Gubernick D J, Sengelaub D R, Kurz E M
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Behav Neurosci. 1993 Feb;107(1):194-201. doi: 10.1037//0735-7044.107.1.194.
The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is important in the control of maternal behavior in rodents, and it is sexually dimorphic. This study demonstrates that the MPOA of nonparental virgin male Peromyscus californicus (n = 10) is larger than that of virgin females (n = 9) because of a significantly greater number of neurons in the MPOA of virgin males. However, this sex difference in MPOA volume disappeared when males and females became parents. Soma size increased significantly when females became mothers. These data suggest that maternal behavior may require a structural change in the MPOA, whereas paternal responsivity, which is normally inhibited in virgin males, may require a change in neuronal activity. Furthermore, these results underscore the importance of reproductive status in examination of sexually dimorphic nuclear structures.
内侧视前区（MPOA）在啮齿动物的母性行为控制中起着重要作用，并且具有性别二态性。本研究表明，非亲代成年雄性加州白足鼠（n = 10）的MPOA比成年雌性（n = 9）的大，这是因为成年雄性MPOA中的神经元数量显著更多。然而，当雄性和雌性成为亲代时，MPOA体积的这种性别差异消失了。当雌性成为母亲时，体细胞大小显著增加。这些数据表明，母性行为可能需要MPOA发生结构变化，而父性反应（通常在成年雄性中受到抑制）可能需要神经元活动发生变化。此外，这些结果强调了生殖状态在检查性别二态性核结构中的重要性。
