Citation

Bayerl DS, Klampfl SM, Bosch OJ. J. Neuroendocrinol. 2014; 26(12): 918-926.

Affiliation

Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jne.12226

PMID

25283607

Abstract

Maternal behaviour in rodents is mediated by the central oxytocin and vasopressin systems, among others. The role of vasopressin, acting via the V1a receptor (V1aR), on maternal care and maternal aggression has recently been described. However, a potential involvement of the V1b receptor (V1bR) in maternal behaviour has only been demonstrated in knock-out mice. Therefore, we aimed to examine the effects of central pharmacological manipulation of the V1bR on maternal behaviour in lactating Wistar rats. On pregnancy day 18, female rats were implanted with a guide cannula targeting the lateral ventricle. After parturition, dams received once daily an acute central infusion of a specific V1bR agonist (d[Leu4,Lys8]VP) or V1bR antagonist (SSR149415) followed by observations of maternal care (lactation day (LD) 1), maternal motivation in the pup retrieval test (LD 2), anxiety-related behaviour on the elevated plus-maze (LD 3), and maternal aggression in the maternal defence test followed by maternal care monitoring (LD 4). Our data demonstrate that under non-stress conditions the V1bR antagonist decreased the occurrence of both nursing and mother-pup interaction, while the V1bR agonist did not affect either parameter. Under stress conditions, i.e. after the maternal defence test, mother-pup interaction was decreased by infusion of the V1bR antagonist. During the maternal defence test, neither treatment affected aggressive or non-aggressive behaviour. Finally, neither treatment altered maternal motivation or anxiety. In conclusion, central V1bR antagonism modulates aspects of maternal care, but not of maternal aggression or maternal motivation, in lactating rats. These findings further extend our knowledge on the vasopressin system as a vital mediator of maternal behaviour. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en