A Neuroanatomical Correlate of Paternal and Maternal Behavior in the Biparental California Mouse (Peromyscus californicus )

The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is important in the control of maternal behavior in rodents, and it is sexually dimorphic. This study demonstrates that the MPOA of nonparental virgin male Peromyscus californicus (n = 10) is larger than that of virgin females ( n = 9) because of a significantly great...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Behavioral neuroscience 1993-02, Vol.107 (1), p.194-201
Main Authors: Gubernick, David J, Sengelaub, Dale R, Kurz, Elizabeth M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anatomical correlates of behavior
Animal
Animal Maternal Behavior
Animal Paternal Behavior
Animal reproduction
Animal Sex Differences
Animals
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Brain Mapping
Brain Size
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hypothalamus
Male
Maternal Behavior
Mice
Neurons - physiology
Paternal Behavior
Peromyscus - physiology
Peromyscus californicus
Preoptic Area - physiology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Rodents
Sex Characteristics
Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology
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Summary:The medial preoptic area (MPOA) is important in the control of maternal behavior in rodents, and it is sexually dimorphic. This study demonstrates that the MPOA of nonparental virgin male Peromyscus californicus (n = 10) is larger than that of virgin females ( n = 9) because of a significantly greater number of neurons in the MPOA of virgin males. However, this sex difference in MPOA volume disappeared when males and females became parents. Soma size increased significantly when females became mothers. These data suggest that maternal behavior may require a structural change in the MPOA, whereas paternal responsivity, which is normally inhibited in virgin males, may require a change in neuronal activity. Furthermore, these results underscore the importance of reproductive status in examination of sexually dimorphic nuclear structures.
ISSN:0735-7044
1939-0084
DOI:10.1037/0735-7044.107.1.194