Loading...
Publication
The role of prolactin in the regulation of brood care in the cooperatively breeding fish Neolamprologus pulcher
| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136.1 KB | Adobe PDF |
Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The hormone prolactin (PRL) is important for the regulation of parental care in
many species of mammals, birds and fish, and for alloparental care (care directed at nondescendant
young) in some mammals and birds. Its significance in alloparental brood care of cooperatively
breeding fish has not yet been assessed. Here, we test the role of PRL in brood care behavior of the
cooperatively breeding cichlid Neolamprologus pulcher. The expression of PRL mRNA was
determined in the pituitary glands of breeders of both sexes, helpers that showed brood care
behavior and nonbreeding fish as controls. In addition, PRL levels were experimentally manipulated
in male breeders and helpers by intraperitoneal injections of ovine PRL, and the behavior of these
test fish was recorded toward standardized clutches. Adult females had higher levels of PRL mRNA
than adult males, which was true both for breeders and nonbreeders. Contrary to expectation, there
was no positive correlation between PRL and brood care behavior in any category of test fish, and the
experimental application of PRL did not change brood care propensity. Interestingly, brood-caring
adult females had significantly lower levels of PRL mRNA than adult female nonbreeders, whereas
there was no difference between helpers and similar-sized nonbreeding group members. PRL mRNA
levels increased with body mass in juveniles, but decreased with body mass in adults. In conclusion,
we found no evidence that elevated levels of PRL are directly involved in the regulation of brood care
behavior in this species.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Bender N, Taborsky M, Power DM. 2008. The role of prolactin in the regulation of brood care in the cooperatively breeding fish Neolamprologus pulcher. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:515–524.
