Thalamic integration of social stimuli regulating parental behavior and the oxytocin system

• Authors: Arpad Dobolyi, Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Melinda Cservenak, Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Larry Young, Emory University
• Journal Title: Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
• Volume: Volume 51
• Publisher: Elsevier | 2018-10-01, Pages 102-115
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.05.002
• Subjects: Biology, Neuroscience
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Neurosciences; Neurosciences & Neurology; Preoptic area; Galanin; Paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus; Maternal attachment; Caring behavior; Reproductive hormones; Suckling-induced prolactin release; Ascending neuronal pathway; Female sexual behavior; Male ejaculation; MEDIAL PREOPTIC AREA; MILK-EJECTION REFLEX; FOS-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY; HORMONE 2 RECEPTOR; PITUITARY-ADRENAL AXIS; VENTRAL BED NUCLEUS; MATERNAL-BEHAVIOR; TUBEROINFUNDIBULAR-PEPTIDE; 39 RESIDUES; C-FOS

Abstract

Critically important components of the maternal neural circuit in the preoptic area robustly activated by suckling were recently identified. In turn, suckling also contributes to hormonal adaptations to motherhood, which includes oxytocin release and consequent milk ejection. Other reproductive or social stimuli can also trigger the release of oxytocin centrally, influencing parental or social behaviors. However, the neuronal pathways that transfer suckling and other somatosensory stimuli to the preoptic area and oxytocin neurons have been poorly characterized. Recently, a relay center of suckling was determined and characterized in the posterior intralaminar complex of the thalamus (PIL). Its neurons containing tuberoinfundibular peptide 39 project to both the preoptic area and oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamus. The present review argues that the PIL is a major relay nucleus conveying somatosensory information supporting maternal behavior and oxytocin release in mothers, and may be involved more generally in social cue evoked oxytocin release, too.