Prolactin and paternal care: Comparison of three species of monogamous new world monkeys (Callicebus cupreus, Callithrix jacchus, and Callimico goeldii).

Abstract

The authors explored whether prolactin is associated with paternal care in 3 monkey species: titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus), common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), and Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii). They compared prolactin levels in fathers before and after infant birth as well as between fathers and nonfathers. C. cupreus fathers carry infants almost exclusively, have higher prolactin levels than nonfathers, but show no prolactin increase after infant birth. C. goeldii fathers carry infants only after 3 weeks, show an increase in prolactin levels during the precarrying period, but do not have higher levels than nonfathers. C jacchus fathers are the primary carriers, have higher prolactin levels than nonfathers, and show a trend for a prolactin increase after the birth of infants. In conclusion, species differences in the patterns of prolactin secretion were evident and reflect the different paternal roles.

Hormonal changes related to paternal and alloparental care in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

“…A study using inexperienced common marmosets measuring infant retrieval and carrying behavior showed an increase in prolactin levels following repeated testing in an infant retrieval paradigm and according to carrying episode duration (Roberts et al, 2001). However, urinary prolactin levels were not associated with the amount of paternal carrying in common marmoset fathers (Schradin and Anzenberger, 2004;Schradin et al, 2003). In this case, a direct correlation between physical contact and prolactin levels may not be possible since the daily first-morning urine sample measures accumulated prolactin rather than the immediate changes that occur in the blood while caretakers carry the newborns, as shown by Dixson and George (1982) and Roberts et al (2001) and the present study.…”

“…Furthermore, the more births a father has experienced, the higher his prolactin levels (cotton-top tamarins: . The hormonal response of caretakers was not related to age Schradin and Anzenberger, 2004;Schradin et al, 2003). Moreover, some authors have associated glucocorticoid cortisol with parental response (black tufted-ear marmosets: Nunes et al, 2001; cotton-top tamarins: Ziegler et al, 2004) and prior experience raising young (cotton-top tamarins: Ziegler et al, 1996; black tufted-ear marmosets: Nunes et al, 2001).…”

Oxytocin is associated with infant-care behavior and motivation in cooperatively breeding marmoset monkeys

“…Positive evidence related to non-maternal care exists for example for tamarin fathers, who show changes of testosterone, estradiol, and glucocorticoid levels in the pre-partum period as well as during infant-care, possibly preparing males for the impending birth and parenting role (Ziegler and Snowdon, 2000;Ziegler et al, 2004;Ziegler et al, 1996). Prolactin is also positively linked to infant-care in marmoset fathers and helpers (Dixson and George, 1982;Mota et al, 2006;Mota and Sousa, 2000;Roberts et al, 2001, Schradin andAnzenberger, 2004;Schradin et al, 2003), but these studies suggest that prolactin increases in response to infant-contact and -carrying rather than promoting such behaviors based on motivation-stimulating effects. Accordingly, experienced marmoset fathers could express normal paternal care even if prolactin was suppressed (Almond et al, 2006).…”

Assessment of luteinizing hormone and prolactin immunoactivity in Asian and African elephant urine using assays validated for serum

“…The use of Centricon centrifugal filtration tubes to concentrate urine before protein hormone analysis was based on studies conducted in primates (Schradin et al, 2003;Keely and Faiman, 1994;Ziegler et al, 1996). Following essentially the same protocol, using tubes that concentrated urine $6-to 10-fold, we failed to observe changes in urinary prolactin or LH immunoactivity that correlated with serum concentrations.…”

“…Both LH and prolactin are excreted in urine of humans and nonhuman primates and can be quantified using standard immunoassay techniques (LH -Miller and Soules, 1996;French et al, 1999: prolactin -Miller andSoules, 1996;Soltis et al, 2005;Schradin et al, 2003;Ziegler et al, 1996). LH also has been measured in the urine of several marine 0016-6480/$ -see front matter Published by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2010.08.007 mammals, including bottlenose dolphins, white-sided dolphins and killer whales and is used to time artificial insemination (Robeck et al, 2004(Robeck et al, , 2005.…”