Oxytocin induces social communication by activating arginine-vasopressin V1a receptors and not oxytocin receptors

Abstract

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) and their receptors are very similar in structure. As a result, at least some of the effects of these peptides may be the result of crosstalk between their canonical receptors. The present study investigated this hypothesis by determining whether the induction of flank marking, a form of social communication in Syrian hamsters, by OT is mediated by the OT receptor or the AVP V1a receptor. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of OT or AVP induced flank marking in a dose-dependent manner although the effects of AVP were approximately 100 times greater than those of OT. Injections of highly selective V1a receptor agonists but not OT receptor agonists induced flank marking, and V1a receptor antagonists but not OT receptor antagonists significantly inhibited the ability of OT to induce flank marking. Lastly, injection of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), a peptide that stimulates OT but not AVP release, significantly increased odor-induced flank marking, and these effects were blocked by a V1a receptor antagonist. These data demonstrate that OT induces flank marking by activating AVP V1a and not OT receptors, suggesting that the V1a receptor should be considered to be an OT receptor as well as an AVP receptor.

Oxytocin prevents ethanol actions at δ subunit-containing GABA A receptors and attenuates ethanol-induced motor impairment in rats

“…X. laevis oocytes do not endogenously express OTRs (31), and OTR RNA was not coexpressed into the oocytes because we injected cells with RNA only for the α4, β, and δ GABA A R subunits. This finding is consistent with recent studies demonstrating that a range of OT functional effects rely on receptors other than the OTR (32)(33)(34)(35)(36). OT has, however, been found to alter the expression and function of GABA A Rs, albeit via an OTRmediated mechanism (37)(38)(39).…”

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

“…Besides, other neurochemical systems could be acting in areas of the brain where OXTR density does not change (MA, MPOA), modulating the information received or sent to the AOB, VMH or LSv. It is also possible that OXT acts on V1AR to induce some of its behavioral effects (Song et al, 2014). Maternal behavior is the result of the coordinated action of a large neural network and multiple neurochemical systems (Olazábal et al, 2013), but local and region specific changes in OXTR might be critical to modify the processing of information by this large network.…”

Oxytocin modulates fMRI responses to facial expression in macaques

“…Studies in rodents have found that the effects of OT on some social behavior and cognition (e.g., social communication) are mediated by AVP1A receptors (41,42). AVP1A receptors are densely located in the prefrontal, cingulate, pyriform, and entorhinal cortex, as well as the presubiculum and mammillary bodies, but are also found in the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral septum, hypothalamus, and brainstem (43).…”