Topic: dams

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) and maternal mirtazapine treatment on the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in the plasma of dams and their adolescent offspring (PP50) of both sexes.In the present study, mothers (n = 6-8/ group) and adolescent offspring (n = 6-8/ group) were divided into 4 groups: no stress+vehicle, no stress+mirtazapine, stress+vehicle, stress+mirtazapine. Dams in the stress group were exposed to CUS for a total of 3 weeks. Females from each group were then mated and treated from the 10th day of gestation to the 2

Alloparental behaviors consist in a set of actions undertaken by adults to insure pups’ survival. Naive virgin mice can display alloparental behaviors the first time they are exposed to pups but their performances improve after a long or several exposures. The neurobiological substrates of this phenomenon are still unclear. This project aims to assess the role of olfaction in the establishment of alloparental behaviors and the ability of mice to recognize familiar from “alien” pups (ie pups never encountered before, with a different olfactory signature). We found that virgin mice display simil

Maternal care is a crucial aspect of mammalian behavior. Mothers detect signals from their pups, perform specific behaviors essential to their care (nest preparation, nursing, keeping pups warm), and remain motivated to care for them despite danger or fear. These behaviors are well documented in mothers but are also observed in nulliparous rodents, though with notable differences in expression and initiation compared to experienced mothers. This study concentrates on maternal motivation and explores the distinct neuronal mechanisms impacted in dams and nulliparous females. Initially, our findi