Lesions of the medial preoptic area prevent the facilitation of maternal behavior produced by amygdala lesions

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(83)90073-2

Physiology & Behavior

Volume 31, Issue 4, October 1983, Pages 503-510

https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9384(83)90073-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the facilitation of maternal behavior produced by amygdala lesions is mediated through the medial preoptic area. Different groups of animals sustained lesions of the corticomedial amygdala (Group AM), the medial preoptic area (Group MPOA), both regions (Group AM-MPOA), the corticomedial amygdala and non MPOA control sites (Group AM-CX), and control sites (Groups LC or SC). Animals were tested for their maternal responses to foster pups presented daily for an 11 day period. It was found that groups sustaining lesions of the amygdala (Groups AM and AM-CX) became maternal more rapidly than did Control Groups (LC and SC), Group MPOA, and Group AM-POA. However, animals in Group AM-POA were similar to Groups AM and AM-CX in that they did not avoid pups, whereas groups not sustaining lesions of the amygdala did. These results, taken together, suggest that amygdala-induced facilitation of maternal behavior in the nulliparous females is mediated through the MPOA. They suggest, moreover, the primary effect of removing the amygdala is to reduce avoidance of pups, with only secondary effects on maternal responsiveness.

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Altered responsiveness to pups in virgin female mice of the BTBR strain: Insights from pattern of c-Fos expression in brain regions involved in maternal behavior
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Citation Excerpt :
Here we hypothesized that the reduced expression of c-Fos in the OB might signal that the plastic changes in the olfactory network described in laboratory mice upon exposure to relevant olfactory cues [14,34,35] might occur to a minimal extent in BTBR. Notwithstanding the reduced OB activation observed in BTBR mice, the discontinuous performance of pup-oriented behaviors is sufficient to elicit c-Fos expression in the MPOA, the most important brain areas in regulation of maternal responsiveness [17,36–38], as well as in the PVN. Notably, expression of Fos protein is induced in the MPOA neurons during parental behavior in rodents [14], and c-Fos expression in response to a pup-associated cue is elevated in MPOA neurons even in the absence of pups [11,39].
BTBR is an inbred mouse strain that displays several behavioral alterations resembling the core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder, including deficit in sociability. In the present study, we investigated whether the pup-induced maternal behavior in virgin female mice, a naturally rewarding behavior, is impaired in this strain similarly to social interaction with adult conspecifics. We firstly assessed the maternal responsiveness towards newly born pups expressed by either virgin female mice of the BTBR strain or of the normo-social B6 strain. Next, we examined in both strains the expression of c-Fos as a marker of neuronal activity in selected brain areas involved in the regulation of maternal behavior in rodents including the olfactory bulb, the medial preoptic area and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). We also examined the effects of pup presentation on oxytocinergic neurons of the PVN, the major brain site of synthesis of oxytocin, which has a pivotal role in facilitation of maternal response and social responsiveness in general. As a final step, we assessed the c-Fos expression pattern comparing the effect of exposure to pups with that induced by exposure to another social stimulus, focusing on other areas implicated in maternal responsiveness as well as in the affective component of social behavior such as pyriform cortex and central and basolateral amygdala.
Our data showed that BTBR virgin females are less responsive to presentation of pups in comparison to B6, in parallel with lower activation of brain areas implicated in the maternal and social responsiveness.
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The medial amygdala (MA) is a complex amygdaloid structure that is both part of the “extended amygdala” and a key node in the social behavior network. It is superficial to basolateral and basomedial amygdala and lateral to the optic tract and is composed of several subnuclei with differing structure, development, and function. In many vertebrates, MA is strongly linked to defensive and social chemosensory function because of its extensive interconnections with main and accessory olfactory systems. MA also contains subnuclei that are highly steroid-sensitive and connect to other similarly sensitive structures, including the basal forebrain and hypothalamic nuclei regulating steroid-dependent social behaviors. Functionally, MA is consistently implicated in control of social and defensive/stress-related behaviors as well as the regulation of concomitant physiological responses. Thus, MA appears to integrate both internal state and external emotionally charged cues in order to coordinate adaptive responses within social and emotional contexts.
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^☆: This research was supported by a National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (No. 3-642-118-40) awared to Alison S. Fleming.

²: Mario Miceli is now at Memorial University, Department of Psychology, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada.

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Lesions of the medial preoptic area prevent the facilitation of maternal behavior produced by amygdala lesions☆

Abstract

Physiol Behav

Physiol Behav

Brain Res

Physiol Behav

Horm Behav

The rat forebrain in stereotaxic coordinates. Verhandelingen der K. Nederlansche Akademie Van Wetense happen

Afdeeling Naturkinunde

Effects of hypothalamic knife cuts and experience in components of periparturitional behavior in the rat