Postpartum changes in the GABAergic system in the bed nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract.
The bed nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract (BAOT) is a sexually dimorphic structure which controls the inhibition/disinhibition of the medial preoptic area in the expression of maternal behavior. Therefore, in the present study we investigated sex differences and the modulation of gamma-aminobutiric-acid (GABA) in the BAOT during the first two postpartum days. Four groups of Wistar rats: control males, control females, 0 h postpartum females and 48 h postpartum females, were used in this experiment. Sex differences in glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA(A) alpha-chain receptor densities were apparent in the BAOT. The hormonal and behavioral postpartum state affects GABAergic activity in the females' BAOT in two ways: firstly, pregnancy and the first two postpartum days induce an increase in GABA(A)-receptor and GAD densities; secondly, the intensity of these activities are greater in the left hemisphere than in the right. These changes might be related to the BAOT's function of inhibiting/disinhibiting maternal behavior.
Departamento de Psicobiología, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Ciudad Universitaria, s/n, P.O. Box 60.148, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
Cilia
C
Rodríguez
Antonio
A
Guillamón
Helena
H
Pinos
Paloma
P
Collado
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011301:Preoptic Area / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase