Extended Data Fig. 3: Pup-directed behaviours after chemogenetic activation of MPOA-connecting cells in the VMHvl, SUM, PVT, PVN, or PMv in female mice.
From: Antagonistic circuits mediating infanticide and maternal care in female mice
(a) Experimental design to chemogenetically activate various MPOA-connecting regions. (b) Experimental timeline. (c1, d1, e1, f1, g1) Representative histology images of 8 mice showing hM3Dq-mCherry expression in the VMHvl (c1), SUM (d1), PVT (e1), PVN (f1), and PMv (g1) after injecting AAV1-Syn-Cre in MPOA and AAV2-hSyn-DIO-hM3Dq-mCherry into each of the regions. Scale bars: 200 µm. (c2, d2, e2, f2, g2) Representative raster plots showing pup-directed behaviours after saline or CNO injection into animals expressing hM3Dq-mCherry in MPOA-connecting cells in the VMHvl (c2), SUM (d2), PVT (e2), PVN (f2), and PMv (g2). Each raster lasts 10 min. (c3, d3, e3, f3, g3) Pup-directed attack after saline or CNO injection in female mice that express hM3Dq-mCherry in MPOA-connecting cells in the VMHvl (c3), SUM (d3), PVT (e3), PVN (f3), and PMv (g3). Each circle represents one mouse. n = 8 for each group. (c4, d4, e4, f4, g4) Duration of pup investigation between saline- and CNO-injected days in female mice that express hM3Dq-mCherry in MPOA-connecting cells in the VMHvl (c4), SUM (d4), PVT (e4), PVN (f4), and PMv (g4). Each grey line represents one animal. The coloured line represents the group average. Error bars: ± SEM. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test (c4) or Two-tailed Paired t test (d4, e4, f4, g4). **p < 0.01. n = 8 for each group. (c5, d5, e5, f5, g5) Duration of pup grooming between saline- and CNO-injected days in female mice that express hM3Dq-mCherry in MPOA-connecting cells in the VMHvl (c5), SUM (d5), PVT (e5), PVN (f5), and PMv (g5). Figure conventions as in c4-g4. (c6, d6, e6, f6, g6) Latency to first pup attack between saline- and CNO-injected days in female mice that express hM3Dq-mCherry in MPOA-connecting cells in the VMHvl (c6), SUM (d6), PVT (e6), PVN (f6), and PMv (g6). Figure conventions as in c4-g4. See Source Data Extended Data Fig. 3 for detailed values and statistics.
