Vasopressin and the transmission of paternal behavior across generations in mated, cross-fostered Peromyscus mice.
The role of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the nongenomic transfer of paternal behavior from fathers to offspring was examined in Peromyscus. Male California mice (P. californicus) exposed to fewer retrievals by white-footed mouse (P. leucopus) foster parents displayed fewer retrievals of biological offspring. In contrast, white-footed mice were retrieved equally rarely by California mouse foster parents and by biological parents and displayed no changes in pup retrieval behavior. AVP-immunoreactive staining in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis may predict paternal behavior because it correlated positively with retrievals and with a score consisting of huddling, grooming, and time inside the nest. The authors discuss AVP as a possible mechanism by which early experience shapes adult paternal behavior.
Bester-Meredith
Janet K
JK
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, 1202 West Johnson Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA. jkbester@students.wisc.edu
Marler
Catherine A
CA
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology*; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010332:Paternal Behavior; D010542:Peromyscus; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013045:Species Specificity
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin