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Identification and functional characterization of an oxytocin neuronal population coordinating lactation

Subject Area Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
Term from 2017 to 2020
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 341162785
 
Final Report Year 2021

Final Report Abstract

We are currently preparing the complete set of results for a publication addressing longstanding question, which is vital for survival and propagation of mammalian species: how does the OT system is synchronized during lactation to efficiently control lactation. Our results propose a novel mechanism that a small fraction of parvocellular OT neurons, at least partially, controls lactation via receiving indirect synaptic input from sensory neurons of the spinal cord innervating the mammary glands. In turn, the same population of parvocellular OT neurons elicits coherent activation of magnocellular OT neurons in the PVN as well as in the SON to elicit pulsatile OT release into the blood to subsequently evoke milk ejection. However, the precise modalities and ascending pathways, which activates parvocellular OT neurons by the sensory stimuli in socially interacting virgin female rats and/or in lactating rats, remain further dissection.

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