Cited by 150Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorStress Responses and CortisolEpigenetics and DNA Methylation

Developmental Timing of the Effects of Maternal Care on Gene Expression and Epigenetic Regulation of Hormone Receptor Levels in Female Rats

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Peña, Catherine Jensen, Neugut, Y. Dana, Champagne, Frances A.·2013·Endocrinology

Abstract

Maternal care experienced during postnatal development has enduring effects on neuroendocrine function and behavior. Previous studies in rats have illustrated the effect of maternal licking/grooming (LG) on hormone receptors and maternal behavior of adult female offspring associated with altered DNA methylation. However, the developmental timing of these effects, which provide insight into the cellular and molecular pathways through which early experience alters later behavior, had not been explored. Here, we demonstrate the developmental emergence of these outcomes and use cross-fostering to identify sensitive periods for these effects. Estrogen receptor (ER)α and ERβ mRNA levels within the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the hypothalamus were increased by postnatal day (PN)21 in female offspring of high LG dams; LG-associated increases in oxytocin receptor mRNA levels were observed beyond the weaning period. Quantification of ERα-immunoreactivity indicated a high degree of neuroanatomical specificity of LG effects within the MPOA that were observed by PN6. Reduced DNA methylation and histone 3 lysine 9 tri-methylation and increased histone 3 lysine 4 tri-methylation at the ERα gene promoter (Esr1) were detected at PN21 in high LG female offspring. Latency to engage in maternal behavior toward donor pups was significantly shorter among high LG females. Cross-fostering revealed that maternal sensitization and MPOA ERα levels are sensitive to maternal care experienced before but not after PN10. Differential windows of plasticity were identified for ERβ and oxytocin receptor mRNA levels. These studies contribute significantly to our understanding of the molecular, neurobiological, and behavioral pathways through which variation in maternal behavior is transmitted from one generation to the next.

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  1. Ogawa S, Eng V, Taylor J, Lubahn DB, Korach KS, Pfaff DW. Roles of estrogen receptor-␣ gene expression in reproduction-related be- haviors in female mice. Endocrinology. 1998;139(12):5070 -5081.
  2. Yokosuka M, Okamura H, Hayashi S. Postnatal development and sex difference in neurons containing estrogen receptor-␣ immuno- reactivity in the preoptic brain, the diencephalon, and the amygdala in the rat. J Comp Neurol. 1997;389(1):81-93.

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Authors
Peña, C. J., Neugut, Y. D., & Champagne, F. A.
Affiliations
Columbia University (US)
Corresponding author
Champagne, Frances A.
Venue
Endocrinology
Published
2013-11-01
Volume
154
Issue
11
Pages
4340-4351
ISSN
  • 0013-7227 (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7170
OpenAlex
W2098185693
Cited by
150
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 1
FWCI
18.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1dp2od001674-01)
  • NIH Office of the Director
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
Keywords
maternal care, developmental timing, estrogen receptor alpha, estrogen receptor beta, oxytocin receptor, medial preoptic area, DNA methylation, histone methylation, sensitive period, cross-fostering, maternal behavior, gene expression, epigenetic regulation, neuroendocrine development, female rats
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Female, Hypothalamus, Maternal Behavior, Receptors, Steroid, Sexual Maturation, Receptors, Oxytocin, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, DNA Methylation, Rats, Inbred LEC, Epigenesis, Genetic, Estrogen Receptor alpha, Estrogen Receptor beta, Rats

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