Figure 3.

Activation of VMHvl ß cells evoked female aggression regardless of state.

(A) Strategy to inhibit VMHvl^Npy2r+ cells (β) in aggressive lactating females by optogenetics.

(B) Representative eNpHR expression in VMHvl β cells. Scalebar, 200um.

(C) Representative raster plots illustrating light-induced behaviors in aggressive lactating.

(D) Average attack probability. In yellow, stimulated trials with light ON; in grey, sham trials with light OFF.

(E) Fraction of time lactating female spent attacking during 10-second stimulated or sham stimulated periods.

(F) Strategy to activate VMHvl^Npy2r+ cells (β) or VMHvl^Esr1+ cells in non-aggressive virgin females by optogenetics.

(G, I) Representative raster plots illustrating light-induced behaviors in virgin female towards (F) female or (H) male intruders.

(H, J) Average attack probability towards (G) female intruder and (I) male intruder. In blue, stimulated trials light ON; in grey, sham trials with light OFF.

(K) Fraction of mice for whom attack was induced by activating β or VMHvl^Esr1+ cells.

(L) Fraction of trials with Npy2r^cre female exhibiting attack.

(M) Fraction of time Npy2r^cre female exhibited attack during a trial.

(N) Fraction of trials with Npy2r^cre female exhibiting USV⁻ mounting.

(O-P) Activation of β cells converted ongoing mating behaviors to attack in virgin females. (O) Behavior raster plot of individual trials. (P) Fraction of females exhibiting lordosis converted to attack.

*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, ****p<0.0001. Mean ± SEM.