MECHANISMS OF OPIOID MODULATION OF MATERNAL BEHAVIOR

(改编自申请人的摘要)：这是一个长期目标 工作是培训申请者进行研究，以阐明 神经控制行为的机制。特别是，申请人 将进一步表征u阿片受体(u受体)的作用 在调节母亲行为方面，并研究了一种可能的机制 通过测定MU受体和MU受体的共定位百分比来实现阿片类药物的作用 内侧闭锁前区Fos B阳性神经元。以前的研究 提示即早基因fos B的产物poS B是 表达母性行为所必需的，而激活Mu- 受体抑制母性行为。未分娩的雌性大鼠展示 一旦幼崽接触到幼崽，母体对它们的行为 几天，但开始怀孕的潜伏期有很大差异 行为。这种可变性提供了一种研究 神经化学物质对母体行为表达时间的影响。这个 申请人建议确定是否：1)阻断Mu受体 生产会影响表达母性行为的潜伏期；2)潜伏期 开始表达母性行为与Mu受体相关 3)Fos B和Mu受体共定位。反义 寡核苷酸治疗对Mu受体和MU受体产生的影响 母亲的行为测试将有助于阐明 阿片能系统在母亲行为抑制中的作用。就地 杂交和免疫组织化学方法将被用于精确地 成年雌性大鼠产生Mu受体和Fos B的神经元的定位。 这些研究的结果将增加我们对神经的理解 哺乳动物母婴护理的管理。

(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.