<i>Urocortin-3</i> neurons in the mouse perifornical area promote infant-directed neglect and aggression.

ABSTRACT: While recent studies have uncovered dedicated neural pathways mediating the positive control of parenting, the regulation of infant-directed aggression and how it relates to adult-adult aggression is poorly understood. Here we show that urocortin-3 (Ucn3)-expressing neurons in the hypothalamic perifornical area (PeFA^Ucn3) are activated during infant-directed attacks in males and females, but not other behaviors. Functional manipulations of PeFA^Ucn3 neurons demonstrate the role of this population in the negative control of parenting in both sexes. PeFA^Ucn3 neurons receive input from areas associated with vomeronasal sensing, stress, and parenting, and send projections to hypothalamic and limbic areas. Optogenetic activation

SUBMITTER: Autry AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8452308 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature