Laura Heikkinen
Research Subjects
Laura Heikkinen has a total of 7 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Christian Broberger
Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius v. 16C, 104 05, Stockholm, Sweden
1 shared publication - Giada Spigolon
Biological Imaging Facility, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
1 shared publication - Gilberto Fisone
Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
1 shared publication - Katharina Ziegler
Medical Biophysics, Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
1 shared publication - Paul Williams
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University
1 shared publication - Shreya Khanal
Department of Neuroscience
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
Maternal Aggression Driven by the Transient Mobilisation of a Dormant Hormone-Sensitive Circuit
Aggression, a sexually dimorphic behaviour, is prevalent in males and typically absent in virgin females. Following parturition, however, the transient expression of aggression in adult female mice protects pups from predators and infanticide by male conspecifics. While maternal hormones are known to elicit nursing, their potential role in maternal aggression remains elusive. Here, we show in mice that a molecularly defined subset of ventral premammillary (PMv DAT ) neurons, instrumental for intermale aggression, switch from quiescence to a hyperexcitable state during lactation. We identify that the maternal hormones prolactin and oxytocin excite these cells through actions that include T-type Ca 2+ channels. Optogenetic manipulation or genetic ablation of PMv DAT neurons profoundly affects maternal aggression, while activation of these neurons impairs the expression of non-aggression-related maternal behaviours. This work identifies a monomorphic neural substrate that can incorporate hormonal cues to enable the transient expression of a dormant behavioural program in lactating females.
Open AccessMaternal Aggression Driven by the Transient Mobilisation of a Dormant Hormone-Sensitive Circuit
Aggression, a sexually dimorphic behaviour, is prevalent in males and typically absent in virgin females. Following parturition, however, the transient expression of aggression in adult female mice protects pups from predators and infanticide by male conspecifics. While maternal hormones are known to elicit nursing, their potential role in maternal aggression remains elusive. Here, we show in mice that a molecularly defined subset of ventral premammillary (PMv DAT ) neurons, instrumental for intermale aggression, switch from quiescence to a hyperexcitable state during lactation. We identify that the maternal hormones prolactin and oxytocin excite these cells through actions that include T-type Ca 2+ channels. Optogenetic manipulation or genetic ablation of PMv DAT neurons profoundly affects maternal aggression, while activation of these neurons impairs the expression of non-aggression-related maternal behaviours. This work identifies a monomorphic neural substrate that can incorporate hormonal cues to enable the transient expression of a dormant behavioural program in lactating females.