Experiences affect social behaviors via altering neuronal morphology and oxytocin system

Wei, Fengmei; Li, Wenhao; Ma, Bing‐Ji; Deng, Xiao Yan; Zhang, Lang; Zhao, Long; Zheng, Tingjuan; Jing, Yu‐Hong

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105247

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Here, we used MD as adversity and EE as prosperity to study the effect of experiences on avoidance the increased OTR parallels the increased neuronal complexity (Wei et al 2021). This might be why MD increased the branches of the pyramidal neurons in the CA1.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Environmental enrichment (EE), as a condition of prosperity, supplies the rodents with various sensory, motor, recognition, memory, and sociality stimulations. EE increases OT neurons in the parvocellular PVN (Wei et al 2021) and improves avoidance impairment induced by MD (Vivinetto et al 2013). However, it is still unclear how MD and EE affect the hippocampal neuron morphology modulated by CRH-CRHR1 signaling and OT-OTR system in the dHIP.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Experiences Shape Hippocampal Neuron Morphology and the Balance of CRHR1 and OTR

Wei

Deng

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The dorsal hippocampus (dHIP) is involved in avoidance behaviors regulation. It is unclear how experiences affect avoidance behaviors and the neuron morphology modulated by corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) signaling and oxytocin receptor (OTR) system in the dHIP. We studied the effects of neonatal maternal deprivation (MD) and post-weaning environmental enrichment (EE) on the avoidance behaviors and neuron morphology of the dHIP in male BALB/c mice. We found that MD impaired avoidance memory, whereas EE improved that. MD increased Nissl bodies and neuronal complexity in the CA1 but decreased synaptic connections in the CA2–3 and DG. EE restored the Nissl bodies and neuron complexity alterations induced by MD in the CA1 and the synaptic connections alterations induced by MD in the CA3. MD increased CRHR1 levels in the CA1 and CA3 but decreased CRHR1 levels in the CA2. The effects of EE on the CRHR1 levels depend on whether MD or not. For MD mice, the EE treatment decreased CRH levels of the CA1–3 but only reduced the CRHR1 level of the CA3 region. MD probably increased OTR levels in the CA1, and EE could restore. Our study illustrates how MD and EE affect avoidance behaviors, hippocampal neuron morphology, and the OTR-CRHR1 balance. The results show that the alterations in dHIP’s regions induced by early life stress are partially restored by the late-life environmental improvement.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Experiences Shape Hippocampal Neuron Morphology and the Balance of CRHR1 and OTR

Wei

Deng

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…In the CNS sites, OT can regulate social activity, instinctive behaviors, and visceral functions. For example, by activation of inhibitory neurotransmission in the medial frontal cortex, the amygdala and hippocampus, OT can promote social recognition and pro-social behaviors while reducing stress and fear (47)(48)(49). Released from parvocellular OT neurons in the PVN, OT can act on the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to activate rewarding process.…”

Section: General Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin in Women’s Health and Disease

et al. 2022

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Oxytocin (OT) is a nonapeptide mainly produced in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. OT in the brain and blood has extensive functions in both mental and physical activities. These functions are mediated by OT receptors (OTRs) that are distributed in a broad spectrum of tissues with dramatic sexual dimorphism. In both sexes, OT generally facilitates social cognition and behaviors, facilitates parental behavior and sexual activity and inhibits feeding and pain perception. However, there are significant differences in OT levels and distribution of OTRs in men from women. Thus, many OT functions in men are different from women, particularly in the reproduction. In men, the reproductive functions are relatively simple. In women, the reproductive functions involve menstrual cycle, pregnancy, parturition, lactation, and menopause. These functions make OT regulation of women’s health and disease a unique topic of physiological and pathological studies. In menstruation, pre-ovulatory increase in OT secretion in the hypothalamus and the ovary can promote the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and facilitate ovulation. During pregnancy, increased OT synthesis and preterm release endow OT system the ability to promote maternal behavior and lactation. In parturition, cervix expansion-elicited pulse OT secretion and uterine OT release accelerate the expelling of fetus and reduce postpartum hemorrhage. During lactation, intermittent pulsatile OT secretion is necessary for the milk-ejection reflex and maternal behavior. Disorders in OT secretion can account for maternal depression and hypogalactia. In menopause, the reduction of OT secretion accounts for many menopausal symptoms and diseases. These issues are reviewed in this work.

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“…Maternal high licking and grooming (LG) result in increased Oxt expression at PND13 while low LG leads to reduced Oxtr protein levels and receptor binding in several females’ brain regions (e.g., PVN, central nucleus of the amygdala) [ 36 , 69 , 79 ]. Furthermore, while one study detected a higher number of Oxt-positive cells in the PVN of adult male mice exposed to MS [ 80 ], other investigations with a similar protocol reported a lower number of these cells in the SON and PVN [ 71 , 73 , 81 ]. In addition, higher Oxtr expression and a higher number of Oxt projections to the basolateral amygdala were described in male mice exposed to MS [ 81 ].…”

Section: Oxytocin System: Early Development and Impact Of Elsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, while one study detected a higher number of Oxt-positive cells in the PVN of adult male mice exposed to MS [ 80 ], other investigations with a similar protocol reported a lower number of these cells in the SON and PVN [ 71 , 73 , 81 ]. In addition, higher Oxtr expression and a higher number of Oxt projections to the basolateral amygdala were described in male mice exposed to MS [ 81 ]. Early adversity usually results in reduced circulating Oxt [ 73 ].…”

Section: Oxytocin System: Early Development and Impact Of Elsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Life Stress, Brain Development, and Obesity Risk: Is Oxytocin the Missing Link?

Colleluori

Galli

Severi

et al. 2022

Cells

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Obesity disease results from a dysfunctional modulation of the energy balance whose master regulator is the central nervous system. The neural circuitries involved in such function complete their maturation during early postnatal periods, when the brain is highly plastic and profoundly influenced by the environment. This phenomenon is considered as an evolutionary strategy, whereby metabolic functions are adjusted to environmental cues, such as food availability and maternal care. In this timeframe, adverse stimuli may program the body metabolism to maximize energy storage abilities to cope with hostile conditions. Consistently, the prevalence of obesity is higher among individuals who experienced early life stress (ELS). Oxytocin, a hypothalamic neurohormone, regulates the energy balance and modulates social, emotional, and eating behaviors, exerting both central and peripheral actions. Oxytocin closely cooperates with leptin in regulating energy homeostasis. Both oxytocin and leptin impact the neurodevelopment during critical periods and are affected by ELS and obesity. In this review article, we report evidence from the literature describing the effect of postnatal ELS (specifically, disorganized/inconstant maternal care) on the vulnerability to obesity with a focus on the role of oxytocin. We emphasize the existing research gaps and highlight promising directions worthy of exploration. Based on the available data, alterations in the oxytocin system may in part mediate the ELS-induced susceptibility to obesity.

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Experiences affect social behaviors via altering neuronal morphology and oxytocin system

Cited by 17 publications

References 48 publications

Experiences Shape Hippocampal Neuron Morphology and the Balance of CRHR1 and OTR

Experiences Shape Hippocampal Neuron Morphology and the Balance of CRHR1 and OTR

Oxytocin in Women’s Health and Disease

Early Life Stress, Brain Development, and Obesity Risk: Is Oxytocin the Missing Link?

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