TY - JOUR
T1 - Elevated Fos-like immunoreactivity in the brains of postpartum female prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster
AU - Katz, Laura F.
AU - Ball, Gregory F.
AU - Nelson, Randy J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by USPHS grants HD 22201 (RJN) and MH 50388 (GFB)
Copyright:
Copyright 2007 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - This study investigated the expression of the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos in the brains of female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) in association with pregnancy and postparturient activities including maternal behavior, lactation and postpartum estrus. Fos expression was assessed in female voles that were late in pregnancy, nonpregnant or at one of three different times postpartum (0-8, 12-24, and 24-48 h, respectively). A significant increase in the number of cells displaying Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) was observed during the 0-8 h and 12-24 h postpartum time periods in the accessory olfactory bulbs, medial preoptic area, hypothalamus (specifically, the supraoptic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamus, and paraventricular nucleus), lateral septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and primary somatosensory area of the brain. The number of Fos-ir cells decreased after 24 h postpartum. There were no significant changes in Fos-ir cell numbers in the primary olfactory bulbs, hippocampus, or caudate putamen. The neural activation of the medial preoptic area, accessory olfactory bulbs, hypothalamus, and bed nucleus is consistent with reports in rats of Fos induction associated with the onset of maternal behavior. In voles postpartum estrous behavior begins and ends 0-12 h after parturition. Maternal behavior, including lactation, is initiated at the same time but persists for several weeks. The highest Fos-ir cell numbers reported here coincide with the timing of postpartum estrous behavior in this species.
AB - This study investigated the expression of the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos in the brains of female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) in association with pregnancy and postparturient activities including maternal behavior, lactation and postpartum estrus. Fos expression was assessed in female voles that were late in pregnancy, nonpregnant or at one of three different times postpartum (0-8, 12-24, and 24-48 h, respectively). A significant increase in the number of cells displaying Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) was observed during the 0-8 h and 12-24 h postpartum time periods in the accessory olfactory bulbs, medial preoptic area, hypothalamus (specifically, the supraoptic nucleus, ventromedial hypothalamus, and paraventricular nucleus), lateral septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and primary somatosensory area of the brain. The number of Fos-ir cells decreased after 24 h postpartum. There were no significant changes in Fos-ir cell numbers in the primary olfactory bulbs, hippocampus, or caudate putamen. The neural activation of the medial preoptic area, accessory olfactory bulbs, hypothalamus, and bed nucleus is consistent with reports in rats of Fos induction associated with the onset of maternal behavior. In voles postpartum estrous behavior begins and ends 0-12 h after parturition. Maternal behavior, including lactation, is initiated at the same time but persists for several weeks. The highest Fos-ir cell numbers reported here coincide with the timing of postpartum estrous behavior in this species.
KW - Estrus
KW - Immediate early gene
KW - Immunocytochemistry
KW - Maternal behavior
KW - Microtus ochrogaster (Rodentia)
KW - Postpartum estrus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032746878&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0032746878&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s004410050065
DO - 10.1007/s004410050065
M3 - Article
C2 - 10639733
AN - SCOPUS:0032746878
SN - 0302-766X
VL - 298
SP - 425
EP - 435
JO - Cell and Tissue Research
JF - Cell and Tissue Research
IS - 3
ER -