Agouti integrates environmental cues to regulate paternal behaviour

Paternal care is rare among mammals and the neural mechanisms governing its emergence are poorly understood. We leveraged the natural paternal behaviour of African striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio), and natural variation therein, to explore the neurobiological mechanisms that subserve male parental care. To support this aim, we performed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) using the 10X Genomics platform in MPOA samples from sexually naïve alloparental (n=3), infanticidal (n=3), or control males (n=3), as well as sires (n=4), and dams (n = 4). Overall design: We performed single-nucleus RNA-sequencing using the 10X Genomics platform in MPOA samples from sexually naïve alloparental (n=3), infanticidal (n=3), or control males (n=3), as well as sires (n=4), and dams (n = 4). Following euthanasia via rapid decapitation, we isolated brain tissue from the medial preoptic area of each animal. This tissue was flash frozen. Frozen samples were processed to isolate nuclei prior to sequencing. One sample corresponds to one animal. We did not pool samples.