Budget Amount *help |
¥17,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,990,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥3,380,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥780,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000)
Fiscal Year 2018: ¥5,590,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,290,000)
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Outline of Final Research Achievements |
Maternal mammals exhibit heightened motivation to care for offspring, but the responsible neuromolecular mechanisms are yet to be clarified. Here we report that the calcitonin receptor (Calcr)-expressing neurons in the central part of the medial preoptic area (cMPOA) are critical for maternal care even under risky conditions. Calcr+ cMPOA neurons are highly activated during parenting, and Calcr molecular expression increased 8-times in mothers. Suppression of Caler neuron firing in the cMPOA abolished maternal care, so that 80% of their offspring could not survive, without affecting general health, mating and normal delivery. Reduction of Calcr molecular expression caused inhibition of risk-taking maternal pup retrieval. Considering the fact that the same brain area exists in primate brain, this study will contribute to understanding and support of human parental care in future.
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