Brain orchestration of pregnancy and maternal behavior in mice: A longitudinal morphometric study

Reproduction induces changes within the brain to prepare for gestation and motherhood. However, dynamic of these central their relationships with development maternal behavior remain poorly understood. Here, we describe a longitudinal morphometric neuroimaging study in female mice between pre-gestation weaning, using new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) resources comprising high-resolution template, its associated tissue priors (60-µm isotropic resolution) corresponding mouse atlas (1320 regions interest). Using tools, observed transient hypertrophies not only key controlling (medial preoptic area, bed nucleus stria terminalis), but also amygdala, caudate hippocampus. Additionally, unlike females exhibiting lower levels care, highly developed somatosensory, entorhinal retrosplenial cortices among other regions. Therefore, coordinated modifications performance occurred during lactation.