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  • Title: Oxytocin activates the postpartum onset of rat maternal behavior in the ventral tegmental and medial preoptic areas.
    Author: Pedersen CA, Caldwell JD, Walker C, Ayers G, Mason GA.
    Journal: Behav Neurosci; 1994 Dec; 108(6):1163-71. PubMed ID: 7893408.
    Abstract:
    Oxytocin binding (Bmax) was found to be higher in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the medial preoptic area (MPOA) at midparturition compared with Pregnancy Days 15-17 or Postpartum Days 5-7 in rat dams. Pup retrieval and assuming a nursing posture over pups were blocked in parturient dams by infusions of an oxytocin antagonist into the VTA or MPOA and by infusions of a vasopressin (V1) antagonist into the MPOA. These results implicate oxytocin in the VTA and MPOA and vasopressin in the MPOA, as well as a parturition-associated rise in oxytocin binding in these sites in the postpartum activation of maternal behavior.
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