RESUMEN
During pregnancy, physiological adaptations prepare the female body for the challenges of motherhood. Becoming a parent also requires behavioral adaptations. Such adaptations can occur as early as during pregnancy, but how pregnancy hormones remodel parenting circuits to instruct preparatory behavioral changes remains unknown. We found that action of estradiol and progesterone on galanin (Gal)-expressing neurons in the mouse medial preoptic area (MPOA) is critical for pregnancy-induced parental behavior. Whereas estradiol silences MPOAGal neurons and paradoxically increases their excitability, progesterone permanently rewires this circuit node by promoting dendritic spine formation and recruitment of excitatory synaptic inputs. This MPOAGal-specific neural remodeling sparsens population activity in vivo and results in persistently stronger, more selective responses to pup stimuli. Pregnancy hormones thus remodel parenting circuits in anticipation of future behavioral need.
Asunto(s)
Estradiol , Conducta Materna , Responsabilidad Parental , Área Preóptica , Progesterona , Animales , Femenino , Ratones , Embarazo , Estradiol/fisiología , Conducta Materna/fisiología , Conducta Materna/psicología , Responsabilidad Parental/psicología , Área Preóptica/citología , Área Preóptica/fisiología , Progesterona/fisiología , Modelos Animales , Neuronas/metabolismo , Neuronas/fisiologíaRESUMEN
It remains unclear how hormonally mediated internal states affect specific brain circuits to modify behaviour. A new study reveals that a hypothalamic projection pathway critical for female sexual receptivity is extensively remodelled during the estrous cycle.