Endogenous CNS Expression of Neurotensin and Neurotensin Receptors Is Altered during the Postpartum Period in Outbred Mice

摘要: Neurotensin (NT) is a neuropeptide identical in mice and humans that produced released many CNS regions associated with maternal behavior. NT has been linked to aspects of care previous studies have indirectly suggested endogenous signaling altered the postpartum period. In present study, we directly examine whether its receptors exhibit gene expression relative virgin outbred using real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) across multiple brain regions. We also protein levels anti-NT antibodies immunohistochemistry specific medial preoptic area (MPOA), which critical for behaviors, mRNA receptor 3 (Sort1) were significantly up-regulated compared virgins. was elevated females bed nucleus stria terminalis dorsal. However, lateral septum, down-regulated females. paraventricular hypothalamus (PVN), Ntsr1 2 (Ntsr2) not any region tested. terms expression, results indicated labeling MPOA, hypothalamus, two subregions PVN. Together, these findings indicate changes occur regions, likely support emergence some behaviors.