Wang Hui, Wang Yue-Shang, Han Cheng-Quan, Hu Xi-Yi, Yang Yan, Lyu Shen-Jin
College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, Shandong, China.
School of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, Shandong, China.
Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2025 Jan 18;36(1):318-326. doi: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202501.033.
Maternal behavior of domestic animals refers to the behaviors related to delivery and rearing of offspring, including nesting, delivery, grooming, recognition, lactation, rearing and protection of the young. These behaviors can provide rich social experience and survival skills for young, which are important for the continuation of species and population stability. Maternal recognition of the young is the first step in the initiation of maternal behaviors, such as lactation, nurturing, and protection. Ewes can quickly and exclusively recognize their lambs after giving birth and establish a strong mother-young bond. The 4-6 h period after delivery is particularly important because it is the critical period for ewes to recognize their lambs, in which olfaction plays a key role. The main olfactory system, which consists of the olfactory mucosa and the main olfactory bulb, and the accessory olfactory system, which consists of the vomeronasal organ and the accessory olfactory bulb, can mediate ewes' recognition and memory of lamb odors. A systematic summary of the olfactory signaling mechanisms is lacking. Given that the high mortality rate of lactating lambs due to poor maternal behavior is a challenge in the farming industry, a systematic review and summary of the role of olfaction in maternal recognition in sheep is particularly important for improving maternal behavior and lamb survival. Here, we reviewed the role of olfaction in maternal recognition in sheep, as well as the structures and functions involved in maternal recognition of the main and accessory olfactory systems. The cAMP signaling pathway mediated by G protein (Golf)-AC3-cAMP and the IP signaling pathway mediated by (OTR)-Gq-PLC-IP have been considered as the main pathways involved in olfactory signaling in the main olfactory system. The olfactory signaling function in the accessory olfactory system is mediated by the G/G -PLC-IP/DAG pathway. It would offer a theoretical reference for further understanding of the olfactory signal transduction mechanism of maternal recognition and maternal behavior improvement strategies.
家畜的母性行为是指与分娩和养育后代相关的行为，包括筑巢、分娩、梳理、识别、哺乳、养育和保护幼崽。这些行为可以为幼崽提供丰富的社交经验和生存技能，对物种的延续和种群稳定至关重要。母羊对幼崽的识别是启动母性行为（如哺乳、养育和保护）的第一步。母羊分娩后能迅速且专一地识别自己的羔羊，并建立牢固的母婴关系。分娩后的4至6小时尤为重要，因为这是母羊识别羔羊的关键时期，嗅觉在其中起着关键作用。主要嗅觉系统由嗅觉黏膜和主嗅球组成，附属嗅觉系统由犁鼻器和副嗅球组成，它们可以介导母羊对羔羊气味的识别和记忆。目前缺乏对嗅觉信号传导机制的系统总结。鉴于母性行为不佳导致哺乳期羔羊死亡率高是养殖业面临的一个挑战，系统回顾和总结嗅觉在绵羊母性识别中的作用对于改善母性行为和提高羔羊存活率尤为重要。在此，我们综述了嗅觉在绵羊母性识别中的作用，以及主嗅觉系统和附属嗅觉系统参与母性识别的结构和功能。由G蛋白（Golf）-AC3-cAMP介导的cAMP信号通路和由（OTR）-Gq-PLC-IP3介导的IP3信号通路被认为是主嗅觉系统中参与嗅觉信号传导的主要通路。附属嗅觉系统中的嗅觉信号功能由Gαi/Gβγ-PLC-IP3/DAG通路介导。这将为进一步了解母性识别的嗅觉信号转导机制和母性行为改善策略提供理论参考。
