Prolactin and parental behaviour in a male New World primate
Abstract
In some mammals, both sexes exhibit a high degree of parental behaviour. This is the case in many primates which form pair bonds, such as marmosets, tamarins, owl monkeys and siamangs1-4. It is not known if any endocrine changes occur in male mammals which show parental behaviour. We report here that in male common marmosets carrying their twin offspring, plasma prolactin levels are five times higher, on average, than in males without infants. There are, however, no consistent differences in levels of plasma testosterone. Increases in prolactin are most pronounced during periods when males (rather than other group members) are carrying their offspring. This suggests that physical contact may be important in producing the effects. Although prolactin has been implicated in the control of maternal behaviour in avian and mammalian species5-8 this is the first demonstration that prolactin is elevated during parental behaviour in a male mammal.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- October 1982
- DOI:
- 10.1038/299551a0
- Bibcode:
- 1982Natur.299..551D