Perifornical Area Urocortin-3 Neurons Promote Infant-directed Neglect and Aggression

摘要: SUMMARY Mammals invest considerable resources in protecting and nurturing young offspring. However, under certain physiological environmental conditions, animals neglect or attack conspecifics. Males some species unfamiliar infants to gain reproductive advantage1–3 females kill their during stressful circumstances such as food shortage threat of predation4–8. In humans, stress is a risk factor both sexes for peripartum disorders associated impairments parent-infant interactions9. While recent studies have uncovered dedicated neural pathways mediating the positive control parenting10–13, regulation infant-directed aggression relationship between these behaviours are poorly understood. Here we show that urocortin-3 (Ucn3)-expressing neurons perifornical area (PeFAUcn3) hypothalamus activated attacks males females, but not other forms aggression. Opto- chemogenetic manipulations PeFAUcn3 demonstrate role this neuronal population negative parenting females. receive input from areas with vomeronasal sensing, stress, parenting, send major projections ventromedial (VMH), ventral lateral septum (LSv) amygdalohippocampal (AHi). Optogenetic activation axon terminals regions triggers different aspects agonistic responses, Thus, emerge critical hub expression aggression, providing new framework examine parenting.