Prefrontal cortex is associated with the rapid onset of parental behavior in inexperienced adult mice (C57BL/6)

Alsina-Llanes, Marcela; Olazábal, Daniel E.

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112556

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Curiously, in female rats and female and male mice, some authors found that the mPFC was activated (higher c-Fos expression) during aggressive encounters (Halász et al, 2006; Haller et al, 2006; Muroi & Ishii, 2019). However, in our previous study, we did not find any association between infanticidal behavior and c-Fos expression in the mPFC (Alsina-Llanes & Olazábal, 2020). Besides, in the current study, we did not find any change in infanticidal behavior after lesions in the mPFC.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 57%

“…Specifically, transient inactivation of the Cg1 affected the organizational aspects of maternal behavior during both the early and late postpartum period, whereas IL and PL had a specific facilitatory role during the early or late postpartum period respectively (Pereira & Morrell., 2011). We have previously found that pup-naïve virgin females exposed to pups (during 15 min) for the first time and displaying all components of maternal behavior, exhibited specifically higher c-Fos expression in the PL compared to nonmaternal pup-exposed females (Alsina-Llanes & Olazábal, 2020). In the current study, both groups of females had significant lesions in the Cg1 and PL.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…The immunohistochemistry assay was performed according to standard procedures previously published by our laboratory (Alsina-Llanes & Olazábal, 2020; Olazábal & Morrell, 2005) with minor modifications. Briefly, the sections were removed from the freezer and left at room temperature for 1 hr, washed with PBS, and placed in 2% H 2 O 2 with 10% methanol in PBS during 15 min to block endogenous peroxidase.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Brain areas such as the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), among other subcortical brain regions, are classically associated with the induction/maintenance of parental behavior, while some subregions of the amygdala and the hypothalamus (ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus) to its inhibition (Numan & Insel, 2003; Numan et al, 1977, 2005; Olazábal et al, 2013a, 2013b). Less is known about the areas of the brain that participate in infanticidal behavior, triggered by the same stimulus as maternal behavior (Alsina-Llanes & Olazábal, 2020; Tachikawa et al, 2013; Tsuneoka et al, 2015).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, our laboratory found that female mice that displayed immediate maternal behavior expressed significantly higher levels of c-Fos in the PL (Alsina-Llanes & Olazábal, 2020). This increased c-Fos expression was specific to maternal females (compared with nonmaternal females exposed to pups), suggesting that the PL might participate in the immediate onset of maternal behavior in pup-naïve female mice.…”

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confidence: 99%

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NMDA lesions in the prefrontal cortex delay the onset of maternal, but not infanticidal behavior in pup-naïve adult mice (C57BL/6).

Alsina-Llanes¹,

Olazábal²

2021

Behavioral Neuroscience

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While most pup-naïve adult female mice can display, or be induced (by repeated exposure to pups) to display parental behavior rapidly, adult males are infanticidal or nonparental. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) participates in attentional selection, decision-making, behavioral flexibility, and planning that may be critical in the rapid display of parental or infanticidal behavior. We investigated if NMDA-induced lesions in the mPFC (targeting prelimbic cortex) inhibited maternal or infanticidal behavior in pup-naïve adult female and male mice (C57BL/6), respectively. All Control females displayed full maternal behavior at the first encounter with pups. Lesioned female groups were partially maternal (50%) or nonmaternal (50%). Five repeated exposures of 60-min to pups were needed to induce full maternal behavior in female NMDA-lesioned groups. Control and lesioned males did not show significant differences. Control males displayed nonparental (17%) or infanticidal (83%) behavior, while all lesioned males were infanticidal. There was no difference in general locomotor and exploratory activity (i.e., peripheral crosses, rearings, immobility time) in female or male groups. Nevertheless, females and males of lesioned groups showed a reduction in the number of central crosses and time in the central area of an open field respectively, suggesting an increase in anxiety. Our results show that the mPFC is engaged in the rapid onset of maternal behavior in females, contributing with the motivation and planning of its rapid execution, or reducing the anxiety to the first encounter with pups. In contrast, infanticidal behavior, likely a more impulsive behavior, might require less planning from the mPFC.

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