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Cited by 147Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorSexual Differentiation and DisordersAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

Variation in Aromatase Activity in the Medial Preoptic Area and Plasma Progesterone Is Associated with the Onset of Paternal Behavior

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Trainor, Brian C., Bird, Ian M., Alday, Noel A., Schlinger, Barney A., Marler, Catherine A.·2003·Neuroendocrinology
DOI 10.1159/000071704PMC PMC2080682
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Abstract

The effects of aromatase within the brain on sexual behavior have been studied in a wide variety of species. Relatively few non-mating behaviors have been considered, despite evidence that estrogen affects many social behaviors. Testosterone promotes paternal behavior in California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) fathers, acting primarily via aromatization to estradiol. Virgin male California mice rarely exhibit paternal behavior, so we investigated whether aromatase in the brain changed with the onset of paternal behavior in California mouse fathers. In the medial preoptic area (MPOA), a brain area known to regulate parental behavior in rodents, we found that fathers had significantly more aromatase activity than mated males without pups, suggesting that an increase in estrogen production in this brain area contributes to the onset of paternal behavior. We also found that progesterone (P 4) levels were lower in fathers compared to sexually inexperienced males and that P 4 was negatively correlated with aromatase activity in the MPOA. These P 4 findings agree with a recent study that found an inhibitory effect of P 4 on paternal behavior. Overall, we found that aromatase activity and P 4 levels change in association with an important life history transition, and may provide a mechanistic basis for plasticity in paternal behavior.

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  • These implants yield hormone levels that are within the physiological range of intact male California mice.

    “These implants yield hormone levels that are within the physiological range of intact male California mice (111)”

    From Sexual differentiation of neural mechanisms of stress sensitivity during puberty (2023) · cites this paper as [111]

    The Subjects section describes testosterone-replacement implants in castrated male California mice, but does not state what testosterone levels the implants produced. The Steroid Hormones and Reproductive Experience section reports testosterone levels in intact males and progesterone levels in implanted castrated males, without comparing implant-produced testosterone levels with the physiological range; searches for that comparison found none. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Cited by

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Authors
Trainor, B. C., Bird, I. M., Alday, N. A., Schlinger, B. A., & Marler, C. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
ORCID
Venue
Neuroendocrinology
Publisher
S. Karger AG
Published
2003
Volume
78
Issue
1
Pages
36-44
ISSN
  • 0028-3835 (ISSN-L)
  • 1423-0194
DOI
10.1159/000071704
PMC
PMC2080682
OpenAlex
W2152209894
Cited by
147
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
FWCI
5.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Neuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (9703309)
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 61994, F32 MH64328-01, F31MH064328, R01MH061994)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
aromatase activity, medial preoptic area, paternal behavior, progesterone, California mouse, Peromyscus californicus, estrogen, testosterone, estradiol, social behavior, life-history transitions, neuroplasticity
MeSH terms
Animals, Aromatase, Female, Male, Paternal Behavior, Preoptic Area, Progesterone, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Dihydrotestosterone, Testosterone, Mice

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