Skip to main content

Abstract

According to the current literature, maternal behavior fits into the category of parental behavior, which is defined as any behavior of a member of a species toward a reproductively immature member to ensure that this member will survive to maturity. Research on maternal behavior and physiology strives to catalog all physiological and behavioral changes that occur in the maternal organism, and to understand the function of each change with respect to infant care. The underlying mechanisms of maternal behavior are sensory, hormonal, neural and genetic.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Beach FA. The neural basis of innate behavior. I. Effects of cortical lesions upon the maternal behavior pattern in the rat. J Comp Psychol. 1937;24:393–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beach FA, Conovitz MW, Goldstein AC, Steinberg F. Experimental inhibition and restoration of mating behavior in male rats. J Genet Psychol. 1956;89:165–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bredy TW, Zhang TY, Grant RJ, Diorio J, Meaney MJ. Peripubertal environmental enrichment reverses the effects of maternal care on hippocampal development and glutamate receptor subunit expression. Eur J Neurosci. 2004;20:1355–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bridges RS, Numan M, Ronsheim PM, Mann PE, Lupini CE. Central prolactin infusions stimulate maternal behavior in steroid-treated, nulliparous female rats. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990;87:8003–7.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bridges RS, Robertson MC, Shiu RP, Sturgis JD, Henriquez BM, Mann PE. Central lactogenic regulation of maternal behavior in rats: steroid dependence, hormone specificity, and behavioral potencies of rat prolactin and rat placental lactogen I. Endocrinology. 1997;138:756–63.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown RE. Hormones and paternal behavior in vertebrates. Am Zool. 1985;25:895–910.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brunton PJ, Russell JA. The expectant brain: adapting for motherhood. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008;9:11–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brunton PJ, Meddle SL, Ma S, Ochedalski T, Douglas AJ, Russell JA. Endogenous opioids and attenuated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to immune challenge in pregnant rats. J Neurosci. 2005;25:5117–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Byrnes EM, Rigero BA, Bridges RS. Induction of maternal behavior in adult female rats following chronic morphine exposure during puberty. Dev Psychobiol. 2003;43:367–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caldji C, Tannenbaum B, Sharma S, Francis D, Plotsky PM, Meaney MJ. Maternal care during infancy regulates the development of neural systems mediating the expression of fearfulness in the rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998;95:5335–40.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Comoli E, Ribeiro-Barbosa ER, Canteras NS. Predatory hunting and exposure to a live predator induce opposite patterns of Fos immunoreactivity in the PAG. Behav Brain Res. 2003;138:17–28.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Curley JP, Barton S, Surani A, Keverne EB. Coadaptation in mother and infant regulated by a paternally expressed imprinted gene. Proc Biol Sci. 2004;271:1303–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Della Seta D, Minder I, Dessi-Fulgheri F, Farabollini F. Bisphenol-A exposure during pregnancy and lactation affects maternal behavior in rats. Brain Res. 2005;65:255–60.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Felicio LF, Mann PE, Bridges RS. Intracerebroventricular cholecystokinin infusions block beta-endorphin-induced disruption of maternal behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1991;39:201–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fries E, Moragues N, Caldji C, Hellhammer DH, Meaney MJ. Preliminary evidence of altered sensitivity to benzodiazepines as a function of maternal care in the rat. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004;1032:320–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes WO, Oldroyd BP, Beekman M, Ratnieks FL. Ancestral monogamy shows kin selection is key to the evolution of eusociality. Science. 2008;320:1213–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunsperger RW, Roman D. The integrative role of the intralaminar system of the thalamus in visual orientation and perception in the cat. Exp Brain Res. 1976;25:231–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Isles AR, Holland AJ. Imprinted genes and mother-offspring interactions. Early Hum Dev. 2005;81:73–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kendrick KM, Keverne EB, Chapman C, Baldwin BA. Microdialysis measurement of oxytocin, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate release from the olfactory bulb of the sheep during vaginocervical stimulation. Brain Res. 1988;442:171–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keverne EB. Genomic imprinting and the maternal brain. Prog Brain Res. 2001;133:279–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kinsley CH, Trainer R, Stafisso-Sandoz G, Quadros P, Marcus LK, Hearon C, Meyer EA, Hester N, Morgan M, Kozub FJ, Lambert KG. Motherhood and the hormones of pregnancy modify concentrations of hippocampal neuronal dendritic spines. Horm Behav. 2006;49:131–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leblond CP. Extra-hormonal factors in maternal behavior. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1938;38:66–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leblond CP. Nervous and hormonal factors in the maternal behavior of the mouse. J Genet Psychol. 1940;57:327–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lebolnd CP, Nelson WO. Maternal behavior in hypophysectomized male and female mice. Am J Physiol. 1937;120:167–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee A, Clancy S, Fleming AS. Mother rats bar-press for pups: effects of lesions of the mpoa and limbic sites on maternal behavior and operant responding for pup-reinforcement. Behav Brain Res. 2000;108:215–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lonstein JS, Dominguez JM, Putnam SK, De Vries GK, Hull EM. Intracellular preoptic and striatal monoamines in pregnant and lactating rats: possible role in maternal behavior. Brain Res. 2003;970:149–58.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lubin DA, Cannon JB, Black MC, Brown LE, Johns JM. Effects of chronic cocaine on monoamine levels in discrete brain structures of lactating rat dams. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003;74:449–54.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas BK, Ormandy CJ, Binart N, Bridges RS, Kelly PA. Null mutation of the prolactin receptor gene produces a defect in maternal behavior. Endocrinology. 1998;139:4102–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann PE, Babb JA. Disinhibition of maternal behavior following neurotoxic lesions of the hypothalamus in primigravid rats. Brain Res. 2004;1025:51–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann PE, Bridges RS. Prolactin receptor gene expression in the forebrain of pregnant and lactating rats. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2002;105:136–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mann PE, Felicio LF, Bridges RS. Investigation into the role of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the induction and maintenance of maternal behavior in rats. Horm Behav. 1995;29:392–406.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marmendal M, Roman E, Eriksson CJ, Nylander I, Fahlke C. Maternal separation alters maternal care, but has minor effects on behavior and brain opioid peptides in adult offspring. Dev Psychobiol. 2004;45:140–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda-Paiva CM, Felicio LF. Differential role of cholecystokinin receptor subtypes in opioid modulation of ongoing maternal behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1999;64:165–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda-Paiva CM, Nasello AG, Yin AJ, Felicio LF. Morphine pretreatment increases opioid inhibitory effects on maternal behavior. Brain Res Bull. 2001;55:501–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda-Paiva CM, Nasello AG, Yim AJ, Felicio LF. Puerperal blockade of cholecystokinin (CCK1) receptors disrupts maternal behavior in lactating rats. J Mol Neurosci. 2002;18:97–104.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda-Paiva CM, Ribeiro-Barbosa ER, Canteras NS, Felicio LF. A role for the periaqueductal grey in opioidergic inhibition of maternal behaviour. Eur J Neurosci. 2003;18:667–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miranda-Paiva CM, Canteras NS, Sukikara MH, Nasello AG, Mackowiak II, Felicio LF. Periaqueductal gray cholecystokinin infusions block morphine-induced disruption of maternal behavior. Peptides. 2007;28:657–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Numan M, Numan MJ, Schwarz JM, Neuner CM, Flood TF, Smith CD. Medial preoptic area interactions with the nucleus accumbens-ventral pallidum circuit and maternal behavior in rats. Behav Brain Res. 2005;158:53–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olazábal DE, Abercrombie E, Rosenblatt JS, Morrel JI. The content of dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites in the neural circuit that mediates maternal behavior in juvenile and adult rats. Brain Res Bull. 2004;63:259–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen CA, Caldwell JD, Walker C, Ayers G, Mason GA. Oxytocin activates the postpartum onset of rat maternal behavior in the ventral tegmental and medial preoptic areas. Behav Neurosci. 1994;108:1163.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson GE. Genomics. Beyond nature and nurture. Science. 2004;304:397–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez C, Guillamon A, Pinos H, Collado P. Postpartum changes in the GABAergic system in the bed nucleus of the accessory olfactory tract. Neurochem Int. 2004;44:179–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblatt JS, Siegel HI, Mayer AD. Progress in the study of maternal behavior in the rat: hormonal, nonhormonal, sensory, and developmental aspects. In: Rosenblatt JS, Hinde RA, Beer CG, Busnel M-C, editors. Advances in the study of behavior. New York: Academic; 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky RM. Mothering style and methylation. Nat Neurosci. 2004;7:791–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Serafim AP, Felicio LF. Dopaminergic modulation of grooming behavior in virgin and pregnant rats. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2001;34:1465–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Serafim AP, Felicio LF. Reproductive experience influences grooming behavior during pregnancy in rats. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2002;35:391–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silva MR, Bernardi MM, Felicio LF. Effects of dopamine receptor antagonists on ongoing maternal behavior in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2001;68:461–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silva MR, Bernardi MM, Cruz-Casallas PE, Felicio LF. Pimozide injections into the Nucleus accumbens disrupt maternal behaviour in lactating rats. Pharmacol Toxicol. 2003;93:42–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stern JM, Lonstein JS. Neural mediation of nursing and related maternal behaviors. Prog Brain Res. 2001;133:263–78.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stone CP. Preliminary note on the maternal behavior of rats living in parabiosis. Endocrinology. 1925;9:505–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturman-Hulbe M. Maternal behavior in the albino rat. J Comp Psychol. 1929;9:203–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sukikara MH, Mota-Ortiz SR, Baldo MV, Felício LF, Canteras NS. A role for the periaqueductal gray in switching adaptive behavioral responses. J Neurosci. 2006;26:2583–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sukikara MH, Platero MD, Canteras NS, Felicio LF. Opiate regulation of behavioral selection during lactation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2007;87:315–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teodorov E, Salzgeber SA, Felicio LF, Varolli FM, Bernardi MM. Effects of perinatal picrotoxin and sexual experience on heterosexual and homosexual behavior in male rats. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2002;24:235–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teodorov E, Modena CC, Sukikara MH, Felicio LF. Preliminary study of the effects of morphine treatment on opioid receptor gene expression in brain structures of the female rat. Neuroscience. 2006;141:1225–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teodorov E, Tomita AT, Banon GP, Gil IG, Bernardi MM, Felício LF. Behavioral effects of acute stimulation of kappa-opioid receptors during lactation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2008;90:534–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weaver IC, Szyf M, Meaney MJ. From maternal care to gene expression: DNA methylation and the maternal programming of stress responses. Endocr Res. 2002;28:699.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weaver IC, Ceryoni N, Champagne FA, DÁlessio AC, Sharma S, Seckl JR, Dymov S, Szyf M, Meaney MJ. Epigenetic programming by maternal behavior. Nat Neurosci. 2004;7:847–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weisner BP, Sheard NM. Maternal behavior in the rat. Edinburg: Oliver and Boyd; 1933.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elizabeth Teodorov Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Teodorov, E., Felicio, L.F., Bernardi, M.M. (2016). Maternal Behavior. In: Andersen, M., Tufik, S. (eds) Rodent Model as Tools in Ethical Biomedical Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11578-8_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics