PARENTAL BEHAVIOR IN MAMMALS--OPIOID REGULATION

描述(改编自申请人的摘要)：总体目标 目前的建议是描述内源性阿片类药物在 控制哺乳动物的父母行为。使用老鼠模型，一系列的 有人建议进行研究，以检验内源性阿片类药物是 对父母的行为有刺激作用。一种行为的组合， 将使用生理学和解剖学的方法来测试这一点。 假设。在最初的一系列研究中，成年和幼年老鼠将 用阿片类拮抗剂和激动剂治疗，评估是否阻断 阿片类药物活性会延迟，而阿片类药物活性增加会增强 表达父母的关爱。为评估提供生物学基础 内源性阿片类药物在父母教养诱导中的作用 前阿片黑素皮质素(POMC)信使核糖核酸(B-内啡肽的前体)和阿片剂 成年女性和未成年女性脑内受体(U)的表达 用原位杂交组织化学方法对雄性大鼠进行测量 (ISHH)。此外，通过推-推灌流(PPP)释放β-内啡肽 将在妊娠晚期和分娩时进行量化。第二项研究 将评估阿片类药物在建立“母性记忆”中的作用 在产后立即阻断中枢阿片活动 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体行为中的作用。 将监测阿片类药物治疗后哺乳期大鼠的行为 拮抗剂测试阿片类药物在护理过程中释放的帮助 让母亲安静下来，让她和孩子们在一起。神经细胞基因表达的测定 用ISHH法表达POMC和u-阿片受体，测定 PPP释放阿片及神经阿片受体的定量研究 放射自显影在整个哺乳期的分布和密度 为评估内源性阿片类药物的生理作用提供依据 在持续的母性行为中。总之，这些研究将有助于 理解父母行为的神经生物学基础，以及 从而为评估外源性阿片类药物的效果提供了一个框架 应激性环境刺激改变内源性阿片类药物活性 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.