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Galanin neurons in the medial preoptic area govern parental behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Zheng Wu

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University)

  • Anita E. Autry

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University)

  • Joseph F. Bergan

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University)

  • Mitsuko Watabe-Uchida

    (Center for Brain Science, Harvard University)

  • Catherine G. Dulac

    (Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University)

Abstract

Mice display robust, stereotyped behaviours towards pups: virgin males typically attack pups, whereas virgin females and sexually experienced males and females display parental care. Here we show that virgin males genetically impaired in vomeronasal sensing do not attack pups and are parental. Furthermore, we uncover a subset of galanin-expressing neurons in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) that are specifically activated during male and female parenting, and a different subpopulation that is activated during mating. Genetic ablation of MPOA galanin neurons results in marked impairment of parental responses in males and females and affects male mating. Optogenetic activation of these neurons in virgin males suppresses inter-male and pup-directed aggression and induces pup grooming. Thus, MPOA galanin neurons emerge as an essential regulatory node of male and female parenting behaviour and other social responses. These results provide an entry point to a circuit-level dissection of parental behaviour and its modulation by social experience.

Suggested Citation

  • Zheng Wu & Anita E. Autry & Joseph F. Bergan & Mitsuko Watabe-Uchida & Catherine G. Dulac, 2014. "Galanin neurons in the medial preoptic area govern parental behaviour," Nature, Nature, vol. 509(7500), pages 325-330, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:509:y:2014:i:7500:d:10.1038_nature13307
    DOI: 10.1038/nature13307
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    Cited by:

    1. Solomiia Korchynska & Patrick Rebernik & Marko Pende & Laura Boi & Alán Alpár & Ramon Tasan & Klaus Becker & Kira Balueva & Saiedeh Saghafi & Peer Wulff & Tamas L. Horvath & Gilberto Fisone & Hans-Ulr, 2022. "A hypothalamic dopamine locus for psychostimulant-induced hyperlocomotion in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Eric R. Schuppe & Irene Ballagh & Najva Akbari & Wenxuan Fang & Jonathan T. Perelmuter & Caleb H. Radtke & Margaret A. Marchaterre & Andrew H. Bass, 2024. "Midbrain node for context-specific vocalisation in fish," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.

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