Are age and sex differences in brain oxytocin receptors related to maternal and infanticidal behavior in naïve mice?

Olazábal, Daniel E.; Alsina-Llanes, Marcela

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.04.006

Cited by 30 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…However, it is imperative to consider the dynamic action of nonapeptide systems across distinct developmental timepoints. To the extent that the ontogeny of OTR and V1aR expression has been studied, the evidence indicates that OTR and V1aR can be dynamic in some regions of the forebrain but highly stable in others as animals age and mature (Hammock & Levitt, 2013;Olazabal & Alsina-Llanes, 2016;Shapiro & Insel, 1989;Smith et al, 2017;Tamborski, Mintz, & Caldwell, 2016;Tribollet, Charpak, Schmidt, Duboisdauphin, & Dreifuss, 1989;Tribollet, Goumaz, Raggenbass, Duboisdauphin, & Dreifuss, 1991;Wang, Young, Liu, & Insel, 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental trajectories and influences of environmental complexity on oxytocin receptor and vasopressin 1A receptor expression in male and female prairie voles

Prounis

Thomas

Ophir

2018

J of Comparative Neurology

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Nonapeptide receptors, like oxytocin receptor (OTR) and vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR), modulate a variety of functions across taxa, and mediate phenotypic variation within and between species. Despite the popularity of studying nonapeptides in adults, developmental perspectives on properties of OTR and V1aR expression are lacking. Study of prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) has facilitated an understanding of mechanisms of social behavior and provides great potential to inform how early life experiences alter phenotype. We provide the first comprehensive profiling of OTR and V1aR in male and female prairie voles across postnatal development and into adulthood. Differences in receptor densities across the forebrain were region- and sex-specific. Postnatal changes in receptor expression fell into four themes: (a) constant over time, (b) increasing with age, (c) decreasing with age, or (d) peaking during late pre-weaning (postnatal day 15-21). We also examined the influence of post-weaning social and spatial enrichment (i.e., environmental complexity) on OTR and V1aR. Environmental complexity appeared to promote expression of OTR in males and females, and reduced expression of V1aR across several brain regions in males. Our results show that nonapeptide receptor profiles are plastic over development and suggest that different patterns of expression might represent functional differences in sensitivity to nonapeptide activation over a period when social environments are dynamic. Our results on environmental complexity suggest that nonapeptide sensitivity responds flexibly to different environmental contexts during development. Understanding the developmental trajectories of nonapeptide receptors provides a better understanding of the dynamic nature of social behavior and the underlying mechanisms.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental trajectories and influences of environmental complexity on oxytocin receptor and vasopressin 1A receptor expression in male and female prairie voles

Prounis

Thomas

Ophir

2018

J of Comparative Neurology

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“…For example, there is a reduction in the density of OXTR in the NAc from weanling to adult age in rats but not in mice. However, in both species, there is an increase in OXTR density in the VMH, whereas, in other areas (eg, central amygdala), no change has been found during that period . These species‐ or site‐specific patterns of changes that occur during development can be explained by differences in the susceptibility to the effect of gonadal hormones and/or programmed developmental changes independent of the rise of gonadal hormones.…”

Section: Species Differences In Oxt and Oxtr Regulation By Gonadal Homentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Another way to see the differences in the regulation of OXTR expression in different species or brain regions is by analysing developmental changes in the oxytocinergic system. Several studies have shown that the expression of OXTR in the different areas of the brain could increase, decrease or remain unchanged throughout development . For example, there is a reduction in the density of OXTR in the NAc from weanling to adult age in rats but not in mice.…”

Section: Species Differences In Oxt and Oxtr Regulation By Gonadal Homentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is particularly important for understanding the mechanism that might have evolved in different species to promote differences in reproductive or social strategies. For example, it might be interesting to explore the role of OXT in the VMH, an area where the expression of OXTR increases in several species by gonadal hormones fluctuations and/or after parturition . The VMH has an inhibitory role in maternal behaviour according to Bridges et al .…”

Section: Species Differences In Oxt and Oxtr Regulation By Gonadal Homentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Perhaps the action of OXT in the lateral septum is directly or indirectly implicated in the regulation of approach behaviour towards newborns and/or other individuals during social interactions . Furthermore, OXTR in the lateral septum might be implicated in the regulation of anxiety or defensive responses that can result in changes in parental behaviour or aggressiveness against intruders …”

Section: Oxtr Distribution In the Brain Influences The Propensity Of mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Role of oxytocin in parental behaviour

Olazábal

2018

J Neuroendocrinology

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Both animal and human studies have provided conclusive evidence that oxytocin (OXT) acts in the brain (eg, medial preoptic area, ventral tegmental area, nucleus accumbens) to promote parental behaviour under different reproductive and physiological conditions. OXT appears to accelerate and strengthen the neural process that makes newborns attractive or rewarding. Furthermore, OXT reduces stress/anxiety and might improve mood and well being, resulting in indirect benefits for parents. However, OXT also plays a role in the development of species reproductive and social strategies, making some species or individuals more prone to display caring activities in nonreproductive contexts. There are important differences in the development of the OXT system and its regulation by gonadal hormones that can make individuals or species very different. Those intra- and interspecific differences in the OXT system have been associated with differences in parental behaviour. For example, differences in OXT levels in body fluids and genetic variants for the OXT and OXT receptor genes have been associated with variability in parental mood and behaviour in humans. Thus, OXT has received much attention as a potential therapeutic agent for affective, emotional and behavioural problems. Despite many preliminary studies indicating promising findings, several unknown aspects of the OXT system remain to be addressed before we can achieve a complete understanding of its function in the brain. The enormous interest that this area of study has attracted in the last decade will likely continually contribute to advancing our understanding of the role of OXT in parental behaviour and other behavioural and physiological functions.

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Oxytocin receptors are widely distributed in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) brain: Relation to social behavior, genetic polymorphisms, and the dopamine system

Inoue

Ford

Horie

et al. 2022

J of Comparative Neurology

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Oxytocin regulates social behavior via direct modulation of neurons, regulation of neural network activity, and interaction with other neurotransmitter systems. The behavioral effects of oxytocin signaling are determined by the species‐specific distribution of brain oxytocin receptors. The socially monogamous prairie vole has been a useful model organism for elucidating the role of oxytocin in social behaviors, including pair bonding, response to social loss, and consoling. However, there has been no comprehensive mapping of oxytocin receptor‐expressing cells throughout the prairie vole brain. Here, we employed a highly sensitive in situ hybridization, RNAscope, to construct an exhaustive, brain‐wide map of oxytocin receptor mRNA‐expressing cells. We found that oxytocin receptor mRNA expression was widespread and diffused throughout the brain, with specific areas displaying a particularly robust expression. Comparing receptor binding with mRNA revealed that regions of the hippocampus and substantia nigra contained oxytocin receptor protein but lacked mRNA, indicating that oxytocin receptors can be transported to distal neuronal processes, consistent with presynaptic oxytocin receptor functions. In the nucleus accumbens, a region involved in oxytocin‐dependent social bonding, oxytocin receptor mRNA expression was detected in both the D1 and D2 dopamine receptor‐expressing subtypes of cells. Furthermore, natural genetic polymorphisms robustly influenced oxytocin receptor expression in both D1 and D2 receptor cell types in the nucleus accumbens. Collectively, our findings further elucidate the extent to which oxytocin signaling is capable of influencing brain‐wide neural activity, responses to social stimuli, and social behavior. Key points Oxytocin receptor mRNA is diffusely expressed throughout the brain, with strong expression concentrated in certain areas involved in social behavior. Oxytocin receptor mRNA expression and protein localization are misaligned in some areas, indicating that the receptor protein may be transported to distal processes. In the nucleus accumbens, oxytocin receptors are expressed on cells expressing both D1 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes, and the majority of variation in oxytocin receptor expression between animals is attributable to polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor gene.

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Are age and sex differences in brain oxytocin receptors related to maternal and infanticidal behavior in naïve mice?

Cited by 30 publications

References 62 publications

Developmental trajectories and influences of environmental complexity on oxytocin receptor and vasopressin 1A receptor expression in male and female prairie voles

Developmental trajectories and influences of environmental complexity on oxytocin receptor and vasopressin 1A receptor expression in male and female prairie voles

Role of oxytocin in parental behaviour

Oxytocin receptors are widely distributed in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) brain: Relation to social behavior, genetic polymorphisms, and the dopamine system

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