The research, which has been published in the leading journal Cell, demonstrates prolactin directly influences male behaviour by unlocking the paternal instinct. Dr Smiley was part of an international team which attacked the problem from different angles. When researchers elevated prolactin levels in male rats, it triggered them to engage in paternal care such as grooming their pups. Interestingly, raising prolactin in virgin males did not induce paternal behaviour, indicating that the hormone’s effect on behaviour in conditional on prior sexual experience. "We know so much about maternal care and maternal behaviour but we don't understand the paternal brain nearly as well."

Source: Otago Daily Times September 03, 2020 23:02 UTC