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Neuroendocrine Basis of Impaired Mothering in Rodents

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Neuroendocrinology of Behavior and Emotions

Part of the book series: Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology ((MANEURO,volume 16))

Abstract

The maternal bond is the most important pro-social bond in female mammals, and its quality can affect the well-being of both infant and mother. Her caregiving behavior is extremely important to ensure not only the survival of the young but also their proper development. To enable the onset and maintenance of maternal behavior, hormonal levels (such as estrogens, progesterone, and lactogens) change during pregnancy and lactation, thereby also leading to alterations in neuropeptide systems. On the one hand, “pro-maternal” neuropeptide systems, like oxytocin (OXT), vasopressin (AVP), and prolactin (PRL), need to increase, whereas on the other hand, the activity of the “anti-maternal” corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system needs to be downregulated. If such brain adaptations are perturbed, maternal behavior can be impaired, potentially resulting in infant neglect. In this chapter, we discuss how altered neuroendocrine transmission can promote poor mothering, focusing mainly on rodent models. We suggest that increased CRF and decreased OXT, AVP and PRL transmission impairs maternal behavior, with similar, yet different, brain regions at play. For instance, the medial preoptic area is a notable region in the maternal brain circuitry, where neuroendocrine impairments can lead to maternal neglect. Since episodes of maternal neglect and bond disruption are becoming more prevalent, we believe it is crucial to better elucidate their neurobiological basis to develop potential intervention strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Maternal Group, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Alice Sanson, Luisa Demarchi & Oliver J. Bosch

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  1. Alice Sanson
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  2. Luisa Demarchi
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  3. Oliver J. Bosch
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Correspondence to Oliver J. Bosch .

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA

    Heather K. Caldwell

  2. Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    H. Elliott Albers

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Sanson, A., Demarchi, L., Bosch, O.J. (2024). Neuroendocrine Basis of Impaired Mothering in Rodents. In: Caldwell, H.K., Albers, H.E. (eds) Neuroendocrinology of Behavior and Emotions. Masterclass in Neuroendocrinology, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51112-7_4

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