Maternally modulated infant separation responses are regulated by D2-family dopamine receptors.
Although dopamine is necessary for mammalian adult pair-bond formation and maternal behavior, its function in infant social behavior and attachment has been less thoroughly explored. The vocalization rate of an isolated rat pup is influenced by recent social contact. Interactions with the dam potentiate vocalization rate. Interactions with littermates or adult males do not. Systemic administration of the D2-family agonist quinpirole specifically blocked maternal potentiation at doses that did not alter vocalization rate in an isolation prior to dam contact. This result was not explained by quinpirole's effects on body temperature or locomotion. The results are consistent with a role for dopamine in infant social behavior.
Muller
Jeff M
JM
Department of Developmental Psychobiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA. jmmjmm@gmail.com
Brunelli
Susan A
SA
Moore
Holly
H
Myers
Michael M
MM
Shair
Harry N
HN
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D019257:Quinpirole / Q000494:pharmacology; D020891:Raclopride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000502:physiology*; D012934:Social Isolation; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D019257:Quinpirole; D020891:Raclopride