Neuroendocrine control of maternal behavior in non-human and human mammals

Maternal behaviour in domestic dogs

“…However, in some species, neonates need a dam to hatch them or to feed them [25]. Altricial species dams (as rodents, canines, and felines) built a nest where they give birth to their offspring, which are not fully developed and have limited sensorial and motion skills [4,29]. Maternal behaviour largely differs across species.…”

“…Precocial species deliver small litters, with fully developed offspring, capable of following the dam immediately after birth. Within these species, dams develop discriminatory maternal care that allows only its offspring to suck and avoid other animals to do so [4,18].…”

“…Mammalian parental care in dogs is mainly performed by the dam, who provides food, warmth [1,2], shelter and protection from predators and conspecifics [3,4], helping to the offspring´s survival and their mental and physical well-being [5,6]. It has been documented that maternal care has an impact on individuals' development in many species, including rodents, pigs, nonhuman primates, humans and recently in adult dogs [7][8][9].…”

Glyphosate and glyphosate‐based herbicide exposure during the peripartum period affects maternal brain plasticity, maternal behaviour and microbiome

“…In general, the vast majority of studies focus on the effects of the chemical environment on neurodevelopmental outcomes during the perinatal period because of the intense neuroplasticity in the developing brain. However, the neural circuitry of adult females is also significantly remodelled during pregnancy and lactation to adapt her behaviour to her offspring's needs and survival in a variable environment . Amongst the various brain regions remodelled around the peripartum period, including the medial preoptic nucleus, the ventral tegmental area and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the hippocampus has received much attention because of its persistent high level of neuroplasticity, including adult neurogenesis, and because of its sensitivity to social and chemical environmental factors .…”

“…However, the neural circuitry of adult females is also significantly remodelled during pregnancy and lactation to adapt her behaviour to her offspring's needs and survival in a variable environment. [28][29][30][31] Amongst the various brain regions remodelled around the peripartum period, including the medial preoptic nucleus, the ventral tegmental area and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the hippocampus has received much attention because of its persistent high level of neuroplasticity, including adult neurogenesis, and because of its sensitivity to social and chemical environmental factors. [32][33][34] It should be added that the ventral and dorsal region of the hippocampus present physiological and functional differences, with the agreed consensus that the dorsal hippocampus is involved in spatial cognition and more cognitive performance and memory in general, whereas the ventral part is involved in the regulation of emotions, including stress and anxiety.…”