Decreases in calmodulin binding proteins and calmodulin dependent protein phosphorylation in the medial preoptic area at the onset of maternal behavior in the rat.

The onset of maternal behavior is characterized by the action of certain hormones, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters and a concomitant increase in the expression of c-Fos in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) but the signaling events that lie between have not been characterized. Because several of these hormones, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters function by activating Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM) mediated signaling pathways, many of which can lead to c-Fos expression, the goal of the current work was to identify calmodulin binding proteins (CaMBPs) or specific CaM-dependent phosphoproteins that might be involved. Probing of SDS-PAGE gels of extracts from the hippocampus, parietal cortex, basolateral amygdala and MPOA with recombinant (35)S-VU1-calmodulin (CaM) revealed 30 Ca(2+)-dependent and 4-6 Ca(2+)-independent CaMBPs.

The role of corticotrophin-releasing factor in stress-induced relapse to alcohol-seeking behavior in rats.

Rationale: Intermittent footshock stress reliably reinstates extinguished alcohol-taking behavior in drug-free rats, but the neurochemical events involved in this effect are not known.

Objective: We studied here whether two main modulators of stress responses, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and corticosterone, are involved in reinstatement of alcohol seeking induced by the intermittent footshock stressor. METHDOS: Rats were given alcohol in a two-bottle choice procedure (water versus alcohol) for 30 days and were then trained for 60 min per day to press a lever for alcohol (12% w/v) for 24-30 days in operant conditioning chambers.

The long lasting effects of electrical simulation of the medial preoptic area and medial amygdala on maternal behavior in female rats.

A program of repeated electrical (kindling-like) stimulation of the medial preoptic area (MPOA) or the medial amygdala (MedAmyg) on maternal and other behaviors were investigated. Stimulation was applied daily for 14 days (or until a stage 3 motor seizure was observed) using 2 s trains of biphasic square wave pulses at 60 Hz, 1 ms duration and 300-500 microA. Confirmation of afterdischarge using these parametres was established.

Effects of naltrexone and fluoxetine on alcohol self-administration and reinstatement of alcohol seeking induced by priming injections of alcohol and exposure to stress.

We have recently shown that priming injections of alcohol and footshock stress reinstate alcohol seeking in drug-free rats. Here we tested whether naltrexone and fluoxetine, two drugs used in the treatment of alcohol dependence, would affect reinstatement of alcohol seeking induced by these events. We also determined the effects of these drugs on alcohol self-administration during the maintenance phase.

Neuroanatomical basis of maternal memory in postpartum rats: selective role for the nucleus accumbens.

The experience of interacting with pups causes long-term changes in mothers' brains that mediate long-term changes in maternal behavior. As little as 1 hr of pup experience postpartum results in enhanced maternal responses to pups 10 days later. This experiment investigated the effects of lesions in multiple neural sites that have been implicated either in the actual expression of maternal behavior or in learning and memory within other behavioral contexts on the initiation and the long-term experience-based retention of maternal behavior.