青春期是情绪发育和神经可塑性的关键时期。然而,大多数研究都集中在早期发展,对青春期的研究有限,尤其是父母的存在。在这项研究中,成立了四个小组,和青春期产妇存在(PMP)进行评估,直到出生后第21天(PD21),28(PD28),35(PD35),和42(PD42),分别。社交互动和焦虑行为,以及催产素(OT)在室旁核(PVN)和视上核(SON)中的表达,并评估了齿状回(DG)中新产生的神经元的数量和雌激素受体α(ERα)的表达。结果表明,21至42日龄的母亲与后代之间存在大量的身体接触,这减少了成年后女性和男性后代的焦虑;例如,PMP增加了小鼠在开放场实验中在中心区域和在明暗箱实验中在明亮区域花费的时间。PMP增加了PVN和SON中OT的表达以及DG中新产生的神经元的数量。然而,ERα有性别差异,ERα在女性中增加,但在男性中减少。总之,PMP减少了成年后代的焦虑,增加PVN和SON中的OT,和成人神经发生;DG中的ERα可能参与这一过程。
Puberty is a critical period of emotional development and neuroplasticity. However, most studies have focused on early development, with limited research on puberty, particularly the parental presence. In this study, four groups were established, and pubertal maternal presence (PMP) was assessed until postnatal days 21 (PD21), 28 (PD28), 35 (PD35), and 42 (PD42), respectively. The social interaction and anxiety behaviors, as well as the expression of oxytocin (OT) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON), and the number of new generated neurons and the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the dentate gyrus (DG) were assessed. The results suggest that there is a lot of physical contact between the mother and offspring from 21 to 42 days of age, which reduces anxiety in both female and male offspring in adulthood; for example, the PMP increased the amount of time mice spent in the center area in the open field experiment and in the bright area in the light-dark box experiment. PMP increased OT expression in the PVN and SON and the number of newly generated neurons in the DG. However, there was a sexual difference in ERα, with ERα increasing in females but decreasing in males. In conclusion, PMP reduces the anxiety of offspring in adulthood, increases OT in the PVN and SON, and adult neurogenesis; ERα in the DG may be involved in this process.