Ferreira Jozelia Gomes Pacheco, Duarte Jessica Catharine Gomes, Diniz Giovanne Baroni, Bittencourt Jackson Cioni
Laboratory of Chemical Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Laboratory of Chemical Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Center for Neuroscience and Behavior, Institute of Psychology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Physiol Behav. 2017 Nov 1;181:75-79. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.08.028. Epub 2017 Sep 1.
Melanin-concentrating hormone [MCH] is an important neuromodulator related to motivated behaviors. The MCH-containing neurons are mainly located in the lateral hypothalamic area, zona incerta, and incerto-hypothalamic area. In the medial preoptic area [MPOA], a key region for the regulation of maternal behavior, Pmch mRNA expression and MCH synthesis can be detected exclusively during the lactation period. As litter size affects different parameters of maternal physiology, the aim of this study was to verify whether litter size can modulate the number of MCH-containing neurons in the MPOA of lactating rats. The dams were divided into the following groups: postpartum day 12, 15, or 19, with a large, small or reduced litter. Our results show that the number of MCH-immunoreactive neurons in the MPOA is positively correlated with the number of pups in the litter and that artificially reducing the number of pups can also decrease the number of MCH-immunoreactive neurons in the MPOA.
黑色素浓缩激素[MCH]是一种与动机行为相关的重要神经调质。含MCH的神经元主要位于下丘脑外侧区、未定带和下丘脑未定区。在调节母性行为的关键区域内侧视前区[MPOA]，仅在哺乳期可检测到Pmch mRNA表达和MCH合成。由于窝仔数会影响母性生理的不同参数，本研究的目的是验证窝仔数是否能调节泌乳期大鼠MPOA中含MCH的神经元数量。将母鼠分为以下几组：产后第12天、15天或19天，窝仔数多、少或减少。我们的结果表明，MPOA中MCH免疫反应性神经元的数量与窝仔数呈正相关，人工减少仔鼠数量也会减少MPOA中MCH免疫反应性神经元的数量。
