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Úbeda F, Wild G. Microchimerism as a source of information on future pregnancies. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231142. [PMID: 37608718 PMCID: PMC10445024 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Small numbers of fetal cells cross the placenta during pregnancy turning mothers into microchimeras. Fetal cells from all previous pregnancies accumulate forming the mother's fetal microchiome. What is significant about microchimeric cells is that they have been linked to health problems including reproductive and autoimmune diseases. Three decades after the discovery of fetal microchimerism, the function of these cells remains a mystery. Here, we contend that the role of microchimeric cells is to inform the fetus about the likelihood that its genes are present in future pregnancies. We argue that, when genes are more likely than average to be in future maternal siblings, fetuses will send a fixed number of cells that will not elicit a maternal immune response against them. However, when genes are less likely to be in future maternal siblings, fetuses will send an ever-increasing number of cells that will elicit an ever-stronger maternal immune response. Our work can explain the observed clinical association between microchimeric cells and pre-eclampsia. However, our work predicts that this association should be stronger in women with a genetically diverse microchiome. If supported by medical tests, our work would allow establishing the likelihood of pregnancy or autoimmune problems advising medical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Úbeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Geoff Wild
- Department of Mathematics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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Disgust sensitivity predicts sociosexuality across cultures. EVOL HUM BEHAV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Crespi B, Procyshyn T, Mokkonen M. Natura Non Facit Saltus: The Adaptive Significance of Arginine Vasopressin in Human Affect, Cognition, and Behavior. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:814230. [PMID: 35586834 PMCID: PMC9108674 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.814230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hormones coordinate internal bodily systems with cognition, affect, and behavior, and thereby influence aspects of social interactions including cooperation, competition, isolation, and loneliness. The adaptive significance and contextuality of oxytocin (OXT) and testosterone (T) have been well-studied, but a unified theory and evolutionary framework for understanding the adaptive functions of arginine vasopressin (AVP) remain undeveloped. We propose and evaluate the hypothesis that AVP mediates adaptive variation in the presence and strength of social and sociosexual salience, attention and behavior specifically in situations that involve combinations of cooperation with conflict or competition. This hypothesis can help to explain the ancestral, original functions of AVP-like peptides, and their continuity with the current roles of AVP, for humans, in male-male competition, male-male reciprocity, male-to-female pair bonding, female-female interactions, social integration, and social attention and anxiety. In this context, social isolation and loneliness may be mediated by reduced abilities or interests in navigation of social opportunities and situations, due in part to low AVP levels or reactivity, and in part to reductions in levels of OXT-mediated social reward.
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Long-term mating positively predicts both reproductive fitness and parental investment. J Biosoc Sci 2021; 54:912-923. [PMID: 34365983 DOI: 10.1017/s0021932021000407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Empirical data on the relations between mating and reproductive success are rare for humans, especially for industrial and post-industrial populations. Existing data show that mating (and especially long-term mating) can be beneficial for fitness, especially that of males. This finding is in line with the hypothesis of sexual selection operating in human populations. The present research expands on previous studies by: 1) analysing additional fitness indicators, including having children with different partners; 2) including parental investment in the analysis as another important marker of sexual selection; 3) analysing several mediators between mating, reproductive fitness and parental investment, i.e. age of first and last reproduction and desired number of children. The data were obtained in 2019 from a sample of parents living in Serbia (N=497). The findings showed that long-term mating (duration of longest partner relationship) was positively related to parental investment and number of offspring and grand-offspring. Furthermore, the link between long-term mating and reproductive success was completely mediated by the age of first reproduction and desired number of children. Short-term mating (number of sexual partners) was marginally positively related to the number of children participants had with different partners and negatively related to parental investment. No sex differences in the link between mating, fitness and parental investment were detected. In general, the signatures of sexual selection were weak in the present data, but those that were detected were in line with sexual selection theory. The present findings provide a deeper insight into the adaptive function of mating and also the mechanism of how mating is beneficial for fitness.
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Grinkov VG, Bauer A, Sternberg H, Wink M. Heritability of the extra-pair mating behaviour of the pied flycatcher in Western Siberia. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9571. [PMID: 32821536 PMCID: PMC7397985 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Males and females take part in extra-pair copulations in most socially monogamous bird species. The mechanisms leading to the frequent occurrence of extra-pair offspring in socially monogamous couples are strongly debated and unresolved, and they are often difficult to distinguish from one another. Most hypotheses explaining the evolution of extra-pair reproduction suggest selective and adaptive scenarios for their origination and persistence. Is extra-pair paternity a heritable trait? We evaluated the heritability of extra-pair paternity in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) nesting in Western Siberia. Estimated heritability was low: depending on the model used, the point estimate of the heritability (mode) varied from 0.005 to 0.11, and the bounds of the 95% confidence interval are [0–0.16] in the widest range. Thus, it seems that extra-pair mating behaviour in the pied flycatchers is a plastic phenotypic mating tactic with a small or no genetic component. Our data can help to understand the evolution of extra-pair mating behaviour in socially monogamous species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir G Grinkov
- Evolutionary Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation.,Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Andreas Bauer
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Trejo-Sánchez I, Pérez-Monter C, Huerta-Pacheco S, Gutiérrez-Ospina G. Male Ejaculatory Endophenotypes: Revealing Internal Inconsistencies of the Concept in Heterosexual Copulating Rats. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:90. [PMID: 32670030 PMCID: PMC7332778 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Distinct manifestations of sexual behavior are conceived as separate phenotypes. Each sexual phenotype is assumed to be associated with a characteristic brain. These notions have justified the phenotyping of heterosexual copulator males based upon their ejaculation's latencies (EL) or frequencies (i.e., cumulative ejaculation number; EN). For instance, men and male rats showing premature, normal or retarded ejaculation are assumed to be distinctive endophenotypes. This concept, nonetheless, contradicts past and recent evidence that supports that sexual behavior is highly variable within each sex, and that the brain sexual functional morphology represents an intricate sexual phenotypic mosaic. Hence, for ejaculatory male endophenotypes to be considered as a valid biological concept, it must show internal consistency at various levels of organization (including genetic architectures), after being challenged by intrinsic and/or extrinsic factors. We then judged the internal consistency of the presumed ejaculatory endophenotypes by assessing whether copulatory behavior and the expression of copulation relevant genes and brain limbic structures are specific to each of the presumed EL- or EN-ejaculatory endophenotypes. To do this, copulating male rats were first phenotyped in groups consistently displaying short, average or long ejaculation latencies or very high, high, average, low or very low EN, based in their copulatory performance. Then, the internal consistency of the presumed EL- or EN-endophenotypes was tested by introducing as covariates of phenotyping other copulatory parameters (e.g., number of intromissions) in addition to EL or EN, or by analyzing the expression levels of genes encoding for estrogen receptor alpha, progesterone receptor, androgen receptor, aromatase, DNA methyl-transferase 3a and DNA methyl-transferase 1 in the amygdala, medial preoptic area, ventromedial hypothalamus and olfactory bulb. We found that even though there were group-level differences in all the variables that were studied, these differences did not add-up to create the presumed EL- or EN-ejaculatory endophenotypes. In fact, the extensive overlapping of copulatory parameters and expression levels of copulation relevant genes in limbic structures across EL- or EN-phenotyped copulating male rats, is not consistent with the hypothesis that distinct ejaculatory endophenotypes exist and that they are associated with specific brain characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itztli Trejo-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Biología de Sistemas, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Unidad de Posgrado, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos Pérez-Monter
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición “Salvador Zubirán”, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sofía Huerta-Pacheco
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Ciencia Forense, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gabriel Gutiérrez-Ospina
- Laboratorio de Biología de Sistemas, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Coordinación de Psicobiología y Neurociencias, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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Jones BC, Hahn AC, DeBruine LM. Ovulation, Sex Hormones, and Women's Mating Psychology. Trends Cogn Sci 2018; 23:51-62. [PMID: 30477896 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Revised: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The dual mating strategy hypothesis proposes that women's preferences for uncommitted sexual relationships with men displaying putative fitness cues increase during the high-fertility phase of the menstrual cycle. Results consistent with this hypothesis are widely cited as evidence that sexual selection has shaped human mating psychology. However, the methods used in most of these studies have recently been extensively criticized. Here we discuss (i) new empirical studies that address these methodological problems and largely report null results and (ii) an alternative model of hormonal regulation of women's mating psychology that can better accommodate these new data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedict C Jones
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK.
| | - Amanda C Hahn
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, USA
| | - Lisa M DeBruine
- Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, UK
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Reid JM, Wolak ME. Is there indirect selection on female extra-pair reproduction through cross-sex genetic correlations with male reproductive fitness? Evol Lett 2018; 2:159-168. [PMID: 30283673 PMCID: PMC6121835 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One key hypothesis explaining the evolution and persistence of polyandry, and resulting female extra‐pair reproduction in socially monogamous systems, is that female propensity for extra‐pair reproduction is positively genetically correlated with male reproductive fitness and consequently experiences positive cross‐sex indirect selection. However, key genetic correlations have rarely been estimated, especially in free‐living populations experiencing natural (co)variation in reproductive strategies and fitness. We used long‐term life‐history and pedigree data from song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) to estimate the cross‐sex genetic correlation between female propensity for extra‐pair reproduction and adult male lifetime reproductive success, and thereby test a key hypothesis regarding mating system evolution. There was substantial additive genetic variance in both traits, providing substantial potential for indirect selection on female reproductive strategy. However, the cross‐sex genetic correlation was estimated to be close to zero. Such small correlations might arise because male reproductive success achieved through extra‐pair paternity was strongly positively genetically correlated with success achieved through within‐pair paternity, implying that the same successful males commonly sire offspring produced by polyandrous and monogamous females. Cross‐sex indirect selection may consequently have limited capacity to drive evolution of female extra‐pair reproduction, or hence underlying polyandry, in systems where multiple routes to paternity success exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane M Reid
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen United Kingdom
| | - Matthew E Wolak
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen United Kingdom.,Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama 36849
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Roach KL, Hershberger PE, Rutherford JN, Molokie RE, Wang ZJ, Wilkie DJ. The AVPR1A Gene and Its Single Nucleotide Polymorphism rs10877969: A Literature Review of Associations with Health Conditions and Pain. Pain Manag Nurs 2018; 19:430-444. [PMID: 29503216 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 01/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain is the quintessential symptom for individuals suffering from sickle cell disease (SCD). Although the degree of suffering and the cost of treatment are staggering, SCD continues to be grossly understudied, including a lack of data for pain-related genes and prevalence of polymorphisms in this population. This lack of data adds to the inadequacy of pain therapy in this population. Pain genetics investigators have recently examined allele frequencies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms from candidate genes in people who have SCD. One of the genes identified was the arginine vasopressin receptor 1A gene (AVPR1A) and its associated single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs10877969. Progress in explaining pain-related polymorphisms associated with SCD can be facilitated by understanding the literature. Aim/Design: The purpose of this literature review was to describe mechanisms of the polymorphic gene AVPR1A and the phenotypic variations associated with its SNPs relative to health conditions and pain. METHODS Published studies were included if the research addressed AVPR1A and was a full article in a peer-reviewed journal, in the English language, a human or animal study, and published 2009 to present. Abstracts were included if they were in English and provided information not found in a full article. RESULTS The results of this review revealed that AVPR1A is associated with behavioral phenotypes, which include pair bonding, autism spectrum disorder, musical aptitude, infidelity, altruism, monogamy, mating, substance abuse, and alcohol preference. In addition, there were associations with pain, stress pain by sex, and sickle cell pain. CONCLUSION Summary of this literature could provide insights into future pain research of this SNP in people with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keesha L Roach
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
| | - Patricia E Hershberger
- Department of Health Systems Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Julienne N Rutherford
- Department of Women, Child, and Family Health Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Robert E Molokie
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Division of Hematology/Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Jessie Brown Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Zaijie Jim Wang
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Diana J Wilkie
- Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, Florida
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Holmqvist Jämsen S, Johansson A, Westberg L, Santtila P, von der Pahlen B, Simberg S. Associations Between Vocal Symptoms and Genetic Variants in the Oxytocin Receptor and Arginine Vasopressin 1A Receptor Gene. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2017; 60:1843-1854. [PMID: 28687839 DOI: 10.1044/2016_jslhr-s-16-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Oxytocin and arginine vasopressin are associated with different aspects of the stress response. As stress is regarded as a risk factor for vocal symptoms, we wanted to explore the association between the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and arginine vasopressin 1A receptor gene (AVPR1A) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and vocal symptoms. We also wanted to explore whether such effects might be mediated by cortisol because oxytocin and vasopressin are associated with cortisol levels. METHOD A population-based sample (N = 657) of Finnish twins (born 1961-1989) completed a web questionnaire on the occurrence of vocal symptoms. A total of 170 participants submitted saliva samples for hormone analysis. A total of 20 OXTR and AVPR1A SNPs were analyzed. RESULTS Three OXTR polymorphisms (rs2270465, rs2268493, rs7632287) and 2 AVPR1A polymorphisms (rs1587097, rs1042615) showed nominal effects (p < .05) on vocal symptoms, of which 1 (rs1587097) remained significant after correcting for multiple testing (p = .003). We found potential mediation of the effect of the OXTR rs2268493 polymorphism on vocal symptoms through levels of cortisol. CONCLUSIONS The associations between variants of OXTR and AVPR1A and vocal symptoms indicate that oxytocin and vasopressin might influence vocal symptoms. The effect of oxytocin seems to be partly mediated through cortisol actions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ada Johansson
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, FinlandDepartment of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Turku, FinlandDepartment of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lars Westberg
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pekka Santtila
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Susanna Simberg
- Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, FinlandDepartment of Special Needs Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo, Norway
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Semenyna SW, Belu CF, Vasey PL, Lynne Honey P. Not Straight and Not Straightforward: the Relationships Between Sexual Orientation, Sociosexuality, and Dark Triad Traits in Women. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s40806-017-0111-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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MHC Homozygosity Is Associated with Fast Sexual Strategies in Women. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-016-0057-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Brandon M. Monogamy and Nonmonogamy: Evolutionary Considerations and Treatment Challenges. Sex Med Rev 2016; 4:343-352. [PMID: 27872028 DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2016.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few topics generate such controversy and emotional reactivity as the nature of human mating behavior. Unfortunately, and potentially to the detriment of good patient care, sexual medicine practitioners have largely avoided this matter. An understanding of the scientific literature can empower practitioners to more effectively confront the inevitable monogamy and nonmonogamy challenges present in research and clinical practice. AIM To review and summarize relevant scientific literature as a context to evaluate the more common myths and misunderstanding relating to the practice of monogamy and nonmonogamy in humans. This review also is intended to promote a discussion of the ways human mating strategies may impact sexual function and dysfunction for the individual and couple. METHODS A review of English written peer-reviewed evolutionary, anthropological, neuropsychiatric, zoological research, and other scholarly texts was conducted. Work published between 2000 and 2016 concentrating on evolutionary theory, long- and short-term mating strategies in primates and most specifically in humans, and consensual nonmonogamy was highlighted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Main outcomes included a brief explanation of evolutionary theory and a review of relevant literature regarding long- and short-term mating behaviors and consensual nonmonogamy. RESULTS Serial sexual and social monogamy is the norm for humans. Across time and cultures, humans have adapted both long- and short-term mating strategies that are used flexibly, and sometimes simultaneously, based on unique personal, social, and environmental circumstances. CONCLUSION Human mating behavior is individualistic, the result of numerous biopsychosocial influences. The clinician cannot assume that an individual presenting as a patient maintains a monogamy-valued view of his or her intimate relationship. Patients may experience conflict between the cultural monogamous ideal and their actual sexual behaviors. This conflict may be critical in understanding a patient's sexual concerns and in treatment planning. Awareness of these issues will aid the practitioner in sexual medicine.
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