MECHANISMS OF OPIOID MODULATION OF MATERNAL BEHAVIOR

（摘自申请人摘要）：本项目的长期目标 工作是培训申请人进行研究，将阐明 行为的神经控制机制。特别是，申请人 将进一步表征μ阿片受体（μ受体）的作用， 在调节母性行为和研究一个可能的机制， 通过确定μ受体的共定位百分比来确定阿片样物质作用， 视前内侧区Fos B阳性神经元。以前的研究 表明即早基因fos B的产物Pos B， 表达母性行为所必需的，而激活mu- 受体抑制母性行为。未生育的雌性大鼠表现出 母亲对幼崽的行为，一旦他们已经暴露给他们， 几天，但在潜伏期有很大的变化，开始产妇 行为这种可变性提供了一种研究 神经化学物质对母性行为表达时机的影响。的 申请人建议确定是否：1）阻断μ-受体 生产将影响表达母性行为的潜伏期; 2）表达母性行为的潜伏期。 表达母性行为的开始与μ受体相关 Fos B和μ受体共定位。反义 寡脱氧核苷酸处理对抗μ受体的产生， 母性行为测试将有助于阐明 阿片系统抑制母性行为。原位 杂交和免疫组织化学方法将被用来精确地 在成年雌性大鼠中定位产生μ受体和Fos B的神经元。 这些研究的结果将增加我们对神经系统的理解。 哺乳动物的母性护理。

(adapted from the applicant's abstract): The long-term objective of this work is to train the applicant to conduct research that will elucidate the mechanisms of the neural control of behavior. In particular, the applicant will further characterize the role of mu opioid receptors (mu receptors) in modulating maternal behavior and investigate a possible mechanism of opioid action by determining percent co-localization of mu receptors and Fos B-positive neurons in the medial preobtic area. Previous research indicates that Pos B, the product of immediate early gene fos B, is necessary for expression of maternal behavior, while activation of mu- receptors suppresses maternal behavior. Nulliparous female rats exhibit maternal behavior toward pups once they have been exposed to them for several days, but there is much variation in the latency to begin maternal behavior. This variability offers a way to investigate the effects of neurochemicals on the timing of maternal behavior expression. The applicant proposes to determine whether: 1) blocking mu-receptor production will affect latency to express maternal behavior; 2) latency to begin expressing maternal behavior is correlated with mu-receptor densities; 3) Fos B and mu receptors are co-locolized. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment against production of mu receptors and maternal behavior testing will help to elucidate the role of the opioidergic system in suppression of maternal behavior. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical methods will be used to precisely localize neurons that produce mu receptors and Fos B in adult female rats. The results of these studies will increase our understanding of the neural regulation of maternal care in mammals.