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Science 25 June 2004:
Vol. 304. no. 5679, pp. 1983 - 1986
DOI: 10.1126/science.1095943
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Reports

Deficit in Attachment Behavior in Mice Lacking the µ-Opioid Receptor Gene

Anna Moles,1 Brigitte L. Kieffer,2 Francesca R. D'Amato1*

Endogenous opioid binding to µ receptors is hypothesized to mediate natural rewards and has been proposed to be the basis of infant attachment behavior. Here, we report that µ-opioid receptor knockout mouse pups emit fewer ultrasonic vocalizations when removed from their mothers but not when exposed to cold or male mice odors. Moreover these knockout pups do not show a preference toward their mothers' cues and do not show ultrasonic calls potentiation after brief maternal exposure. Results from this study may indicate a molecular mechanism for diseases characterized by deficits in attachment behavior, such as autism or reactive attachment disorder.

1 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Institute of Neuroscience, Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology, Viale Marx 43, 00137 Roma, Italy.
2 Institute de Genetique et de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/Université Louis Pasteur, 67404 Illkirch, France.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: f.damato{at}ipsifar.rm.cnr.it

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