TY - JOUR
T1 - Prolactin levels are elevated after infant carrying in parentally inexperienced common marmosets
AU - Roberts, R. Lucille
AU - Jenkins, Kosunique T.
AU - Lawler, Theodore
AU - Wegner, Frederick H.
AU - Norcross, Janet L.
AU - Bernhards, Deborah E.
AU - Newman, John D.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Alloparental behavior (parental behavior directed to nondescendant young) is pervasive among human cultures but rare among other mammals. New World primates of the family Callitrichidae, including common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus), dwell in large families and many family members carry and/or provision infants. This study experimentally characterized alloparenting in common marmosets by measuring infant retrieval and carrying outside of the context of the family group. Prolactin was measured in samples collected before and after infant exposure to determine whether elevated prolactin levels were predictive of alloparental responsiveness. Seventeen nonbreeding, parentally inexperienced, singly or peer-housed common marmosets (10 females, 7 males, 6-66 months of age) were tested repeatedly in an infant retrieval paradigm. Infant retrieval was shown by 5 out of 17 monkeys (29%) in their first test. The rate of retrieval increased to 10 monkeys (59%) by the fourth test. No significant differences in age, sex, or housing condition existed between monkeys that retrieved infants and those not retrieving. Prolactin concentrations were significantly elevated in serum obtained after testing only in monkeys that retrieved infants. Prolactin levels after infant exposure were positively related to carrying duration. A separate experiment verified that neither prolactin nor cortisol was significantly elevated in response to prolonged handling. Cortisol levels were inversely proportional to handling time. Prolactin levels were not significantly related to handling time. Our results indicate that alloparental behavior is expressed at high rates after minimal infant experience, and prolactin levels rise concomitantly with the expression of alloparental behavior in this species.
AB - Alloparental behavior (parental behavior directed to nondescendant young) is pervasive among human cultures but rare among other mammals. New World primates of the family Callitrichidae, including common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus jacchus), dwell in large families and many family members carry and/or provision infants. This study experimentally characterized alloparenting in common marmosets by measuring infant retrieval and carrying outside of the context of the family group. Prolactin was measured in samples collected before and after infant exposure to determine whether elevated prolactin levels were predictive of alloparental responsiveness. Seventeen nonbreeding, parentally inexperienced, singly or peer-housed common marmosets (10 females, 7 males, 6-66 months of age) were tested repeatedly in an infant retrieval paradigm. Infant retrieval was shown by 5 out of 17 monkeys (29%) in their first test. The rate of retrieval increased to 10 monkeys (59%) by the fourth test. No significant differences in age, sex, or housing condition existed between monkeys that retrieved infants and those not retrieving. Prolactin concentrations were significantly elevated in serum obtained after testing only in monkeys that retrieved infants. Prolactin levels after infant exposure were positively related to carrying duration. A separate experiment verified that neither prolactin nor cortisol was significantly elevated in response to prolonged handling. Cortisol levels were inversely proportional to handling time. Prolactin levels were not significantly related to handling time. Our results indicate that alloparental behavior is expressed at high rates after minimal infant experience, and prolactin levels rise concomitantly with the expression of alloparental behavior in this species.
KW - Alloparental behavior
KW - Callithrix jacchus
KW - Cooperative breeding
KW - Marmoset
KW - Parental behavior
KW - Prolactin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035048030&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1016/S0031-9384(01)00430-9
DO - 10.1016/S0031-9384(01)00430-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 11337003
AN - SCOPUS:0035048030
SN - 0031-9384
VL - 72
SP - 713
EP - 720
JO - Physiology and Behavior
JF - Physiology and Behavior
IS - 5
ER -