one component of maternal behaviour. Not only maternal aggression, but also maternal care and social behaviour in general, is regulated by the brain oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems. In the present study, we quantified the intensity of maternal aggression using the maternal defence test at key time points throughout pregnancy, parturition and lactation. Furthermore, we quantified changes in central OXT and arginine AVP V1a receptor (V1a-R) binding in brain regions known to be important in regulating maternal aggression, aiming to investigate whether central changes coincide with the intensity of this behaviour. The intensity of aggression was found to dramatically change over the peripartum period, with its first appearance on the day before parturition. Aggression intensity fell immediately after parturition, although it increased during days 4-7 of lactation, before almost disappearing at weaning. OXT receptor (OTR) and V1a-R binding also showed changes through the peripartum period. OTR binding was highest at parturition within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic area and on days 4-7 of lactation in the lateral septum (LS) compared to any other time point during the peripartum period. OTR binding positively correlated with the peak of maternal aggression, suggesting that OXT may act in the LS to facilitate the expression of aggressive behaviour. At parturition, V1a-R binding was at its highest levels in the paraventricular nucleus and central amygdala (CeA) and, in the LS, V1a-R binding positively correlated with aggressive behaviour. V1a-R mRNA expression was also increased within the CeA at parturition. Taken together, the observed fluctuations in OTR and V1a-R binding in the neural circuitry important for regulating maternal behaviour may ensure that maternal aggression is expressed at the correct time during the peripartum period.