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Examination of neural basis for attachment behavior in rat pups: focusing on suckling, maternal contact and Transport Response

Research Project

Project/Area Number 19K17074
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section Basic Section 52030:Psychiatry-related
Research InstitutionInstitute of Physical and Chemical Research

Principal Investigator

Ohmura Nami  国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 脳神経科学研究センター, 研究員 (50735082)

Project Period (FY) 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2021)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Keywords愛着行動 / 吸乳行動 / 嗅覚システム / 嗅覚系システム / 嗅球切除 / 吸乳 / 接触 / 母子 / 輸送反応
Outline of Research at the Start

哺乳類の子は親(養育者)に強い愛着を抱き、親子関係維持のために積極的に活動する。親からの分離や虐待は愛着形成の障害をもたらし、将来的に様々なこころの問題のリスクを高めることが知られている。しかし、その基礎となる子の愛着の脳内機構は未だ解明されていない。
本研究では仔ラットを用い、吸乳、母への接触、輸送反応という各愛着行動に焦点をあて、局所脳機能阻害等によって各愛着行動を制御する脳神経核を特定する。そして、その候補神経核への入出力回路や細胞特性を調べ、子の愛着行動を制御する神経基盤解明を目指す。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We narrowed down the brain regions for attachment behavior in the rat pups. The results indicated that part of the olfactory bulb may be involved in suckling behavior and part of the ventral region of forebrain may be involved in maintaining contact with their mother.
Further studies on the requirement of the olfactory system in rat pup's suckling behavior revealed that the olfactory bulb itself is essential for suckling behavior, rather than peripheral olfaction, in postnatal day 12 pups. Suckling behavior in these pups were also more dependent on the olfactory system than that in neonates. Therefore, it is suggested that multiple senses including olfaction are integrated within the olfactory bulb by the learning of suckling behavior, and the neural circuits are fixed in the early postnatal period.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

子は生後早期からの親との関係を通じて社会性学習を行い、この関係が子にとって将来の複雑な社会行動の基礎となる。子の愛着行動は親子関係を築き上げるために重要であるにもかかわらず、その脳神経基盤はほとんど解明されていない。愛着行動は仔ラットだけに限らず広く哺乳類に見られる行動であるため、その脳神経基盤が明らかになることで、哺乳類全般の愛着行動の神経基盤の理解が進むことが期待される。

Report

(4 results)
  • 2021 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (2 results)

All 2021 2020

All Presentation (2 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results)

  • [Presentation] Developmental changes of suckling behavior and its dependency on the olfactory system in rat pup2021

    • Author(s)
      Nami Ohmura, Lana Okuma, Kumi O Kuroda
    • Organizer
      The 44th Annual Meeting of the Japan Neuroscience Society/ The 1st CJK International Meeting
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] 仔ラットの母親に対する行動を制御する脳部位の探索2020

    • Author(s)
      大村菜美、矢野(梨本)沙織、大熊ラーナ、Paige J Windmill、黒田公美
    • Organizer
      第43 回日本神経科学大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report

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Published: 2019-04-18   Modified: 2023-01-30  

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