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Effects of pair bonding on parental behavior and dopamine activity in the nucleus accumbens in male prairie voles
Author(s) -
Lei K.,
Liu Y.,
Smith A. S.,
Lonstein J. S.,
Wang Z.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/ejn.13673
Subject(s) - prairie vole , nucleus accumbens , microtus , pair bond , paternal care , neurochemical , dopamine , psychology , licking , endocrinology , microdialysis , arvicolinae , medicine , neuroscience , biology , offspring , zoology , genetics , pregnancy
Male parental care is a vital behavior for the development as well as the physical and mental well‐being of the young. However, little is known about the neurochemical regulation of male parental behavior, mainly due to the lack of appropriate animal models. In this study, we used the socially monogamous male prairie vole ( Microtus ochrogaster ) to investigate the effect of pair‐bonding experience on paternal behavior and dopamine ( DA ) signaling in the nucleus accumbens ( NA cc) in the brain. We compared sexually naïve males with males that were pair bonded with a female for two weeks. Our data showed that pair‐bonded males displayed enhanced paternal behavior, particularly in pup licking/grooming, associated with increased DA type‐1 receptor (D1R) protein expression in the NA cc, compared to sexually naïve males. Site‐specific brain microdialysis revealed a significant, but transient, increase in DA release in the NA cc associated with pup exposure in both groups of the males. Further, pharmacological blockade of D1R in the NA cc decreased pup licking/grooming in the pair‐bonded males. Together, our data demonstrate that pair‐bonding experience with a female facilitated male parental behavior via NA cc D1R mediation in male prairie voles.