The Neuroendocrine Regulation of Paternal Care in the Siberian Dwarf Hamster, Phodopus, Sungorus
Abstract
This set of experiments was conducted to explore the physiological regulation of paternal care. In the Siberian dwarf hamster ( Phodopus sungorus ) , males may fill two important parental roles 1) nurturing the young, and 2) defending the young from conspecifics. Both are uniquely coupled to the paternal state, and so, may share a common underlying mechanism. Other studies of this species suggest that the hormone prolactin (PRL) might be instrumental in such a mechanism. In fact, paternal nurturing appears to be dependent on plasma levels of PRL. Paternal aggression, however, could be a simple stimulus-response to the female and pups rather than a product of an enduring mechanism. I tested this possibility by observing the response of parental males to an intruder in both the presence and absence of the family group. Paternal aggression was not dependent on the presence of a stimulus. Interestingly, aggression was not coupled to plasma PRL either. An alternative hypothesis was that PRL mediated the components of paternal care through separate actions. In P. sungorus, the male's plasma PRL steadily increases during his mate's pregnancy. Perhaps this is a critical period for hormonal action. Thus, while nurturing behaviors may be activated by PRL, aggressive behaviors may be organizationally programmed by the hormone. To test these hypotheses, I suppressed the males' plasma PRL with a pharmacological agent throughout the time they were paired with females.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA249783
Entities
People
- Krystal L. Murphy
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology