title: Corticotropin-releasing hormone inhibits maternal behavior and induces pup-killing.
abstract: Behavioral responses to stressors and the effects of stressors on maternal behavior change with mothering experience. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is released by stressors and produces stress-like behavioral effects. We tested the effects of ICV infusion of ovine CRH (0.5-4 ug) on pup-directed behaviors in ovariectomized, ovarian steroid-treated virgin rats that were either naive to pups or that had three days of mothering experience. CRH inhibited maternal behavior in naive and experienced rats in a dose-related manner. The magnitude and duration of inhibition, especially at the 1 ug dose, were less in rats with mothering experience. Higher doses of CRH (1 - 4 ug) significantly increased pup-killing in rats that were naive to pups. In contrast, CRH produced no pup-killing in rats with mothering experience.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Psychiatry, Univ. of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7160.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone