Hormones associated with non-maternal infant care: a review of mammalian and avian studies.

摘要: Hormonal changes during non-maternal infant care have been demonstrated in many cooperatively breeding bird species, some monogamous rodents and two species of New World primates. Coevolution hormones social traits may provided for the different systems that occur today. Several shown to covary with vertebrates. Elevated levels hormone prolactin male parenting behaviours are common birds, callitrichid monkeys Callithrix jacchus Saguinus oedipus. In be elevated both female breeders various stages nest building, egg laying, incubating feeding young. Testosterone appear an inverse relationship birds rodents, but this has not examined helpers who remain at also when displaying parental behaviours. Prolactin helper postpartum period. Monogamous demonstrate behaviour but, contrast mechanisms mediating increase differ rodents. Two factors influence hormonal changes: stimuli from pregnant newborn pups; whereas maternal influenced by pup stimuli. An experiential factor Neuropeptides such as oxytocin vasopressin involved rodent there interaction between a series neurosecretions mates pups. Studies oedipus, cotton-top tamarin, suggest responsive contact infants level experience influences care. Father tamarins before birth suggesting cues important. Prolactin's role evolved prolactin's other reproductive functions. regulation due complex neurotransmitters. described here should provide impetus further work on wide variety