Low doses of oxytocin facilitate social recognition in rats

Popik, Piotr; Vetulani, Jerzy; Ree, Jan M. van

doi:10.1007/bf02253591

Cited by 181 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Both peripheral and central administration of oxytocin has been shown to have dose dependent effects on social recognition memory (Benelli et al, 1995;Popik et al, 1992;Popik and Van Ree, 1991). Ferguson et al (2001; showed that, despite intact olfactory function and non-social learning capability, oxytocin receptor knockout (OXKO) mice fail to recognize familiar conspecifics even after repeated interactions.…”

Section: Oxytocin Facilitates Social Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?

et al. 2017

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Low intensity, non-noxious, stimulation of cutaneous somatosensory nerves has been shown to trigger oxytocin release and is associated with increased social motivation, plus reduced physiological and behavioural reactivity to stressors. However, to date, little attention has been paid to the specific nature of the mechanosensory nerves which mediate these effects. In recent years, the neuroscientific study of human skin nerves (microneurography studies on single peripheral nerve fibres) has led to the identification and characterisation of a class of touch sensitive nerve fibres named C-Tactile afferents. Neither itch nor pain receptive, these unmyelinated, low threshold mechanoreceptors, found only in hairy skin, respond optimally to low force/velocity stroking touch. Notably, the speed of stroking which c-tactile afferents fire most strongly to is also that which people perceive to be most pleasant. The social touch hypothesis posits that this system of nerves has evolved in mammals to signal the rewarding value of physical contact in nurturing and social interactions. In support of this hypothesis, in this paper we review the evidence that cutaneous stimulation directly targeted to optimally activate c-tactile afferents reduces physiological arousal, carries a positive affective value and, under healthy conditions, inhibits responses to painful stimuli. These effects mirror those, we also review, which have been reported following endogenous release and exogenous administration of oxytocin. Taken together this evidence suggests c-tactile afferent stimulation may mediate oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions.

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Section: Oxytocin Facilitates Social Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?

et al. 2017

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“…Studies have shown that social learning appears to be extremely dependent on these neuropeptides. Vasopressin has been found to be important in the formation of social memory, while oxytocin appears to be important in the retention of these newly formed memories (Popik et al, 1992a;Popik and Van Ree, 1992). Furthermore, oxytocin becomes crucial for learning associating factors such as olfactory cues (Nelson and Panksepp, 1996;Ferguson et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin Infusion Reduces Repetitive Behaviors in Adults with Autistic and Asperger's Disorders

Hollander

Novotny

Hanratty

et al. 2003

Neuropsychopharmacol

624

403

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Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by dysfunction in three core behavioral domains: repetitive behaviors, social deficits, and language abnormalities. There is evidence that abnormalities exist in peptide systems, particularly the oxytocin system, in autism spectrum patients. Furthermore, oxytocin and the closely related peptide vasopressin are known to play a role in social and repetitive behaviors. This study examined the impact of oxytocin on repetitive behaviors in 15 adults with autism or Asperger's disorder via randomized double-blind oxytocin and placebo challenges. The primary outcome measure was an instrument rating six repetitive behaviors: need to know, repeating, ordering, need to tell/ask, self-injury, and touching. Patients with autism spectrum disorders showed a significant reduction in repetitive behaviors following oxytocin infusion in comparison to placebo infusion. Repetitive behavior in autism spectrum disorders may be related to abnormalities in the oxytocin system, and may be partially ameliorated by synthetic oxytocin infusion.

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“…Oxytocin and vasopressin, which in the brain purportedly act as neuromodulators and are found in the hippocampus and amygdala, among other places (6), have been well and amply studied (60,(63)(64)(65)(66)(67). Oxytocin has been linked to social recognition in the medial region of the amygdala (68) and seems to play a role only in the acquisition of SRM, whereas vasopressin acts in the acquisition and consolidation of SRM (6).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Major neurotransmitter systems in dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala control social recognition memory

Zinn

Clairis

Cavalcante

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Social recognition memory (SRM) is crucial for reproduction, forming social groups, and species survival. Despite its importance, SRM is still relatively little studied. Here we examine the participation of the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus (CA1) and the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and that of dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and histaminergic systems in both structures in the consolidation of SRM. Male Wistar rats received intra-CA1 or intra-BLA infusions of different drugs immediately after the sample phase of a social discrimination task and 24-h later were subjected to a 5-min retention test. Animals treated with the protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, into either the CA1 or BLA were unable to recognize the previously exposed juvenile (familiar) during the retention test. When infused into the CA1, the β-adrenoreceptor agonist, isoproterenol, the D1/D5 dopaminergic receptor antagonist, SCH23390, and the H2 histaminergic receptor antagonist, ranitidine, also hindered the recognition of the familiar juvenile 24-h later. The latter drug effects were more intense in the CA1 than in the BLA. When infused into the BLA, the β-adrenoreceptor antagonist, timolol, the D1/D5 dopamine receptor agonist, SKF38393, and the H2 histaminergic receptor agonist, ranitidine, also hindered recognition of the familiar juvenile 24-h later. In all cases, the impairment to recognize the familiar juvenile was abolished by the coinfusion of agonist plus antagonist. Clearly, both the CA1 and BLA, probably in that order, play major roles in the consolidation of SRM, but these roles are different in each structure vis-à-vis the involvement of the β-noradrenergic, D1/D5-dopaminergic, and H2-histaminergic receptors therein.social memory | basolateral amygdala | hippocampus | norepinephrine | dopamine

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Low doses of oxytocin facilitate social recognition in rats

Cited by 181 publications

References 22 publications

C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?

C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?

Oxytocin Infusion Reduces Repetitive Behaviors in Adults with Autistic and Asperger's Disorders

Major neurotransmitter systems in dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala control social recognition memory

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