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The alpha-fetoprotein knock-out mouse model suggests that parental behavior is sexually differentiated under the influence of prenatal estradiol.
- Source :
-
Hormones and behavior [Horm Behav] 2010 Apr; Vol. 57 (4-5), pp. 434-40. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Jan 28. - Publication Year :
- 2010
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Abstract
- In rodent species, sexual differentiation of the brain for many reproductive processes depends largely on estradiol. This was recently confirmed again by using the alpha-fetoprotein knockout (AFP-KO) mouse model, which lacks the protective actions of alpha-fetoprotein against maternal estradiol and as a result represents a good model to determine the contribution of prenatal estradiol to the sexual differentiation of the brain and behavior. Female AFP-KO mice were defeminized and masculinized with regard to their neuroendocrine responses as well as sexual behavior. Since parental behavior is also strongly sexually differentiated in mice, we used the AFP-KO mouse model here to ask whether parental responses are differentiated prenatally under the influence of estradiol. It was found that AFP-KO females showed longer latencies to retrieve pups to the nest and also exhibited lower levels of crouching over the pups in the nest in comparison to WT females. In fact, they resembled males (WT and AFP-KO). Other measures of maternal behavior, for example the incidence of infanticide, tended to be higher in AFP-KO females than in WT females but this increase failed to reach statistical significance. The deficits observed in parental behavior of AFP-KO females could not be explained by any changes in olfactory function, novelty recognition or anxiety. Thus our results suggest that prenatal estradiol defeminizes the parental brain in mice.<br /> (Copyright 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Anxiety psychology
Female
Habituation, Psychophysiologic physiology
Male
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Odorants
Orchiectomy
Ovariectomy
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Recognition, Psychology physiology
Sex Differentiation
Smell physiology
Estradiol pharmacology
Maternal Behavior physiology
Paternal Behavior
alpha-Fetoproteins genetics
alpha-Fetoproteins physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1095-6867
- Volume :
- 57
- Issue :
- 4-5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Hormones and behavior
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20109458
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.01.013