Activation of Fos-like immunoreactivity in the medial preoptic area and limbic structures by maternal and social interactions in rats.
The researchers examined the number of cells showing Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-lir) in the brains of hormonally primed parturient rat dams immediately following their first behavioral interactions with pups. Groups were exposed to newborn pups (pup), adult conspecifics (social), or a new food (food), or they were left alone in cages (control/isolate) for a 1-hr period. Rats were then killed, and their brains were prepared for immunohistochemical detection of Fos-lir. Rats in the pup group had higher numbers of cells showing. Fos-lir within the medial preoptic area (MPOA) nuclei than did the social, control/isolate, and, marginally, food groups and higher levels of Fos-lir in a number of amygdaloid nuclei (medial and cortical) and in cingulate and somatosensory cortices than did control/isolate or food groups. Fos-lir in amygdala did not differ between pup and social groups. There were also group differences in Fos-labeling in the olfactory bulbs, with the pup group showing the highest densities. These results show elevated expression of Fos-lir in brain structures that were activated during the expression of maternal behavior, including the olfactory structures, amygdala, and MPOA.
Fleming
A S
AS
Department of Psychology, Erindale College, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Suh
E J
EJ
Korsmit
M
M
Rusak
B
B
D000679:Amygdala / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000502:physiology; D008032:Limbic System / Q000502:physiology*; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000502:physiology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000502:physiology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos