title: Behavioral responses to pups in males with different reproductive experiences are associated with changes in central OT, TH and OTR, D1R, D2R mRNA expression in mandarin voles.
abstract: Male rodents behave differently toward pups because of different sexual and/or paternal experiences; however, the mechanisms underlying these responses are not well understood. Using socially monogamous mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus) we investigated the behavioral responses of males with different reproductive experiences (virgin males, paired males and new fathers) to new born pups. Central levels of neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), as well as oxytocin receptor (OTR), dopamine 1-type receptor (D1R) and dopamine 2-type receptor (D2R) mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens and medial amygdala were also measured in these males. Our data showed that new fathers exhibited more approaching behavior and contained more OT-immunoreactive and TH-immunoreactive neurons. In addition to increased OTR mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens and medial amygdala, new fathers had higher D1R and D2R mRNA expression in the nucleus accumbens, and less D1R and D2R mRNA expression in the medial amygdala than paired males. These results demonstrate that males with different reproductive experiences display different behavioral responses to pups and that these differences are associated with altered OT and dopamine, and their receptors in specific brain regions.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi(')an 710062, Shaanxi China; College of Biological Technology, Xi'an University, Xi'an 710065, Shaanxi China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi(')an 710062, Shaanxi China; College of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, Shaanxi China.
authors.forename: Yani
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi(')an 710062, Shaanxi China.
authors.forename: Ruiyong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi(')an 710062, Shaanxi China.
authors.forename: Shuwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi(')an 710062, Shaanxi China. Electronic address: taifadao@snnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Fadao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tai
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D010332:Paternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D010121:Oxytocin; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
keywords: Dopamine receptor; Mandarin vole; Medial amygdala; Nucleus accumbens; Oxytocin; Oxytocin receptor; Tyrosine hydroxylase