Laboratory of Neuromorphology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary.
Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 3;22(4):1517. doi: 10.3390/ijms22041517.
(1) Background: Preoptic region of hypothalamus is responsible to control maternal behavior, which was hypothesized to be associated with gene expressional changes. (2) Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was first applied in the preoptic region of rat dams in comparison to a control group of mothers whose pups were taken away immediately after parturition and did not exhibit caring behavior 10 days later. (3) Results: Differentially expressed genes were found and validated by quantitative RT-PCR, among them NACHT and WD repeat domain containing 1 (Nwd1) is known to control androgen receptor (AR) protein levels. The distribution of Nwd1 mRNA and AR was similar in the preoptic area. Therefore, we focused on this steroid hormone receptor and found its reduced protein level in rat dams. To establish the function of AR in maternal behavior, its antagonist was administered intracerebroventricularly into mother rats and increased pup-directed behavior of the animals. (4) Conclusions: AR levels are suppressed in the preoptic area of mothers possibly mediated by altered Nwd1 expression in order to allow sustained high-level care for the pups. Thus, our study first implicated the AR in the control of maternal behaviors.
(1) 背景：下丘脑视前区负责控制母性行为，据推测其与基因表达变化有关。
(2) 方法：首先在产后立即将幼崽带走且 10 天后不表现出照顾行为的对照组母鼠的视前区应用转录组测序进行比较。
(3) 结果：通过定量 RT-PCR 发现并验证了差异表达基因，其中 NACHT 和 WD 重复结构域包含 1（Nwd1）已知可控制雄激素受体（AR）蛋白水平。Nwd1 mRNA 和 AR 在视前区的分布相似。因此，我们专注于这种甾体激素受体，并发现其在母鼠中的蛋白水平降低。为了确定 AR 在母性行为中的功能，将其拮抗剂通过脑室内给药给予母鼠，并增加了动物的指向幼崽的行为。
(4) 结论：AR 水平在母鼠的视前区受到抑制，可能是通过改变 Nwd1 表达来介导的，以便为幼崽提供持续的高水平照顾。因此，我们的研究首次表明 AR 在控制母性行为方面起作用。
