Novel aspect of oxytocin neurons mediating parental behavior and aversive burying behavior under the control of melanin-concentrating hormone neurons.

ABSTRACT: Parental behavior comprises a set of crucial actions essential for offspring survival. In this study, a double transgenic mouse model engineered to specifically express channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN)-oxytocin neurons and ablate lateral hypothalamic area (LHA)-melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) neurons was used to determine the relationship between PVN-oxytocin neurons and LHA-MCH neurons associated with parental behavior. Optogenetic stimulation of ChR2-expressing PVN-oxytocin neurons induces typical parental behavior with intact LHA-MCH neurons. However, after the partial ablation of LHA-MCH neurons, even optogenetic stimulation of PVN-oxytocin neurons failed to induce parental behavior in virgin male mice, resulting in neglect rather than parenta

SUBMITTER: Xiong T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11456465 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature