Impaired maternal behavior in mice lacking norepinephrine and epinephrine.
The roles of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine in behavior were investigated by targeted disruption of the dopamine beta-hydroxylase (Dbh) gene, thereby eliminating these compounds in vivo. Most heterozygous pups born to Dbh-/- females died within several days of birth and were often found scattered within the bedding. Potential causes including deficits in olfaction and lactation were not apparent. A deficit in maternal behavior was confirmed by the lack of pup retrieval exhibited by Dbh-/- virgin females. Restoration of NE shortly before but not after birth induced females that previously abandoned their litters to act maternally. Our results suggest that NE is responsible for long-lasting changes that promote maternal behavior during both development and parturition in mice.
Thomas
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
Palmiter
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D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D015103:Droxidopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D010675:Pheromones; D015103:Droxidopa; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine