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Nature

Title:		Galanin neurons in the medial preoptic area govern parental behaviour
Author(s):		Wu Z; Autry AE; Bergan JF; Watabe-Uchida M; Dulac CG;
Address:		"Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA"
Journal Title:		Nature
Year:		2014
Volume:		509
Issue:		7500
Page Number:		325 - 330
DOI:		10.1038/nature13307
ISSN/ISBN:		1476-4687 (Electronic) 0028-0836 (Print) 0028-0836 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Mice display robust, stereotyped behaviours towards pups: virgin males typically attack pups, whereas virgin females and sexually experienced males and females display parental care. Here we show that virgin males genetically impaired in vomeronasal sensing do not attack pups and are parental. Furthermore, we uncover a subset of galanin-expressing neurons in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) that are specifically activated during male and female parenting, and a different subpopulation that is activated during mating. Genetic ablation of MPOA galanin neurons results in marked impairment of parental responses in males and females and affects male mating. Optogenetic activation of these neurons in virgin males suppresses inter-male and pup-directed aggression and induces pup grooming. Thus, MPOA galanin neurons emerge as an essential regulatory node of male and female parenting behaviour and other social responses. These results provide an entry point to a circuit-level dissection of parental behaviour and its modulation by social experience"
Keywords:		Aggression/physiology Animals Copulation Female Galanin/deficiency/genetics/*metabolism Grooming/physiology Male Maternal Behavior/*physiology Mice Neurons/*metabolism Optogenetics Paternal Behavior/*physiology Pheromones/analysis Preoptic Area/*cytology/;
Notes:		"MedlineWu, Zheng Autry, Anita E Bergan, Joseph F Watabe-Uchida, Mitsuko Dulac, Catherine G eng R01 DC013087/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01 DC003903/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ F32 DC010089/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ HHMI/Howard Hughes Medical Institute/ R01 DC009019/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2014/05/16 Nature. 2014 May 15; 509(7500):325-30. doi: 10.1038/nature13307"