TY - JOUR
T1 - From here to paternity: Neural correlates of the onset of paternal behavior in California mice (Peromyscus californicus).
AU - Jong, Trynke R De
AU - Chauke, Miyetani
AU - Harris, Breanna
AU - Saltzman, Wendy
PY - 2009/5/9
Y1 - 2009/5/9
N2 - In a minority of mammalian species, including humans, fathers play a significant role in infant care.
Compared to maternal behavior, the neural and hormonal bases of paternal care are poorly understood. We
analyzed behavioral, neuronal and neuropeptide responses towards unfamiliar pups in biparental California
mice, comparing males housed with another male (“virgin males”) or with a female before (“paired males”)
or after (“new fathers”) the birth of their first litter. New fathers approached pups more rapidly and spent
more time engaging in paternal behavior than virgin males. In each cage housing two virgin males, one was
spontaneously paternal and one was not. New fathers and paired males spent more time sniffing and
touching a wire mesh ball containing a newborn pup than virgin males. Only new fathers showed
significantly increased Fos-like immunoreactivity in the medial preoptic nucleus (MPO) following exposure
to a pup-containing ball, as compared to an empty ball. Moreover, Fos
AB - In a minority of mammalian species, including humans, fathers play a significant role in infant care.
Compared to maternal behavior, the neural and hormonal bases of paternal care are poorly understood. We
analyzed behavioral, neuronal and neuropeptide responses towards unfamiliar pups in biparental California
mice, comparing males housed with another male (“virgin males”) or with a female before (“paired males”)
or after (“new fathers”) the birth of their first litter. New fathers approached pups more rapidly and spent
more time engaging in paternal behavior than virgin males. In each cage housing two virgin males, one was
spontaneously paternal and one was not. New fathers and paired males spent more time sniffing and
touching a wire mesh ball containing a newborn pup than virgin males. Only new fathers showed
significantly increased Fos-like immunoreactivity in the medial preoptic nucleus (MPO) following exposure
to a pup-containing ball, as compared to an empty ball. Moreover, Fos
M3 - Article
SP - 220
EP - 231
JO - Hormones and Behavior
JF - Hormones and Behavior
ER -