Research Article

Neonatal handling on the first postnatal day leads to increased maternal behavior and fos levels in the brain of the newborn rat†

  1. Efstathios Garoflos,
  2. Antonios Stamatakis,
  3. Androniki Rafrogianni,
  4. Stavroula Pondiki,
  5. Fotini Stylianopoulou*

Article first published online: 7 AUG 2008

DOI: 10.1002/dev.20332

Issue

Developmental Psychobiology

Developmental Psychobiology

Volume 50, Issue 7, pages 704–713, November 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Garoflos, E., Stamatakis, A., Rafrogianni, A., Pondiki, S. and Stylianopoulou, F. (2008), Neonatal handling on the first postnatal day leads to increased maternal behavior and fos levels in the brain of the newborn rat. Dev. Psychobiol., 50: 704–713. doi: 10.1002/dev.20332

Author Information

  1. Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Athens, 123 Papadiamantopoulou str. 11527 Athens, Greece

*Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Athens, 123 Papadiamantopoulou str. 11527 Athens, Greece.

  1. †

    E. Garoflos and A. Stamatakis contributed equally to the work.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 OCT 2008
  2. Article first published online: 7 AUG 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 JUL 2008
  4. Manuscript Received: 2 APR 2008

Funded by

  • The European Social Fund, the European Regional Developmental Fund and National Funds. Grant Number: Operational Program for Education and Initial Vocational Training (EPEAEK II)-Project Iraklitos (MIS 70/3-7179)
  • Special Account for Research Grants of the University of Athens

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Keywords:

  • early handling;
  • early life experience;
  • Fos;
  • maternal behavior;
  • hippocampus;
  • cortex;
  • Ratus ratus

Abstract

In the present work we employed Fos expression, an index of neuronal activity, to identify brain areas activated by a single exposure to “neonatal handling” on postnatal Day 1. Eight hours following “handling” there was an increase in the number of Fos positive cells in the hippocampus, the parietal and occipital cortex. We also recorded maternal behavior during the 8 hr following “handling.” “Handled” pups received increased maternal licking during the 4 hr following the end of “handling.” Furthermore, the number of Fos positive cells detected in each of the three brain areas 8 hr following “handling” was positively correlated with the amount of licking up to 8 hr following “handling.” These results indicate that the increased maternal care could underlie the handling-induced increase in Fos. The Fos protein, acting as a transcription factor, controls the expression of downstream genes, whose products may mediate the effects of “neonatal handling” on the developing rat brain. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 704-713, 2008.

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