NEUROPEPTIDERGIC CONTROL OF MATERNAL BEHAVIOR

描述(由申请人提供)：针对精氨酸加压素(AVP)在保持母性行为、表达母性攻击性以及中枢AVP水平与母性行为和攻击性表达之间存在潜在联系的总体假设，提出了三个具体目标。此外，还将探索AVP对母亲行为的影响与其在社会认可中的既定作用之间的潜在联系。在特定的目标1中，我们假设AVP可能在母性行为保留中起作用。与支持AVP在其他啮齿类动物的社会认知和父母行为中的作用的大量研究相反，很少有研究关注AVP与老鼠的母性行为或攻击性。具体目标2将试图确定AVP是否调节母亲的攻击行为。已有研究表明，AVP可刺激非哺乳期啮齿动物的攻击性，但其在母体攻击中的作用尚不清楚。具体目标3将通过RIA和RNase保护检测哺乳期大鼠行为相关核团中AVP和AVP mRNA的水平，研究AVP在哺乳期啮齿动物中的解剖，并探讨AVP与攻击性之间的潜在相关性。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Three specific aims are proposed to address the overall hypothesis that arginine vasopressin (AVP) has significant roles in the retention of maternal behavior, the expression maternal aggression, and that there are potential connections between central AVP levels and the expression of maternal behavior and aggression. In addition, the potential connection between AVP's effects on maternal behavior and its established role in social recognition will be explored. In Specific Aim 1, we postulate that AVP may play a role in the retention of maternal behavior. In contrast to the wealth of research supporting AVP's role in social recognition and parental behavior in other rodent species, there is a paucity of research focusing on AVP and maternal behavior or aggression in the rat. Specific Aim 2 will attempt to determine if AVP modulates maternal aggression. It has been shown that AVP stimulates aggression in non-lactating rodents, but its role in maternal aggression is uncertain. Specific Aim 3 will investigate AVP anatomy in lactating rodents by examining AVP and AVP mRNA levels in behaviorally relevant nuclei in lactating rats using RIA and RNase protection, and potential correlations between AVP and aggression will be explored.