Vasopressin-to-Oxytocin Receptor Crosstalk in the Preoptic Area Underlying Parental Behaviors in Male Mice
Description
The transition to parenthood brings significant changes in behavior toward offspring. For instance, in anticipation of their offspring, male mice shift from infanticidal to caregiving behaviors. While the release of oxytocin from the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) plays a critical role in paternal caregiving, it does not fully account for the entire behavioral shift. The specific downstream neurons and signaling mechanisms involved in this process remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that PVH vasopressin neurons also essentially contribute to a paternal behavioral shift. This vasopressin signal is partially transmitted through oxytocin receptors (OTRs) expressed in the anterior commissure and medial nuclei of the preoptic area. These OTR-expressing neurons receive inputs from both PVH oxytocin and vasopressin neurons and are responsible for expressing paternal caregiving behaviors. Collectively, this non-canonical vasopressin-to-OTR crosstalk within specific limbic circuits acts as a pivotal regulator of paternal behavioral changes in mice.
Submission date
2025-07-02
Release date
2025-12-10
Update date
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License
CC BY
Funding information
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Kengo Inada, Mitsue Hagihara, Kasane Yaguchi, Satsuki Irie, Yukiko U Inoue, Takayoshi Inoue, Kazunari Miyamichi (2025) Vasopressin-to-oxytocin receptor crosstalk in the preoptic area underlying parental behaviors in male mice., Nature communications, Volume 16, Number 1, pp. 10844