Biology subjects

Inada, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Inada, K..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Vasopressin-to-Oxytocin Receptor Crosstalk in the Preoptic Area Underlying Parental Behaviors in Male Mice

The transition to parenthood brings significant changes in behavior toward offspring. For instance, in anticipation of their offspring, male mice shift from infanticidal to caregiving behaviors. While the release of oxytocin from the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) plays a critical role in paternal caregiving, it does not fully account for the entire behavioral shift. The specific downstream neurons and signaling mechanisms involved in this process remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that PVH vasopressin neurons also essentially contribute to a paternal behavioral shift. This vasopressin signal is partially transmitted through oxytocin receptors (OTRs) expressed in the anterior commissure and medial nuclei of the preoptic area. These OTR-expressing neurons receive inputs from both PVH oxytocin and vasopressin neurons and are responsible for expressing paternal caregiving behaviors. Collectively, this non-canonical vasopressin-to-OTR crosstalk within specific limbic circuits acts as a pivotal regulator of paternal behavioral changes in mice. HighlightsO_LIPVH vasopressin neurons are required for and can trigger paternal caregiving behaviors. C_LIO_LIVasopressin-induced paternal behaviors are mediated in part by OTRs in the preoptic area (POA). C_LIO_LIPOA OTR neurons receive inputs from both PVH oxytocin and vasopressin neurons. C_LIO_LIPOA OTR neurons play a critical and facilitative role in promoting paternal caregiving behaviors. C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

A Prefrontal Neural Circuit for Maternal Behavioural Leaning in Mice

Maternal behaviors, which are crucial for the survival of mammalian infants, require the coordinated operation of multiple brain regions to process infant cues, make decisions, and execute motor plans. Although these processes likely demand higher cognitive functions, the prefrontal areas that regulate limbic parental programs remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) excitatory projection neurons promote alloparental caregiving behaviors in female mice. By chronic microendoscopy, we observed robust yet adaptable representations of pup-directed anticipatory and motor-related activities within the OFC. Some of these plastic responses were significantly overlapped with those related to nonsocial reward signals. The inactivation of OFC output reduced the phasic activities of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons specifically tied to pup retrieval and impaired the modulation of DA release to the ventral striatum during the acquisition of alloparental behaviors. These findings suggest that the OFC transiently boosts DA activity during the acquisition phase, thereby facilitating the manifestation of alloparental behaviors.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Oxytocin signaling in the posterior hypothalamus prevents hyperphagic obesity in mice

Decades of studies have revealed molecular and neural circuit bases for body weight homeostasis. Neural hormone oxytocin (OT) has received attention in this context because it is produced by neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH), a known output center of hypothalamic regulation of appetite. OT has an anorexigenic effect, as shown in human studies, and can mediate satiety signals in rodents. However, the function of OT signaling in the physiological regulation of appetite has remained in question, because whole-body knockout (KO) of OT or OT receptor (OTR) has little effect on food intake. We herein show that acute conditional KO (cKO) of OT selectively in the adult PVH, but not in the supraoptic nucleus, markedly increases body weight and food intake, with an elevated level of plasma triglyceride and leptin. Intraperitoneal administration of OT rescues the hyperphagic phenotype of the PVH OT cKO model. Furthermore, we show that cKO of OTR selectively in the posterior hypothalamic regions, especially the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus, a primary center for appetite regulations, phenocopies hyperphagic obesity. Collectively, these data reveal that OT signaling in the arcuate nucleus suppresses excessive food intake.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Plasticity of Neural Connections Underlying Oxytocin-mediated Parental Behaviors of Male Mice

The adult brain can flexibly adapt behaviors to specific life-stage demands. For example, while sexually naive male mice are aggressive to the conspecific young, they start to provide caregiving to infants around the time when their own young are expected. How such behavioral plasticity is implemented at the level of neural connections remains poorly understood. Using viral-genetic approaches, here we establish hypothalamic oxytocin neurons as key regulators of parental caregiving behaviors of male mice. We then used rabies virus-mediated unbiased screen to identify excitatory neural connections originating from the lateral hypothalamus to the oxytocin neurons to be drastically strengthened when male mice become fathers. These connections are functionally relevant, as their activation suppresses pup-directed aggression in virgin males. These results demonstrate the life-stage associated, long-distance, and cell-type-specific plasticity of neural connections in the hypothalamus, the brain region classically assumed to be hard-wired. Highlight- OT is indispensable for parental caregiving behavior of male mice - Activation of OT neurons triggers paternal caregiving behavior in otherwise infanticidal sexually-naive male mice partly via OT ligand - Unbiased rabies virus-mediated screening reveals enhanced connectivity originated from excitatory LHA neurons to OT neurons in fathers. - This structural plasticity can support behavioral plasticity

neuroscience↗