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Becker EA, Leithead AB, Libo N, Kumerow MT, Goetsch L, Marler CA. Transmission of paternal retrieval behavior from fathers to sons in a biparental rodent. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22164. [PMID: 34333766 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Transmission of maternal behavior across generations occurs, but less is known about paternal behavior. In biparental species like the California mouse (Peromyscus californicus), paternal care contributes to the well-being of offspring with lasting consequences on the brain and behavior. Paternal huddling/grooming behavior can be passed on to future generations, but whether paternal retrieval, which removes young from potential harm, is transmitted independently is unclear. We manipulated paternal retrieval experience through pup displacement manipulations, then examined whether males exposed to higher levels of paternal retrieval in development altered their adult retrieval behavior with their offspring. Males exposed to heightened paternal retrievals, as compared to reduced retrievals, retrieved their offspring more often but huddled/groomed offspring less during undisturbed natural observations. No differences were observed following a pup displacement challenge. The high paternal retrieval group also exhibited more physical activity and stereotypy. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that paternal retrieval levels are transmitted across generations and may function via mechanisms separate from huddling/grooming. One modifying factor may be anxiety because increased activity and stereotypy occurred in the high retrieval group. We speculate how the transmission of paternal retrievals may inform a protective parenting style.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Becker
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Psychology, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Psychology, Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Amanda B Leithead
- Department of Psychology, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Natalya Libo
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Marie T Kumerow
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lauren Goetsch
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Catherine A Marler
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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