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Cited by 197Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorInfant Health and DevelopmentOlfactory and Sensory Function Studies

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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Shows Oxytocin Activates Brain Regions Associated with Mother–Pup Bonding during Suckling

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Febo, Marcelo, Numan, Michael, Ferris, Craig F.·2005·The Journal of Neuroscience
DOI 10.1523/jneurosci.3604-05.2005PMC PMC6726012
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Abstract

Oxytocin is released in the maternal brain during breastfeeding and may help strengthen the mother–infant relationship. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine whether oxytocin modulates brain activity in postpartum day 4–8 dams receiving suckling stimulation. During imaging sessions, dams were exposed to pup suckling before and after administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist. Another group of dams received oxytocin alone. Changes in brain activation in response to suckling closely matched that elicited by oxytocin administration. The overlapping brain areas included the olfactory system, nucleus accumbens, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex, ventral tegmental area, cortical amygdala, and several cortical and hypothalamic nuclei. Blockade of oxytocin receptors largely attenuated activation in these regions. The data suggest that oxytocin may strengthen mother–infant bond formation partly by acting through brain areas involved in regulating olfactory discrimination, emotions, and reward.

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Figures

Figure 1 Experimental setup for imaging awake postpartum dams during suckling. a , A bodytubeopeningallowspupstogainaccesstotwopairsofteatsoneithersideoftheventrum. Pups are placed under the chassis at a close distance. b , Contact with the ventrum and teat is established within seconds during a functional scan. c , Side view showing a suckling pup.
Figure 1 Experimental setup for imaging awake postpartum dams during suckling. a , A bodytubeopeningallowspupstogainaccesstotwopairsofteatsoneithersideoftheventrum. Pups are placed under the chassis at a close distance. b , Contact with the ventrum and teat is established within seconds during a functional scan. c , Side view showing a suckling pup.CC-BY-NC-SA · From the PDF
Figure 2 Brain regions used for validating the suckling-stimulation paradigm during functional imaging. Atlas coronal sections and representative functional images highlight the somatosensory cortex ( a ), paraventricular nucleus ( c ), and pituitary ( d ) activated with suckling. Scale bar hue indicates the percentage-change value. b , BOLD signal change over time during suckling stimulation (expressed as percentage change from baseline).
Figure 2 Brain regions used for validating the suckling-stimulation paradigm during functional imaging. Atlas coronal sections and representative functional images highlight the somatosensory cortex ( a ), paraventricular nucleus ( c ), and pituitary ( d ) activated with suckling. Scale bar hue indicates the percentage-change value. b , BOLD signal change over time during suckling stimulation (expressed as percentage change from baseline).CC-BY-NC-SA · From the PDF
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Figure 5 Effect of oxytocin or an oxytocin antagonist on evoked cortical activity. Compositive BOLD activation maps in rats given electrical (1 mA) stimulation of the hindpaw both before and after blockade of oxytocin receptors with an antagonist are shown. The colored pixels represent statistically significant increases in BOLD signal ( p < 0.05; t test).
Figure 5 Effect of oxytocin or an oxytocin antagonist on evoked cortical activity. Compositive BOLD activation maps in rats given electrical (1 mA) stimulation of the hindpaw both before and after blockade of oxytocin receptors with an antagonist are shown. The colored pixels represent statistically significant increases in BOLD signal ( p < 0.05; t test).CC-BY-NC-SA · From the PDF
Figure 6 Brain areas showing positive BOLD responses to oxytocin in postpartum dams. Atlas coronal sections on the left highlight brain areas containing moderate-to-high levels of oxytocin receptors, as reported in the literature (moderate, gray colored areas; high, gray/ dotted areas) (Tribollet et al., 1988; Veinante and Freund-Mercier, 1997; Vaccari et al., 1998). The adjacent activation maps ( n = 6) show regions of positive BOLD signal changes after administration of oxytocin. Colored pixels represent brain areas that showed signal intensity values significantly increased above baseline. Statistical significance was determined using a voxel-wise t test analysis with false-positive detection filtering, comparing baseline and stimulation periods ( 𝛂 = 0.05; Bonferroni corrected).
Figure 6 Brain areas showing positive BOLD responses to oxytocin in postpartum dams. Atlas coronal sections on the left highlight brain areas containing moderate-to-high levels of oxytocin receptors, as reported in the literature (moderate, gray colored areas; high, gray/ dotted areas) (Tribollet et al., 1988; Veinante and Freund-Mercier, 1997; Vaccari et al., 1998). The adjacent activation maps ( n = 6) show regions of positive BOLD signal changes after administration of oxytocin. Colored pixels represent brain areas that showed signal intensity values significantly increased above baseline. Statistical significance was determined using a voxel-wise t test analysis with false-positive detection filtering, comparing baseline and stimulation periods ( 𝛂 = 0.05; Bonferroni corrected).CC-BY-NC-SA · From the PDF

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. 1998, Neuroscience, 82, 267
  2. 10.1210/en.134.1.141 · DOI
  3. 1994, Acta Paediatr Suppl, 397, 19
  4. 10.1210/en.139.12.5015 · DOI · Paper page
  5. 10.1210/en.133.3.1239 · DOI · Paper page

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Metadata

Authors
Febo, M., Numan, M., & Ferris, C. F.
Affiliations
  • University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
  • Boston College (US)
Corresponding author
Febo, Marcelo
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Publisher
Society for Neuroscience
Published
2005-12-14
Volume
25
Issue
50
Pages
11637-11644
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
DOI
10.1523/jneurosci.3604-05.2005
PMC
PMC6726012
OpenAlex
W2168959320
Cited by
197
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 14
FWCI
7.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network (American Medical Association) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (0312380)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA13517, R01DA013517)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Health and Development
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
Keywords
oxytocin, suckling, mother-infant relationship, oxytocin receptor antagonist, olfactory system, nucleus accumbens, insula, prefrontal cortex, ventral tegmental area, cortical amygdala, hypothalamus, odor discrimination, reward, maternal behavior
MeSH terms
Animals, Animals, Suckling, Brain Mapping, Emotions, Female, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Maternal Behavior, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Reward, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptors, Oxytocin, Rats

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