美国纽约大学Dayu Lin等研究人员合作揭示介导雌性小鼠杀婴和母体关照的拮抗回路。相关论文于2023年6月7日在线发表于国际学术期刊《自然》。

基于母性行为和杀婴行为是由不同的、相互竞争的神经回路支持的假设，研究人员以内侧视前区（MPOA），一个母性行为的关键部位，作为出发点，确定了三个与MPOA相连的脑区，驱动不同的负向幼崽定向行为。功能操作和体内记录显示，雌激素受体α（ESR1）表达的终纹床核主核（BNSTpr^ESR1）的细胞在雌性小鼠杀婴期间是必要、充分和自然激活的。MPOA^ESR1和BNSTpr^ESR1神经元形成相互抑制，进而控制主动和被动的婴儿导向行为之间的平衡。在做母亲期间，MPOA^ESR1和BNSTpr^ESR1细胞以相反的方向改变其兴奋性，支持雌性行为向幼仔的明显转换。

据了解，在许多物种中，包括小鼠，雌性动物根据其生殖状态表现出明显不同的幼崽指导行为。天真的野生雌性小鼠经常杀死幼崽，而哺乳期的雌性小鼠则致力于幼崽的照顾。介导杀婴行为及其在母性期间转换为母性行为的神经机制仍不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: Antagonistic circuits mediating infanticide and maternal care in female mice

Author: Mei, Long, Yan, Rongzhen, Yin, Luping, Sullivan, Regina M., Lin, Dayu

Issue&Volume: 2023-06-07

Abstract: In many species, including mice, female animals show markedly different pup-directed behaviours based on their reproductive state1,2. Naive wild female mice often kill pups, while lactating female mice are dedicated to pup caring3,4. The neural mechanisms that mediate infanticide and its switch to maternal behaviours during motherhood remain unclear. Here, on the basis of the hypothesis that maternal and infanticidal behaviours are supported by distinct and competing neural circuits5,6, we use the medial preoptic area (MPOA), a key site for maternal behaviours7,8,9,10,11, as a starting point and identify three MPOA-connected brain regions that drive differential negative pup-directed behaviours. Functional manipulation and in vivo recording reveal that oestrogen receptor α (ESR1)-expressing cells in the principal nucleus of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNSTprESR1) are necessary, sufficient and naturally activated during infanticide in female mice. MPOAESR1 and BNSTprESR1 neurons form reciprocal inhibition to control the balance between positive and negative infant-directed behaviours. During motherhood, MPOAESR1 and BNSTprESR1 cells change their excitability in opposite directions, supporting a marked switch of female behaviours towards the young.

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06147-9

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06147-9