Maternal recognition

Porter, R.H., Cemoch, J.M. and McLaughlin, FJ. (1983) Maternal recognition of neonates through olfactory cues. Physiol. Behav. 30, 151-154. 

First isolated from the conceptuses of sheep, IFN- is the major conceptus secretory protein responsible for signaling maternal recognition of pregnancy in mminants [11]. it is produced in large quantities (200 jig in 30 h from a day 16 conceptus culture). The protein was purified using a combination of anion exchange and molecular sieve chromatography. 

Pissonnier D, Thiery JC, Fabre-Nys C, Poindron P, Keverne EB. 1985. The importance of olfactory bulb noradrenalin for maternal recognition in sheep. Physiol Behav 35 361-363. 

Pregnancy. Pregnancy dramatically alters the production, metabolism, and effects of PGF and PGE in the uterus. The conceptus produces different substances (interferon-x in ruminants, estrogen in pigs, see below) that suppress secretion or effects of PGF and activate those of PGE, which, in turn, blocks resorption of the corpus luteum, maternal recognition, and uterine contractility. The start of labor and/or the end of luteal phase of the estrous cycle is associated with the elimination of these effects (1,3-5,17). 

Kendrick K.M., DaCosta A., Broad K.D., Ohkura S., et al. (1997). Neural control of maternal behaviour and olfactory recognition of offspring. Brain Res Bull 44, 383-395. 

Kubiak Recognition of paternal and maternal chromosomes was a nice explanation for the prolongation of the first mitosis in the mouse, but... 

MHC genotype has also been found to influence kin recognition, in the context of maternal behaviour in mice. Female mice are more likely to form communal nests with kin of MHC-similar genotype, minimising the delivery of maternal resources to genetically unrelated individuals (Manning, Wakeland and Potts 1992). Furthermore, if mouse pups have become scattered from the nest, females preferentially retrieve pups of similar MHC type to themselves (Yamazaki, Beauchamp, Curran and Boyse 2000). The pups themselves appear to be able to use MHC-related cues to learn the odour of their mother and siblings, as revealed by a preference for odours of maternal MHC-type in a choice test (Yamazaki et al. 2000). 

Cernoch, J.M. and Porter, R.H. (1985) Recognition of maternal axillary odors by infants. Child Develop. 56, 1593-1598. 

In different species, the OT has been found to influence a wide range of social behaviors, including maternal and paternal behavior, sexual, aggressive and affiliative behaviors, olfactory investigation, and social recognition memory. These relationships are complex, with OT effects, dose-response relationships, and directionality differing across species. In a number of studies, OT infusion has had contrasting effects on the social behaviors of various species (Winslow et ah. 

It has been postulated that NE is important for olfactory recognition of newborns in mice (as well as in other species), which may be essential for postpartum maternal behavior. For instance, depletion of NE in the mouse olfactory bulb via infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) has deleterious effects on maternal behavior that are similar to, though not as severe as, those brought on by Dbh disruption. 

Norepinephrine may also play a role in the induction of immediate early genes in response to pup exposure (Thomas and Palmiter, 1997). Norepinephrine has been linked to maternal behavior in certain other animal models, such as sheep and rats. It may also play a role in olfactory recognition and memory in rats. Intraventricular administration of 6-OHDA prior to birth has been noted to impair postpartum maternal behavior administration after birth had no such effect. 

Consensus Statement 2. American Thyroid Association statement on early maternal thyroidal insufficiency Recognition, clinical management and research directions. Thyroid 2005 15 77. 

---