(1) Background: Preoptic region of hypothalamus is responsible to control maternal
behavior, which was hypothesized to be associated with gene expressional changes.
(2) Methods: Transcriptome sequencing was first applied in the preoptic region of
rat dams in comparison to a control group of mothers whose pups were taken away immediately
after parturition and did not exhibit caring behavior 10 days later. (3) Results:
Differentially expressed genes were found and validated by quantitative RT-PCR, among
them NACHT and WD repeat domain containing 1 (Nwd1) is known to control androgen receptor
(AR) protein levels. The distribution of Nwd1 mRNA and AR was similar in the preoptic
area. Therefore, we focused on this steroid hormone receptor and found its reduced
protein level in rat dams. To establish the function of AR in maternal behavior, its
antagonist was administered intracerebroventricularly into mother rats and increased
pup-directed behavior of the animals. (4) Conclusions: AR levels are suppressed in
the preoptic area of mothers possibly mediated by altered Nwd1 expression in order
to allow sustained high-level care for the pups. Thus, our study first implicated
the AR in the control of maternal behaviors.
