Abstract
Introduction: The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is a region classically associated with maternal behavior. Only during lactation, immunopositive neurons for the melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) are present in MPOA. Also during lactation, an increase in the circulating levels of adrenal steroids occurs resulting in a decrease in hippocampal neurogenesis. Removal of the adrenal glands is a…