The presence of the male facilitates parturition in California mice (<i>Peromyscus californicus</i>)

Lee, Anna W.; Brown, Richard E.

doi:10.1139/z02-064

Cited by 19 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…On the other hand, we found no evidence that repeated exposure to pups altered basal plasma corticosterone levels, or either corticosterone or neural responses to pups. Thus, although male California mice exhibit paternal care immediately at the birth of their offspring (Gubernick and Alberts, 1987; Lee and Brown, 2002), and chemosensory cues from their mates facilitate the maintenance of this paternal care (Gubernick, 1990; Gubernick and Alberts 1989), we found that cues from pups alone can facilitate the onset of paternal care. This suggests that cues from a female pairmate are not necessary for the onset of paternal behavior in male California mice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Effects of repeated pup exposure on behavioral, neural, and adrenocortical responses to pups in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

Horrell

Perea-Rodríguez

Harris

et al. 2017

Hormones and Behavior

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In biparental mammals, the factors facilitating the onset of male parental behavior are not well understood. While hormonal changes in fathers may play a role, prior experience with pups has also been implicated. We evaluated effects of prior exposure to pups on paternal responsiveness in the biparental California mouse (Peromyscus californicus). We analyzed behavioral, neural, and corticosterone responses to pups in adult virgin males that were interacting with a pup for the first time, adult virgin males that had been exposed to pups 3 times for 20 minutes each in the previous week, and new fathers. Control groups of virgins were similarly tested with a novel object (marble). Previous exposure to pups decreased virgins’ latency to approach pups and initiate paternal care, and increased time spent in paternal care. Responses to pups did not differ between virgins with repeated exposure to pups and new fathers. In contrast, repeated exposure to a marble had no effects. Neither basal corticosterone levels nor corticosterone levels following acute pup or marble exposure differed among groups. Finally, Fos expression in the medial preoptic area, and ventral and dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis was higher following exposure to a pup than to a marble. Fos expression was not, however, affected by previous exposure to these stimuli. These results suggest that previous experience with pups can facilitate the onset of parental behavior in male California mice, similar to findings in female rodents, and that this effect is not associated with a general reduction in neophobia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Effects of repeated pup exposure on behavioral, neural, and adrenocortical responses to pups in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

Horrell

Perea-Rodríguez

Harris

et al. 2017

Hormones and Behavior

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“…If placentophagia facilitates paternal behavior, then other species in which the male is present during the birth might also show paternal placentophagia. Placentophagia has recently been reported in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus) during the birth (Lee & Brown, 2002), although this behavior was not reported in previous observations in the species (Gubernick & Alberts, 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Placentophagia in naïve adults, new fathers, and new mothers in the biparental dwarf hamster,Phodopus campbelli

Gregg

Wynne‐Edwards

2005

Dev. Psychobiol.

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Placentophagia in mammals typically occurs only in females during the birth. Male hamsters, Phodopus campbelli, with an extensive paternal behavior repertoire eat placenta during the birth and as alloparental juveniles. Two fresh placentae were presented to sexually naïve males and females covering the developmental range from puberty through reproductive maturity and into senescence. Expectant parents and new mothers were also tested. Placentophagia occurred in both sexes at all developmental stages and was higher in reproductive than in naïve hamsters. Placentophagia declined with increasing age in females, but not males. Liver was readily accepted, but acceptance did not decline with age in females, and was not low in juvenile males, confirming that animals distinguished between the two tissues. Senescent females consumed both tissues willingly. In these paternal males, which do not experience pregnancy or parturition, and in naïve females that selectively refuse placenta, the stimuli influencing placentophagia remain unknown.

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“…comm.). Among biparental rodents, male placentophagia has been reported in Djungarian hamsters [17], California mice [22], and prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster; K.L Bales, pers. comm.).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral and endocrine consequences of placentophagia in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

Perea-Rodríguez

Zhao

Harris

et al. 2018

Physiology & Behavior

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Ingestion of placenta by mammalian mothers can lead to changes in pain sensitivity, hormone levels, and behavioral responses to newborns. In some biparental mammals, males, in addition to females, ingest placenta when their offspring are born. In the monogamous, biparental California mouse (Peromyscus californicus), males first become attracted to placenta when cohabitating with their pregnant mate, and virgin males administered placenta are less neophobic than males given oil vehicle. In this study, we investigated the effects of placentophagia on pain sensitivity, anxiety-like behavior, behavioral responses to pups, and circulating corticosterone levels of both breeding and nonbreeding male California mice. We orally administered either a conspecific placenta or oil vehicle to male mice from three reproductive conditions (first-time fathers, first-time expectant fathers, and virgin males) and tested their pain sensitivity 1 h later, as well as their exploratory behavior and paternal responsiveness in an open field 4 h post-treatment. We measured plasma corticosterone immediately after the open-field test. We found that placenta-treated males, independent of reproductive condition, traveled significantly longer distances in the open field than males treated with oil, indicative of lower anxiety. Additionally, fathers had shorter latencies to approach and to care for pups (i.e., huddling and licking pups), and spent more time engaging in these behaviors, than did age-matched expectant fathers and virgin males, independent of treatment. We found no effect on plasma corticosterone levels or pain sensitivity as a result of either treatment or reproductive condition. These findings indicate that placenta ingestion decreases anxiety-related behaviors in male California mice, but might not influence pain sensitivity, paternal responsiveness, or plasma corticosterone concentrations.

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The presence of the male facilitates parturition in California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

Cited by 19 publications

References 29 publications

Effects of repeated pup exposure on behavioral, neural, and adrenocortical responses to pups in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

Effects of repeated pup exposure on behavioral, neural, and adrenocortical responses to pups in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

Placentophagia in naïve adults, new fathers, and new mothers in the biparental dwarf hamster,Phodopus campbelli

Behavioral and endocrine consequences of placentophagia in male California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

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