PARENTAL BEHAVIOR IN MAMMALS--OPIOID REGULATION

描述（改编自申请人摘要）：总体目标 目前的建议是描述内源性阿片样物质在 调节哺乳动物的父母行为。 使用大鼠模型， 提出了一些研究来检验内源性阿片样物质是 对父母行为的刺激。 一种行为， 将采用生理学和解剖学方法对此进行测试 假说. 在最初的一系列研究中，成年和幼年大鼠将 用阿片拮抗剂和激动剂治疗，以评估是否阻断 阿片活性将延迟和增加阿片活性增强 父母关怀的表达。 为评估提供生物学基础 内源性阿片类物质在诱导父母照顾中的作用 前阿黑皮素（POMC）mRNA（B-内啡肽的前体）和阿片 成年雌性和幼年雌性大鼠脑中u受体mRNA的表达 雄性大鼠将通过原位杂交组织化学进行测量 （ISHH）。 此外，通过推-推灌注（PPP） 将在妊娠晚期和分娩时进行定量。 第二项研究 将评估阿片类药物在建立“母体记忆”中的作用， 通过在产后立即阻断中枢阿片活性 当这个记忆建立起来的时候。 最后一组研究将试图 阐明哺乳期阿片类药物在母亲行为中的作用。 在用阿片类药物治疗后，将监测哺乳期大鼠的行为 拮抗剂测试的建议，阿片类药物释放期间护理帮助 让母亲安静下来让她和孩子们在一起 神经mRNA的测量 通过ISHH测定POMC和U-阿片受体的表达， 通过PPP的阿片样物质释放和神经阿片样物质受体的定量 在整个哺乳期内，通过放射自显影法测定的分布和密度将 为评估内源性阿片类物质的生理作用提供基础 持续的母性行为 这些研究将有助于 了解父母行为的神经生物学基础， 从而为评价外源性阿片类药物的作用提供了框架， 应激性环境刺激可改变内源性阿片样物质活性， 亲子互动

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's abstract): The overall objective of the present proposal is to delineate the role of endogenous opioids in regulating parental behavior in mammals. Using a rat model, a series of studies are proposed to test the hypothesis that endogenous opioids are stimulatory to parental behavior. A combination of behavioral, physiological, and anatomical approaches will be employed to test this hypothesis. In the initial series of studies adult and juvenile rats will be treated with opiate antagonists and agonists to evaluate whether blocking opiate activity will delay and increasing opiate activity enhance the expression of parental care. To provide a biological basis for assessing the actions of endogenous opioids in the induction of parental care proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA (the precursor for B-endorphin) and opiate receptor (u) mRNA expression in brains of adult female and juvenile female and male rats will be measured by in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH). In addition, beta-endorphin release by push-push perfusion (PPP) will be quantified during late pregnancy and at parturition. A second study will evaluate the role of opioids in the establishment of "maternal memory" by blocking central opioid activity during the immediate postpartum period when this memory is established. The final set of studies will attempt to clarify the role of opioids during lactation in maternal behavior. Behaviors will be monitored in lactating rats after treatment with opiate antagonists to test the proposal that opioids released during nursing help quiet the mother and keep her with the young. Measurements of neural mRNA expression of POMC and the u-opiate receptor by ISHH, determination of opioid release by PPP, and quantification of neural opioid receptor distributions and densities by autoradiography throughout lactation will provide the basis for assessing the physiological role of endogenous opioids in ongoing maternal behavior. Together, these studies will contribute to understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of parental behavior, and thus provide a framework for evaluating the effects of exogenous opiates and stressful environmental stimuli which alter endogenous opioid activity on parent-young interactions.