Neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral transition from attack to parenting in male mice.

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

We found that chemical cues evoking pup-directed aggression are received by the vomeronasal sensory neurons and activate the vomeronasal neural pathway in sexually-naive male mice but not in fathers. In addition surgical ablation of the vomeronasal organ in sexually-naive males resulted in the abrogation of pup-directed aggression and simultaneous induction of parental behavior. Thus the down-regulation of pup pheromone-induced activation of the vomeronasal system might be important for the behavioral transition from attack to parenting in male mice.