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Stagkourakis S, Williams P, Spigolon G, Khanal S, Ziegler K, Heikkinen L, Fisone G, Broberger C. Maternal Aggression Driven by the Transient Mobilisation of a Dormant Hormone-Sensitive Circuit. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.02.02.526862. [PMID: 38585740 PMCID: PMC10996482 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.02.526862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Aggression, a sexually dimorphic behaviour, is prevalent in males and typically absent in virgin females. Following parturition, however, the transient expression of aggression in adult female mice protects pups from predators and infanticide by male conspecifics. While maternal hormones are known to elicit nursing, their potential role in maternal aggression remains elusive. Here, we show in mice that a molecularly defined subset of ventral premammillary (PMvDAT) neurons, instrumental for intermale aggression, switch from quiescence to a hyperexcitable state during lactation. We identify that the maternal hormones prolactin and oxytocin excite these cells through actions that include T-type Ca2+ channels. Optogenetic manipulation or genetic ablation of PMvDAT neurons profoundly affects maternal aggression, while activation of these neurons impairs the expression of non-aggression-related maternal behaviours. This work identifies a monomorphic neural substrate that can incorporate hormonal cues to enable the transient expression of a dormant behavioural program in lactating females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanos Stagkourakis
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum B:4, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Paul Williams
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Giada Spigolon
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum B:4, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shreya Khanal
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum B:4, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katharina Ziegler
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum B:4, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura Heikkinen
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum B:4, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gilberto Fisone
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum B:4, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Broberger
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicum B:4, Karolinska Institutet, Solnavägen 9, 171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
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Brachet MAA, Vullioud P, Ganswindt A, Manser MB, Keller M, Clutton-Brock TH. Parity predicts allonursing in a cooperative breeder. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
In some mammals that breed cooperatively, nonbreeding female helpers nurse offspring born to the breeding female in their group, a process known as allonursing. Previous laboratory studies have suggested that primiparous and multiparous females (those that have successfully given birth once or more, respectively) are more likely to contribute to allonursing than nulliparous females (those that have not given birth). In contrast, few field studies have been able to demonstrate whether breeding experience, or parity, affects the likelihood or duration of allonursing. In this study, we investigated whether the likelihood and duration of allonursing by subordinate female meerkats (Suricata suricatta) were associated with variations in their parity (number of pregnancies reaching a viable gestational age) and their immediate pregnancy status. Comparisons showed that nonpregnant nulliparous females were less likely to allonurse than nonpregnant primiparous and multiparous females, although parity was not related to variation in allonursing duration. Parity may enhance the expression of maternal behavior when exposed to foster pups, especially since mammary gland development has been shown to be directly associated with parity in other mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane A A Brachet
- Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction & des Comportements, UMR 7247 INRAE/CNRS/Université de Tours/IFCE, Nouzilly, France
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | | | - Andre Ganswindt
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Marta B Manser
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Animal Behaviour, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Kalahari Meerkat Project, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa
| | - Matthieu Keller
- Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction & des Comportements, UMR 7247 INRAE/CNRS/Université de Tours/IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Tim H Clutton-Brock
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Kalahari Meerkat Project, Kuruman River Reserve, Van Zylsrus, Northern Cape, South Africa
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Fonsêca VFC, Saraiva EP, Pimenta Filho EC, Furtado DA, Mariz TMA, Silva AL, Almeida MEV, Pinheiro A.C. Influence of the climatic environment and duration of labor on the mother-offspring interaction in Morada Nova sheep. J Anim Sci 2014; 92:4123-9. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2014-7322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- V. F. C. Fonsêca
- Department of animal Science, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, 58397000, Brazil
| | - E. P. Saraiva
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, 58397000, Brazil
| | - E. C. Pimenta Filho
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, 58397000, Brazil
| | - D. A. Furtado
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande, 58429000, Brazil
| | - T. M. A. Mariz
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Alagoas, Arapiraca, 57072900, Brazil
| | - A. L. Silva
- Department of animal Science, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, 58397000, Brazil
| | - M. E. V. Almeida
- Department of animal Science, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, 58397000, Brazil
| | - A .C. Pinheiro
- Department of animal Science, Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, 58397000, Brazil
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Maternal behaviour and lamb survival: from neuroendocrinology to practical application. Animal 2014; 8:102-12. [DOI: 10.1017/s1751731113001614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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Preventing physical interactions between parturient ewes and their neonate differentially impairs the development of maternal responsiveness and selectivity depending on maternal experience. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2009.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Dwyer CM, Smith LA. Parity effects on maternal behaviour are not related to circulating oestradiol concentrations in two breeds of sheep. Physiol Behav 2008; 93:148-54. [PMID: 17884115 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2007] [Revised: 08/13/2007] [Accepted: 08/14/2007] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Primiparous females of many species, including the sheep, do not show as competent maternal behaviour as multiparous mothers. In this study we investigated whether circulating concentrations of oestradiol might be related to this response, since breed differences in oestradiol concentrations have been shown to correlate with maternal behaviours. Oestradiol concentrations were measured in plasma collected at 2-weekly intervals from primiparous and multiparous ewes of two breeds (Scottish Blackface and Suffolk) throughout gestation, and maternal behaviour was recorded at parturition. Circulating oestradiol concentrations, and the ratio of oestradiol to progesterone concentration (O:P ratio) were higher in late pregnancy in Blackface ewes, but there were no significant effects of ewe parity. However, there was a significant interaction between breed and parity as O:P ratio was lower in primiparous Suffolk ewes compared to multiparous. This relationship was not seen in Blackface ewes. Blackface ewes of both parities groomed their lambs more frequently and made more low-pitched vocalisations than Suffolk ewes. Primiparous ewes were more likely to move as the lamb attempted to suck, and to show withdrawal or aggression towards the lamb. Primiparous Suffolk ewes also made more high pitched bleats than other classes of ewe. The data support previous studies which show an effect of breed on circulating oestradiol and O:P ratio but suggest that parity effects on maternal behaviour may be mediated by sensitivity to circulating concentration of oestradiol rather than variations in the plasma concentrations of this hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathy M Dwyer
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Sustainable Livestock Systems Group, SAC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland, UK.
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Meurisse M, Gonzalez A, Delsol G, Caba M, Lévy F, Poindron P. Estradiol receptor-alpha expression in hypothalamic and limbic regions of ewes is influenced by physiological state and maternal experience. Horm Behav 2005; 48:34-43. [PMID: 15919383 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2005.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2004] [Revised: 02/09/2005] [Accepted: 02/10/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The influence of estrus, pregnancy, parturition, and maternal experience on the expression of estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) was investigated in hypothalamic and limbic regions of the sheep brain, using immunocytochemistry. Four days before parturition, previous maternal experience was associated with a higher density of ERalpha-labeled neurons in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, the medial preoptic area, and the medial amygdala, but not in the mediobasal hypothalamus. Furthermore, an interaction was found between physiological state and experience in the peripartum period as the effect of experience existing 4 days prepartum was not found at parturition, when densities were lowest both in primiparous and in multiparous ewes. An additional effect of physiological state was also observed between parturition and estrus, densities being significantly lower at parturition than at estrus in the SON, PVN, and MPOA, but not in the medial amygdala. These results indicate that in sheep ERalpha expression is influenced by previous physiological and/or maternal experience at specific times of the reproductive cycle. They are also congruent with the higher ability of multiparous than nulliparous ewes to show maternal behavior several days prepartum.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Meurisse
- UMR 6175 INRA-CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, PRC, INRA 37380 Nouzilly, France
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Dwyer CM, Calvert SK, Farish M, Donbavand J, Pickup HE. Breed, litter and parity effects on placental weight and placentome number, and consequences for the neonatal behaviour of the lamb. Theriogenology 2005; 63:1092-110. [PMID: 15710196 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2004] [Revised: 06/03/2004] [Accepted: 06/06/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Lamb survival is impaired in low birth weight lambs, and those that are slow to stand and suck. Many of the factors that influence lamb vigour, such as parity, litter size, and breed, may exert their effects, at least partially, before birth by influencing placenta development. Our hypothesis was that retarded lamb behavioural development was due to differences in placentation in these animals. Data were collected from Blackface and Suffolk lambs in the first 2 h after birth and placentas were collected when delivered. Suffolk lambs, which were behaviourally slower and had lower rectal temperatures than Blackface lambs, were associated with larger but less efficient placentas (placental efficiency defined as foetal weight supported per g placenta) with fewer foetal cotyledons than Blackface placentas. Triplet lambs were significantly slower than twin or single lambs to suck and had lower rectal temperatures. Although placenta efficiency increased with litter size, placenta and cotyledon weight, and cotyledon number increased with twinning but not thereafter. It seemed likely that triplet lambs suffered some placental insufficiency in comparison to other litter sizes. Lambs born to first parity mothers were slower to stand and reach the udder than lambs of more experienced ewes, and first parity ewes also had smaller and less efficient placentas although cotyledon number was not affected. Male lambs tended to be slower than female lambs for most behaviours, although rectal temperatures were not affected. The sire of the lamb also influenced lamb behaviour and rectal temperature. Both lamb sex and lamb sire influenced the average weight of placental cotyledons, thus some of the sire effect on the behaviour and birth weight of his progeny might be mediated through placental development. Lamb neonatal vigour was correlated with placental efficiency suggesting that lamb behaviour immediately after birth is related to placental development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Dwyer
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Sustainable Livestock Systems Group, SAC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH93JG Scotland, UK.
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Dwyer CM. Behavioural development in the neonatal lamb: effect of maternal and birth-related factors. Theriogenology 2003; 59:1027-50. [PMID: 12517402 DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(02)01137-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The survival of the neonate relies on the integrated expression of appropriate behaviours from both the mother and young. In precocious species, like the sheep, the speed with which the lamb stands and seeks the udder is related to lamb survival. In this study the effects of birth difficulty, lamb birth weight, ewe loss or gain in backfat from conception to delivery, ewe parity, litter size, and lamb sex on neonatal lamb behavioural development were investigated in over 500 lambs of two breeds (Scottish Blackface and Suffolk). Lambs that required assistance to be delivered were significantly slower to perform all neonatal behaviours than unassisted lambs (P<0.001), and were less active over the first 3 days after delivery (P<0.05). There were no effects of lamb birthweight that were not accounted for by the increased likelihood of requiring assistance in heavier birth weight lambs. Ewes that mobilised less body fat during their pregnancy produced lambs that stood and sucked quickly (P<0.001), and were more active over the first 3 days of life. Lambs born to first parity ewes were slower to stand and suck than lambs born to experienced ewes (P<0.001). There was an improvement in time taken by lambs to stand, seek the udder and to suck with each increase in ewe parity. Litter size had an additional retarding influence on the behaviour of multiple-born lambs that could not be accounted for by birthweight. In the Suffolk breed male lambs were slower to stand and suck than female lambs, this effect was not seen in Blackface lambs. These data demonstrate that lambs that require assistance at birth, even if they survive the birth process, lambs born to ewes that lose a lot of condition over pregnancy or first parity ewes, triplet lambs and, at least in some breeds, male lambs are slower to progress through the sequence of neonatal behaviours. These lambs are, therefore, at greater risk of not surviving to weaning.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Dwyer
- Animal Biology Division, SAC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG Scotland, UK.
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Dwyer CM, Dingwall WS, Lawrence AB. Physiological correlates of maternal-offspring behaviour in sheep: a factor analysis. Physiol Behav 1999; 67:443-54. [PMID: 10497965 DOI: 10.1016/s0031-9384(99)00089-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The onset of maternal behaviour in sheep is controlled by levels of oestrogen and progesterone in gestation and the release of oxytocin during delivery. Factor analysis was used to investigate the relationships between maternal behaviour, offspring behaviour, and maternal ovarian hormone levels during gestation in sheep. Ewes gave birth to lambs following embryo transfer between two breeds (Suffolk and Scottish Blackface), which differ in their expression of maternal behaviour. Plasma oestradiol-17beta concentration was significantly higher in Blackface ewes in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy, whereas plasma progesterone was higher in Suffolk ewes in early and mid gestation. Factor analysis revealed three factors that accounted for 50% of the total variation between variables. Factor 1 described lamb activity and had positive loadings for lamb behavioural latencies immediately postpartum, and negative loadings for sucking frequency. Factor 2 described some aspects of ewe maternal behaviour, and had positive loadings for ewe-lamb separation and lamb vocalisation, and negative loadings for ewe grooming behaviour and plasma oestradiol concentration. Factor 3 described ewe and lamb-sucking interactions, and had positive loadings for ewe moving as the lamb made sucking attempts, and negative loadings for ewe and lamb vocalisation. Factor 1 scores were significantly affected by lamb breed: Suffolk lambs received positive scores, indicating a longer latency to right and stand, whereas Blackface lambs had negative scores. Maternal progesterone concentration was significantly correlated with Factor 1 scores. Factor 2 and 3 scores were significantly affected by ewe breed. This study has shown that there are two behavioural axes to maternal behaviour in sheep, and that maternal oestradiol concentration is related to affiliative behaviours (e.g., grooming) but only weakly to ewe responsiveness to lamb-sucking attempts.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Dwyer
- Animal Biology Division, SAC, Edinburgh, UK.
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