NEUROPEPTIDERGIC CONTROL OF MATERNAL BEHAVIOR

描述（由申请人提供）：提出了三个具体目标来解决以下总体假设：精氨酸加压素（AVP）在母性行为的保持、母性攻击的表达中具有重要作用，以及中枢AVP水平与母性行为和攻击的表达之间存在潜在联系。此外，AVP对母亲行为的影响及其在社会认可中的既定作用之间的潜在联系也将被探讨。在具体目标1中，我们假设AVP可能在母性行为的保留中发挥作用。与大量支持AVP在其他啮齿类动物的社会识别和父母行为中的作用的研究相反，缺乏关于AVP和大鼠的母亲行为或攻击的研究。具体目标2将试图确定AVP是否调节母体攻击性。研究表明，AVP刺激非哺乳期啮齿动物的攻击性，但其在母体攻击性中的作用尚不确定。具体目标3将通过使用RIA和RNase保护检测哺乳期大鼠行为相关核团中的AVP和AVP mRNA水平来研究哺乳期啮齿动物中的AVP解剖，并将探索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.