Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior: From Neural Circuits to Clinical Opportunities

Abstract

Oxytocin and vasopressin are peptide hormones secreted from the pituitary that are well known for their peripheral endocrine effects on childbirth/nursing and blood pressure/urine concentration, respectively. However, both peptides are also released in the brain, where they modulate several aspects of social behaviors. Oxytocin promotes maternal nurturing and bonding, enhances social reward, and increases the salience of social stimuli. Vasopressin modulates social communication, social investigation, territorial behavior, and aggression, predominantly in males. Both peptides facilitate social memory and pair bonding behaviors in monogamous species. Here we review the latest research delineating the neural circuitry of the brain oxytocin and vasopressin systems and summarize recent investigations into the circuit-based mechanisms modulating social behaviors. We highlight research using modern molecular genetic technologies to map, monitor activity of, or manipulate neuropeptide circuits. Species diversity in oxytocin and vasopressin effects on social behaviors are also discussed. We conclude with a discussion of the translational implications of oxytocin and vasopressin for improving social functioning in disorders with social impairments, such as autism spectrum disorder.

Mitigating the impact of adolescence isolation on the development of social anxiety: A potential role for oxytocin

“…Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is primarily synthesized in the hypothalamus and has been implicated in facilitating social interactions ( Love, 2018 ). While oxytocin is perhaps best known for its roles in childbirth, nursing, and pair-bonding, it is also involved in a myriad of other behaviors such as social cognition and perception, mood, and harm avoidance ( Bartz and Hollander, 2006 ; Love, 2014 , 2018 ; Yoon and Kim, 2020 ; Rigney et al, 2022 ). Similar to humans, oxytocin in rodents is typically associated with pro-social behavior.…”

Modulation of social behavior by distinct vasopressin sources

“…The neuropeptide arginine-vasopressin (AVP) has many peripheral functions, such as maintenance of blood pressure and antidiuresis (1,2). In addition to these well-established physiological effects, AVP (and its non-mammalian analogue vasotocin) has long been implicated in the regulation of social behavior and communication in vertebrates, including humans (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). AVP acts on various brain regions to regulate social recognition (9)(10)(11), communication (3,12,13), aggression (14), maternal care (15), pair bonding (16), and cognition (17).…”

“…In humans, AVP has been implicated in psychopathology, as variations in the vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) gene and AVP serum levels are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) ( 20 , 21 ). As such, there has been increasing interest in AVP mechanisms that regulate social behavior, thus opening up translational opportunities ( 8 ).…”

Social affective behaviors among female rats involve the basolateral amygdala and insular cortex

“…Indeed, interaction with stressed conspecifics increases activity in the insula and pharmacological, optogenetic, and chemogenetic inhibition all abolish preference behaviors (17)(18)(19)(20)33). Importantly, oxytocin and corticotropin releasing factor, peptides implicated in social behavior (34) and stress responses (35), respectively, were found to be necessary modulators of insular synaptic physiology and the corresponding receptors necessary for social affective preference behaviors (17,33). Subsequently, numerous other reports have shown important roles for the insula in social affective behaviors (36)(37)(38) in males.…”