OXYTOCIN AND COCAINE--MATERNAL BEHAVIOR AND AGGRESSION

人类母亲滥用可卡因与高发的 虐待儿童和忽视母亲。我们发现可卡因(COC) 治疗减少产妇行为(MB)并增加产后 对入侵者的母性攻击。在大鼠身上，催产素(Oxy)有 已被证明可诱发MB的发病，并被认为影响MAG。我们 还观察到，在大鼠大坝中进行COC治疗可以降低体内Oxy的水平 几个被认为对MB(海马体)和MAG很重要的大脑部位 (杏仁核)。已发现Oxy的作用可能是通过 多巴胺能系统减弱COC诱导的几种行为。 我们假设COC将导致频率的显著变化， 特别指定的MB的持续时间、延迟或图案化 非MB的变化并不显著，而不是 仅限非MB。我们将测量频率、持续时间、延迟和序列 COC处理的产后大鼠母体行为和非母体行为 (研究1)。我们还假设在MB和MAG中看到的变化不是 只是退出COC的结果。为了检验这一假设，MB和MAG 将在COC停用条件下在产后大鼠模型中进行测量 和不戒断(研究2)。 来确定COC诱导的对入侵者攻击行为的增加 是否与产后内分泌状态或接触有直接关系 幼鼠，我们将研究COC治疗的处女大鼠的攻击性， 有幼崽的哺乳母马和没有幼崽的哺乳母马(研究 3)。我们假设COC导致的攻击性增加并不是 取决于哺乳状态或幼崽接触。 研究4和5将有助于确定，是否如假设的那样，Oxy和COC 通过多巴胺能系统相互作用，改变MB和MAG。至 检验这一假设，我们将：(1)尝试阻止COC对 带有Oxy(2)的MB和MAG尝试在MB和MAG中产生改变 类似于COC处理通过给予Oxy产生的那些 拮抗剂(OTA)和多巴胺再摄取抑制剂(氨基甲酸)。 测定COC处理大鼠模型中氧结合、水平和释放的变化 以及(4)测量给予Oxy的大鼠的多巴胺摄取。

Cocaine abuse in human mothers is correlated with a high incidence of child abuse and maternal neglect. We have found that cocaine (COC) treatment decreased maternal behaviors (MB) and increased postpartum maternal aggression (MAG) towards an intruder. In rats, oxytocin (OXY) has been shown to induce the onset of MB and is thought to influence MAG. We have also observed that COC treatment in rat dams reduced levels of OXY in several brain sites thought to be important in MB (hippocampus) and MAG (amygdala). It has been found that OXY working perhaps through the dopaminergic system attenuates several COC induced behaviors. We hypothesize that COC will cause a significant change in the frequency, duration, latency or patterning of specifically designated MB and nonsignificant changes in non-MB rather than significant differences in only non-MB. We will measure frequency, duration, latency and sequence of maternal and nonmaternal behaviors in COC treated postpartum rat dams (Study 1). We also hypothesize that alterations seen in MB and MAG are not simply a result of withdrawal from COC. To test this hypothesis MB and MAG will be measured in postpartum rat dams under conditions of COC withdrawal and non-withdrawal (Study 2). To determine if the increase in COC-induced aggression towards an intruder is directly related to the postpartum endocrine state or contact with pups, we will study aggression in COC treated rats which are virgins, lactating dams with pups present and lactating dams without pups (Study 3). We hypothesize that COC induced increases in aggression are not dependent upon lactational state or pup contact. Studies 4 and 5 will help to determine if, as hypothesized, OXY and COC are interacting, through the dopaminergic system, to alter MB and MAG. To test this hypothesis we will: (1) attempt to block the effects of COC on MB and MAG with OXY (2) attempt to produce alterations in MB and MAG similar to those produced by COC treatment by administering an OXY antagonist (OTA) and a dopamine reuptake inhibitor (amfonelic acid).(3) measure changes in OXY binding, levels and release in COC treated rat dams and (4) measure dopamine uptake in rat dams administered OXY.