Oxytocin and Vasopressin: <i>Social Neuropeptides</i>

Stein, Dan J.

doi:10.1017/s1092852900023841

Cited by 23 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…As to OT role besides reproduction, it also refers to its neurobiology in psychology, social behavior, recognition and so on [16]. It seems to exist a common neurobiological mechanism which involves dopamine, morphine and other endogenous signalling molecules, e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between neuropeptide oxytocin and male infertility

Lui

Cui

Wang

et al. 2010

J Assist Reprod Genet

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between neuropeptide oxytocin and male infertility

Lui

Cui

Wang

et al. 2010

J Assist Reprod Genet

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“…2009). Both vasopressin and oxytocin are now known as `social neuropetides', regulating a multitude of prosocial behaviors (Rossignol 2009, Stein 2009). Although further investigations and stronger evidence are required, these reports open new avenues for research in epigenetic regulation of human behavior (Gurrieri & Neri 2009).…”

Section: Epigenetic Regulation Of Peptide Hormone Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epigenetics meets endocrinology

Zhang¹,

Ho²

2010

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology

229

123

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Although genetics determines endocrine phenotypes, it cannot fully explain the great variability and reversibility of the system in response to environmental changes. Evidence now suggests that epigenetics, i.e. heritable but reversible changes in gene function without changes in nucleotide sequence, links genetics and environment in shaping endocrine function. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA, partition the genome into active and inactive domains based on endogenous and exogenous environmental changes and developmental stages, creating phenotype plasticity that can explain interindividual and population endocrine variability. We will review the current understanding of epigenetics in endocrinology, specifically, the regulation by epigenetics of the three levels of hormone action (synthesis and release, circulating and target tissue levels, and target-organ responsiveness) and the epigenetic action of endocrine disruptors. We will also discuss the impacts of hormones on epigenetics. We propose a three-dimensional model (genetics, environment, and developmental stage) to explain the phenomena related to progressive changes in endocrine functions with age, the early origin of endocrine disorders, phenotype discordance between monozygotic twins, rapid shifts in disease patterns among populations experiencing major lifestyle changes such as immigration, and the many endocrine disruptions in contemporary life. We emphasize that the key for understanding epigenetics in endocrinology is the identification, through advanced high-throughput screening technologies, of plasticity genes or loci that respond directly to a specific environmental stimulus. Investigations to determine whether epigenetic changes induced by today's lifestyles or environmental `exposures' can be inherited and are reversible should open doors for applying epigenetics to the prevention and treatment of endocrine disorders.

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“…For example, OT promotes pair-bonding between males and females in monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) (6, 7) but can also increase aggression (i.e., mate-guarding behavior) and decrease social interaction among females after brief exposure to a male (8). In humans, OT also influences more complex forms of social behavior and cognition (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). For example, inhaled OT enhances trusting behavior toward other individuals in economic games, potentially by suppressing aversion to betrayal risk (15), and promotes cooperation within groups (16).…”

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confidence: 99%

Inhaled oxytocin amplifies both vicarious reinforcement and self reinforcement in rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )

Chang

Barter

Ebitz

et al. 2012

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

232

271

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People attend not only to their own experiences, but also to the experiences of those around them. Such social awareness profoundly influences human behavior by enabling observational learning, as well as by motivating cooperation, charity, empathy, and spite. Oxytocin (OT), a neurosecretory hormone synthesized by hypothalamic neurons in the mammalian brain, can enhance affiliation or boost exclusion in different species in distinct contexts, belying any simple mechanistic neural model. Here we show that inhaled OT penetrates the CNS and subsequently enhances the sensitivity of rhesus macaques to rewards occurring to others as well as themselves. Roughly 2 h after inhaling OT, monkeys increased the frequency of prosocial choices associated with reward to another monkey when the alternative was to reward no one. OT also increased attention to the recipient monkey as well as the time it took to render such a decision. In contrast, within the first 2 h following inhalation, OT increased selfish choices associated with delivery of reward to self over a reward to the other monkey, without affecting attention or decision latency. Despite the differences in species typical social behavior, exogenous, inhaled OT causally promotes social donation behavior in rhesus monkeys, as it does in more egalitarian and monogamous ones, like prairie voles and humans, when there is no perceived cost to self. These findings potentially implicate shared neural mechanisms. O xytocin (OT) (1) is a mammalian neurosecretory hormone, synthesized by hypothalamic neurons, which regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (2). The most well-understood role of OT in mammals is in female reproduction, with peripheral OT influencing parturition and lactation (3), and central OT affecting mother-offspring bonding and recognition (4, 5). More recently, OT has been found to influence nonparental social behavior in a species-specific manner. For example, OT promotes pair-bonding between males and females in monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) (6, 7) but can also increase aggression (i.e., mate-guarding behavior) and decrease social interaction among females after brief exposure to a male (8). In humans, OT also influences more complex forms of social behavior and cognition (9-14). For example, inhaled OT enhances trusting behavior toward other individuals in economic games, potentially by suppressing aversion to betrayal risk (15), and promotes cooperation within groups (16). However, inhaled OT also provokes cultural and racial biases (17). OT inhalation also enhances sensitivity to the experiences of others by promoting vicarious reward and empathic pain (10,18,19). Recently, OT-mediated processes have been implicated in disorders attended by dysfunctional social behavior, including autism, fragile X syndrome, and schizophrenia (19)(20)(21)(22). Notably, OT treatment improves social skills in individuals with autism (21, 23, 24), a spectrum of disorders with marked deficits in sensitivity to what happens to others, including impai...

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Oxytocin and Vasopressin: Social Neuropeptides

Cited by 23 publications

References 53 publications

Association between neuropeptide oxytocin and male infertility

Association between neuropeptide oxytocin and male infertility

Epigenetics meets endocrinology

Inhaled oxytocin amplifies both vicarious reinforcement and self reinforcement in rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta )

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