title: Early paternal deprivation alters levels of hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glucocorticoid receptor and serum corticosterone and adrenocorticotropin in a sex-specific way in socially monogamous mandarin voles.
abstract: In monogamous mammals, fathers play an important role in the development of the brain and typical behavior in offspring, but the exact nature of this process is not well understood. In particular, little research has addressed whether the presence or absence of paternal care alters levels of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and basal levels of serum corticosterone (CORT) and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). Here, we explored this concept using socially monogamous mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus), a species in which fathers display high levels of paternal care toward their pups. Our immunohistochemical study shows that paternal deprivation (PD) significantly decreased levels of GR and BDNF protein in the CA1 and CA2/3 of the hippocampus. In the dental gyrus, decreases in GR and BDNF induced by PD were evident in females but not in males. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results show that PD significantly upregulated levels of serum CORT and ACTH in females, but not males. These findings demonstrate that PD alters HPA axis activity in a sex-specific way. The changes in stress hormones documented here may be associated with alteration in hippocampal BDNF and GR levels.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Ruiyong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zhenzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Siyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shui
authors.forename: Fadao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Xufeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Fengqin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010333:Paternal Deprivation; D011897:Random Allocation; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone