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

• Project/Area Number: 23700420
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: TACHIKAWA Kashiko 独立行政法人理化学研究所, シナプス分子機構研究チーム, 研究員 (70424182)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2012
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2012)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
• Keywords: 父性行動 / 養育行動 / 鋤鼻器 / フェロモン / 攻撃行動 / c-Fos

Research Abstract

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.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Behavioral Transition from Attack to Parenting in Male Mice: a Crucial Role of the Vomeronasal System (2013)
  • Author(s): Kashiko S. Tachikawa, Yoshihiro Yoshihara, and Kumi O. Kuroda
  • Journal Title: Journal of Neuroscience Volume: 33(12) Pages: 5120-5126
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Behavioral Transition from Attack to Parenting in Male Mice: a Crucial Role of the Vomeronasal System (2013)
  • Author(s): Kashiko S. Tachikawa
  • Journal Title: The Journal of Neuroscience Volume: 33 Issue: 12 Pages: 5120-5126
  • DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2364-12.2013
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral transition from attack to parenting toward pups in malae mice (2012)
  • Author(s): Kashiko Tachikawa, Yoshihiro Yoshihara, and Kumi O. Kuroda
  • Organizer: International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste
  • Place of Presentation: Stockholm, Sweden
  • Year and Date: 2012-06-24
• [Presentation] Neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavioral transition from attack to parenting toward pups in male mice (2012)
  • Author(s): Kashiko Tachikawa
  • Organizer: International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste
  • Place of Presentation: Stockholm, Sweden
• [Presentation] 父性発現の脳内機構；雄マウスの攻撃から養育への行動変化に関与する脳部位の同定 (2011)
  • Author(s): 刀川 夏詩子
  • Organizer: 第34回日本神経科学大会
  • Place of Presentation: 横浜
• [Presentation] 父性発現の脳内機構；雄マウスが攻撃から養育へと行動変化を起こす神経回路メカニズムの解析 (2011)
  • Author(s): 刀川夏詩子
  • Organizer: 第15回鋤鼻研究会
  • Place of Presentation: 八王子
• [Presentation] Neural circuit mechanism underlying behavioral transition from attack to parenting toward pups in male mice. (2011)
  • Author(s): Kashiko Tachikawa
  • Organizer: The 9th International Symposium on Molecular and Neural Mechanisms of Taste and Olfactory Perception (ISMNTOP 2011)
  • Place of Presentation: 福岡