Lay summary
Healthy growth and development of new-born infants requires significant investment in care-giving by mothers. However, transition into motherhood is difficult for many women with maternal mood disorders affecting 14% of new mothers in Aotearoa New Zealand. We have previously reported that action of the hormone prolactin in the brain is critical for care-giving behaviour following birth. We have also found increased activity of prolactin in the medial amygdala, a brain region key in regulating mood and emotion. We hypothesise that prolactin action in the medial amygdala is required for postpartum maternal behaviour. Here we will examine how prolactin acts in the medial amygdala to alter activity of critical neurons to bring about appropriate changes in the behaviour of mothers. We will also test whether maternal behaviour can be restored in an animal model of postpartum mood disorder through targeted activation of prolactin-sensitive neurons in the medial amygdala.