A neural circuitry analysis of maternal behavior in the rat

Numan, Michael

doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.1994.tb13261.x

Cited by 109 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In nonhuman mammals, some information is available regarding the specific structures in the brain related to maternal responsiveness to crying. Many of the earlier studies, involving assessing the behavioral effects of experimental destruction or inactivation of specific neural structures in rodents, identified the medial preoptic area (mpoa) as an essential part of the circuit and important in a range of behavioral elements making up maternal care of infants (reviewed in [83] and [84]). Other studies, using expression of the c-fos gene, confirmed the importance of the mpoa, as well as other structures implicated in the activation and inhibition of maternal behavior (e.g., [108,112]).…”

Section: The Neural Circuitry Underlying Cry Perceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural circuits underlying crying and cry responding in mammals

Newman

2007

Behavioural Brain Research

182

132

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Crying is a universal vocalization in human infants, as well as in the infants of other mammals. Little is known about the neural structures underlying cry production, or the circuitry that mediates a caregiver's response to cry sounds. In this review, the specific structures known or suspected to be involved in this circuit are identified, along with neurochemical systems and hormones for which evidence suggests a role in responding to infants and infant cries. In addition, evidence that crying elicits parental responses in different mammals is presented. An argument is made for including 'crying' as a functional category in the vocal repertoire of all mammalian infants (and the adults of some species). The prevailing neural model for crying production considers forebrain structures to be dispensable. However, evidence for the anterior cingulate gyrus in cry production, and this structure along with the amygdala and some other forebrain areas in responding to cries is presented.

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Section: The Neural Circuitry Underlying Cry Perceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural circuits underlying crying and cry responding in mammals

Newman

2007

Behavioural Brain Research

182

132

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“…Studies in lactating rodents and sheep have advanced the understanding of the neurobiology of maternal behaviors (Numan, 1994;Kendrick et al, 1997). Focal lesions of the medial preoptic area, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral septum, amygdala, cingulate cortex, nucleus accumbens, and substantia nigra have demonstrated their role in the onset and/or maintenance of maternal behaviors (Slotnick and Nigrosh, 1975;Numan and Corodimas, 1985;Numan and Numan, 1996;Stack et al, 2002;Li and Fleming, 2003;Numan and Insel, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Shows Oxytocin Activates Brain Regions Associated with Mother–Pup Bonding during Suckling

Febo¹,

Numan²,

Ferris³

2005

J. Neurosci.

179

153

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Oxytocin is released in the maternal brain during breastfeeding and may help strengthen the mother-infant relationship. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine whether oxytocin modulates brain activity in postpartum day 4 -8 dams receiving suckling stimulation. During imaging sessions, dams were exposed to pup suckling before and after administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist. Another group of dams received oxytocin alone. Changes in brain activation in response to suckling closely matched that elicited by oxytocin administration. The overlapping brain areas included the olfactory system, nucleus accumbens, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex, ventral tegmental area, cortical amygdala, and several cortical and hypothalamic nuclei. Blockade of oxytocin receptors largely attenuated activation in these regions. The data suggest that oxytocin may strengthen mother-infant bond formation partly by acting through brain areas involved in regulating olfactory discrimination, emotions, and reward.

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“…This behavioral pattern relies, at least partly, on the hormonal changes that characterize late gestation, parturition and lactation [4,8,9]. Behavioral changes after giving birth appear to depend mainly on hormonal changes such as rising or elevated levels of estrogen, prolactin and oxytocin [10,11]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corticosterone Synthesis Inhibitor Metyrapone Preserves Changes in Maternal Behavior and Neuroendocrine Responses during Immunological Challenge in Lactating Rats

Vilela

Antunes‐Rodrigues²,

Elias³

et al. 2013

Neuroendocrinology

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Lactation is associated with profound behavioral and physiological adaptations in the mother that support reproductive success. These include neuroendocrine adaptation to stress that reduces anxiety-related behavior and emotional responsiveness. However, the way in which endogenous glucocorticoids secreted during immunological challenge influence the neuroendocrine system and behavior of lactating rats is not well understood. To evaluate the effects of glucocorticoids on the neuroendocrine response to suckling, maternal behavior and maternal anxiolysis, lactating female rats were treated with vehicle or metyrapone prior to the administration of a saline solution or a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) solution. LPS treatment reduced oxytocin and prolactin secretion during suckling and affected a variety of maternal behaviors, such as increasing the latency of retrieval a new nest, decreasing the number of pups gathered to the nest, increasing the latency of retrieving the first pup and decreasing the percentage of time spent in the arched-nursing position. In addition, the LPS treatment increased the baseline and avoidance latencies in an elevated T-maze. Pretreatment with metyrapone counteracted effects produced by LPS, including hormonal and behavioral responses in lactating rats. Taken together, our results indicate that stress induced by LPS treatment attenuates the neuroendocrine response to suckling, followed by disruption of maternal behavior and maternal anxiolysis in lactating female rats. These changes may be due to corticosterone release, as evidenced by the reversal of behavioral and neuroendocrine responses after immunological challenge in lactating rats that had been pretreated with metyrapone.

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A neural circuitry analysis of maternal behavior in the rat

Cited by 109 publications

References 40 publications

Neural circuits underlying crying and cry responding in mammals

Neural circuits underlying crying and cry responding in mammals

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Shows Oxytocin Activates Brain Regions Associated with Mother–Pup Bonding during Suckling

Corticosterone Synthesis Inhibitor Metyrapone Preserves Changes in Maternal Behavior and Neuroendocrine Responses during Immunological Challenge in Lactating Rats

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