Abstract
Postpartum aggression in females is conserved across many species and enables a mother to guard her young from danger and potential threats. This protective behaviour is typically exhibited by mothers and non-virgin females, but it is unknown how hormones act to induce this behaviour after birth of offspring.
We have previously identified a population of prolactin-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMN), a region known to direct aggressive behaviours. As prolactin is high during pregnancy and lactation, we hypothesised that prolactin acts in the VMN to regulate maternal aggression.