Transcription and DNA methylation signatures of paternal behavior in hippocampal dentate gyrus of prairie voles.

ABSTRACT: In socially monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), parental behaviors not only occur in mothers and fathers, but also exist in some virgin males. In contrast, the other virgin males display aggressive behaviors towards conspecific pups. However, little is known about the molecular underpinnings of this behavioral dichotomy, such as gene expression changes and their regulatory mechanisms. To address this, we profiled the transcriptome and DNA methylome of hippocampal dentate gyrus of four prairie vole groups, namely attacker virgin males, parental virgin males, fathers, and mothers. While we found a concordant gene expression pattern between parental virgin males and fathers, the attacker virgin males have a more deviated transcriptome. Moreover, numerous DNA methylation changes w

SUBMITTER: Waddell NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10328943 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature