Cited by 280Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeuropeptides and Animal PhysiologyNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Brain vasopressin is an important regulator of maternal behavior independent of dams’ trait anxiety

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Bosch, Oliver J., Neumann, Inga D.·2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) is arguably among the most potent regulators of social behaviors in mammals identified to date. However, only the related neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been shown to promote maternal behavior. Here, we assess the role of AVP in maternal care, in particular in arched back nursing, pup retrieval, and pup contact by using complementary pharmacological and genetic approaches. Also, experiments were performed in rat dams with differences in trait anxiety, i.e., rats bred for either high (HAB) or low (LAB) anxiety-related behavior as well as nonselected (NAB) dams. Viral vector-mediated up-regulation of AVP V1a receptors (AVP-Rs) within the medial preoptic area of lactating NAB rats and chronic central AVP treatment of NAB and LAB dams improved, whereas local blockade of AVP-R expression by means of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides or central AVP-R antagonism impaired, maternal care in NAB dams. Also, in HAB rats with a genetically determined elevated brain AVP activity, intrinsically high levels of maternal care were reversed by blockade of AVP-R actions. Treatment-induced impairment of AVP-mediated maternal behavior increased adult emotionality and impaired social interactions in male offspring of NAB dams. These findings provide direct evidence for an essential and highly potent role of brain AVP in promoting maternal behavior, which seems to be independent of the dam's trait anxiety.

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  • Arginine vasopressin has been linked to parental nurturing.

    “In addition to the effects of OT and DA in promoting parental care of both sexes, AVP, known to promote territoriality, aggression, and mating, has been linked to parental nurturing [48,49,50,51].”
  • In female rats, viral vector-mediated upregulation of the vasopressin 1a receptor within the medial preoptic area improves maternal care, whereas blockade of the same receptor impairs maternal actions.

    “In female rats, viral vector-mediated upregulation of the AVP 1a receptor (AVPR1a) within the MPOA improves maternal care, whereas blockade of the same receptor impairs maternal actions [49].”
  • Although the precise sources of vasopressin regulating parental behavior are undefined, vasopressin projections from the extended amygdala may also influence maternal behavior, as vasopressin in the lateral septum facilitates paternal behavior in prairie voles.

    “Although the precise sources of AVP regulating parental behavior is undefined, AVP projections from the extended amygdala may also influence maternal behavior, as AVP in the LS facilitates paternal behavior in prairie voles (135, 136).”

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Authors
Bosch, O. J., & Neumann, I. D.
Affiliations
University of Regensburg (DE)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2008-11-04
Volume
105
Issue
44
Pages
17139-17144
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2110524295
Cited by
280
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 24
FWCI
26.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Boston College
  • Emory University
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
vasopressin, maternal behavior, maternal care, trait anxiety, V1a receptor, medial preoptic area, pup retrieval, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, social behavior, lactating rats
MeSH terms
Animals, Anxiety, Arginine Vasopressin, Behavior, Animal, Brain, Female, Maternal Behavior, Oxytocin, Phenotype, Down-Regulation, Rats, Wistar, Receptors, Vasopressin, Rats

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