Neural mechanisms underlying shift toward caregiving behaviors in male animals are not fully understood. Here authors show that parental behaviors in male mice are facilitated by vasopressin released from the hypothalamus. Downstream, oxytocin receptors expressed in the preoptic area mediate this effect via noncanonical ligand–receptor crosstalk.
- Kengo Inada
- Mitsue Hagihara
- Kazunari Miyamichi
