Melanin-concentrating hormone [MCH] is an important neuromodulator related to motivated behaviors. The MCH-containing neurons are mainly located in the lateral hypothalamic area, zona incerta, and incerto-hypothalamic area. In the medial preoptic area [MPOA], a key region for the regulation of maternal behavior, Pmch mRNA expression and MCH synthesis can be detected exclusively during the lactation period. As litter size affects different parameters of maternal physiology, the aim of this study was to verify whether litter size can modulate the number of MCH-containing neurons in the MPOA of lactating rats. The dams were divided into the following groups: postpartum day 12, 15, or 19, with a large, small or reduced litter. Our results show that the number of MCH-immunoreactive neurons in the MPOA is positively correlated with the number of pups in the litter and that artificially reducing the number of pups can also decrease the number of MCH-immunoreactive neurons in the MPOA.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.08.028 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Potential Candidate Genes Associated with Litter Size in Goats: A Review.
Animals (Basel)
January 2025
School of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China.
Article Synopsis
- This review focuses on genetic markers that influence litter size in goats, a critical trait for enhancing productivity in small ruminant farming.
- Goats are important for economic stability across various regions, but their reproductive efficiency is often low, impacting farm profitability.
- Recent genetic research has identified several key genes connected to reproductive traits, which could help improve selective breeding programs and boost productivity by increasing litter sizes.
Effects of Breeding for Short-Tailedness in Sheep on Parameters of Reproduction and Lamb Development.
Vet Med Sci
January 2025
Veterinary Clinic for Reproductive Medicine and Neonatology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany.
Background: Sheep's tail docking is a widespread practice, which is banned or critically discussed in some countries to improve animal welfare.
Objective: The aim was to determine the influence of breeding for short-tailedness (ST) or long-tailedness (LT) in sheep on the development of reproduction parameters and lamb performance.
Method: One hundred forty-nine ewes were mated with four rams according to tail length.
Resveratrol mitigates heat stress-induced testicular injury in rats: enhancing male fertility via antioxidant, antiapoptotic, pro-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
January 2025
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 22758, Egypt.
This study investigates the protective effects of resveratrol (RSV) against heat stress (HS)-induced testicular injury in rats. Climate change has exacerbated heat stress, particularly affecting male fertility by impairing testicular function and sexual behavior. A total of 32 rats were allocated into four experimental groups: control, RSV control, HS control, and RSV + HS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of prenatal fumonisin B exposure on bone innervation in newborn Wistar rats.
J Vet Res
December 2024
Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Environmental Biology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland.
Introduction: This study explored the effects of prenatal exposure to fumonisins B (FB) on bone innervation in newborn Wistar rats.
Material And Methods: Pregnant dams (n = 6 per group) were assigned to either the control or one of two FB-exposed groups (60 mg or 90 mg/kg body weight) from the 7 day of gestation until parturition. On the day of parturition, one male pup from each litter (n = 6 per group) was randomly selected and euthanised, and their femurs were dissected for analysis.
Free Pasture of Exotic Goats Reduces Diversity and Negatively Affects Body Condition in Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) Assemblage From Brazilian Seasonal Dry Tropical Forest.
Ecol Evol
January 2025
Colección Nacional de Arácnidos, Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biologia Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City Mexico.
Extensive grazing carried out freely by exotic goats represents an important source of anthropogenic degradation in seasonally dry tropical forests of Brazil. The presence of these herbivores may negatively impact the local fauna through the reduction of habitat complexity. In this study, we investigate the effect of goat farming in scorpion assemblage from Brazilian seasonally dry tropical forest.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!