{"title":"Is melanin-concentrating hormone in the medial preoptic area a signal for the decline of maternal care in late postpartum?","authors":"Ming Li","doi":"10.1016/j.yfrne.2024.101155","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This manuscript proposes that melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) is an neurochemical signal evolved to trigger the declining process of maternal care. MCH in the MPOA appears only after parturition and is progressively increased with the progression of lactation, while maternal behavior declines progressively. Intra-MPOA injection of MCH decreases active maternal responses. MCH is also highly responsive to infant characteristics and maternal condition. Behavioral changes induced by MCH in late postpartum period are conducive to the decline of infant-directed maternal behavior. The MPOA MCH system may mediate the maternal behavior decline by suppressing the maternal approach motivation and/or increasing maternal withdrawal via its inhibitory action onto the mesolimbic dopamine D<sub>1</sub>/D<sub>2</sub> receptors and its stimulating action on serotonin 5-HT<sub>2C</sub> receptors in the ventral tegmental area. Research into the MCH maternal effects will enhance our understanding of the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the maternal behavior decline.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12469,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091302224000359","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This manuscript proposes that melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) is an neurochemical signal evolved to trigger the declining process of maternal care. MCH in the MPOA appears only after parturition and is progressively increased with the progression of lactation, while maternal behavior declines progressively. Intra-MPOA injection of MCH decreases active maternal responses. MCH is also highly responsive to infant characteristics and maternal condition. Behavioral changes induced by MCH in late postpartum period are conducive to the decline of infant-directed maternal behavior. The MPOA MCH system may mediate the maternal behavior decline by suppressing the maternal approach motivation and/or increasing maternal withdrawal via its inhibitory action onto the mesolimbic dopamine D1/D2 receptors and its stimulating action on serotonin 5-HT2C receptors in the ventral tegmental area. Research into the MCH maternal effects will enhance our understanding of the neurochemical mechanisms underlying the maternal behavior decline.
期刊介绍:
Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology (FIN) publishes a wide range of informative articles including comprehensive reviews, systematic reviews, opinion pieces, and meta-analyses. While the majority of reviews are invited, we also embrace unsolicited reviews and meta-analyses, as well as proposals for thematic special issues, provided they meet our rigorous quality standards. In addition, we encourage authors to submit commentaries that concisely present fresh ideas or offer further analysis to delve deeper into the implications of an article published in our journal.