| First Author | Isogai Y | Year | 2018 |
| Journal | Cell | Volume | 175 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 1827-1841.e17 |
| PubMed ID | 30550786 | Mgi Jnum | J:269574 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6273573 | Doi | 10.1016/j.cell.2018.11.032 |
| Citation | Isogai Y, et al. (2018) Multisensory Logic of Infant-Directed Aggression by Males. Cell 175(7):1827-1841.e17 |
| abstractText | Newborn mice emit signals that promote parenting from mothers and fathers but trigger aggressive responses from virgin males. Although pup-directed attacks by males require vomeronasal function, the specific infant cues that elicit this behavior are unknown. We developed a behavioral paradigm based on reconstituted pup cues and showed that discrete infant morphological features combined with salivary chemosignals elicit robust male aggression. Seven vomeronasal receptors were identified based on infant-mediated activity, and the involvement of two receptors, Vmn2r65 and Vmn2r88, in infant-directed aggression was demonstrated by genetic deletion. Using the activation of these receptors as readouts for biochemical fractionation, we isolated two pheromonal compounds, the submandibular gland protein C and hemoglobins. Unexpectedly, none of the identified vomeronasal receptors and associated cues were specific to pups. Thus, infant-mediated aggression by virgin males relies on the recognition of pup's physical traits in addition to parental and infant chemical cues. |
