Litter size determines the number of melanin-concentrating hormone neurons in the medial preoptic area of Sprague Dawley lactating dams

Author(s)

Pacheco Ferreira, Jozelia Gomes ^[1] ; Gomes Duarte, Jessica Catharine ^[1] ; Diniz, Giovanne Baroni ^[1] ; Bittencourt, Jackson Cioni ^{[2, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Anat, Lab Chem Neuroanat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psychol, Ctr Neurosci & Behav, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Physiology & Behavior; v. 181, p. 75-79, NOV 1 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

Melanin-concentrating hormone {[}MCH] is an important neuromodulator related to motivated behaviors. The MCH-containing neurons are mainly located in the lateral hypothalamic area, zona incerta, and incerto-hypothalamic area. In the medial preoptic area {[}MPOA], a key region for the regulation of maternal behavior, Pinch mRNA expression and MCH synthesis can be detected exclusively during the lactation period. As litter size affects different parameters of maternal physiology, the aim of this study was to verify whether litter size can modulate the number of MCH-containing neurons in the MPOA of lactating rats. The dams were divided into the following groups: postpartum day 12, 15, or 19, with a large, small or reduced litter. Our results show that the number of MCH-immunoreactive neurons in the MPOA is positively correlated with the number of pups in the litter and that artificially reducing the number of pups can also decrease the number of MCH-inununoreactive neurons in the MPOA. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/02224-1 - The existence of neurogenesis during the lactation period
• Grantee: Jackson Cioni Bittencourt
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/02748-0 - Study of the anatomical basis for a volume transmission mechanism on the Melanin Concentrating Hormone [MCH] peptidergic system
• Grantee: Giovanne Baroni Diniz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 10/52068-0 - The putative envolvement of melanin-concentrating hormone in the control of lactation
• Grantee: Jackson Cioni Bittencourt
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/05990-4 - The melanin-concentrating hormone [MCH] peptidergic system: neurogenesis and lactation
• Grantee: Jozélia Gomes Pacheco Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/19845-9 - CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MELANIN-CONCENTRATING HORMONE RECEPTOR 1 (MCHR1) IN THE BRAIN, MAMMARY GLAND, UTERUS AND OVARIES IN WILD TYPE AND MCHR1 KNOCKOUT MICE.
• Grantee: Jozélia Gomes Pacheco Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor