1
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Fricker BA, Jiang J, Esquilin-Rodriguez CJ, Dowling ML, Kelly AM. Hypothalamic vasopressin neural densities are higher in male Mongolian gerbils after separation from a pair bond partner and may facilitate behavior to form a new bond. Behav Brain Res 2024; 473:115181. [PMID: 39117148 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Although pair bonding has been studied for several decades, only somewhat recently have researchers began studying the neural consequences of separation from a pair bond partner. Here we examined the impact of partner separation on the socially monogamous Mongolian gerbil. Using a within-subjects design, we assessed nonsocial, nonreproductive, and reproductive behavior in male gerbils pre- and post- either 4 weeks of cohabitation with or separation from a pair bond partner. We then conducted an immediate early gene study to examine the influence of partner separation on hypothalamic oxytocin and vasopressin neural responses to interactions with a novel, opposite-sex conspecific.
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Affiliation(s)
- B A Fricker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - J Jiang
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | | | - M L Dowling
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - A M Kelly
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA.
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2
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Barton S, Zovko A, Müller C, Krabichler Q, Schulze J, Wagner S, Grinevich V, Shamay-Tsoory S, Hurlemann R. A translational neuroscience perspective on loneliness: Narrative review focusing on social interaction, illness and oxytocin. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 163:105734. [PMID: 38796125 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
This review addresses key findings on loneliness from the social, neurobiological and clinical fields. From a translational perspective, results from studies in humans and animals are included, with a focus on social interaction, mental and physical illness and the role of oxytocin in loneliness. In terms of social interactions, lonely individuals tend to exhibit a range of abnormal behaviors based on dysfunctional social cognitions that make it difficult for them to form meaningful relationships. Neurobiologically, a link has been established between loneliness and the hypothalamic peptide hormone oxytocin. Since social interactions and especially social touch regulate oxytocin signaling, lonely individuals may have an oxytocin imbalance, which in turn affects their health and well-being. Clinically, loneliness is a predictor of physical and mental illness and leads to increased morbidity and mortality. There is evidence that psychopathology is both a cause and a consequence of loneliness. The final section of this review summarizes the findings from social, neurobiological and clinical perspectives to present a new model of the complex construct of loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Barton
- Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Ana Zovko
- Dept. of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, Mannheim 68159, Germany
| | - Christina Müller
- Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Quirin Krabichler
- Dept. of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, Mannheim 68159, Germany
| | - Janna Schulze
- Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Dep. of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Dept. of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, J5, Mannheim 68159, Germany
| | - Simone Shamay-Tsoory
- Dept. of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel
| | - René Hurlemann
- Dept. of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany.
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3
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Ramos EN, Jiron GM, Danoff JS, Anderson Z, Carter CS, Perkeybile AM, Connelly JJ, Erisir A. The central oxytocinergic system of the prairie vole. Brain Struct Funct 2024:10.1007/s00429-024-02832-1. [PMID: 39042140 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02832-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) is a peptide hormone and a neuropeptide that regulates various peripheral physiological processes and modulates behavioral responses in the central nervous system. While the humoral release occurs from the axons arriving at the median eminence, the neuropeptide is also released from oxytocinergic cell axons in various brain structures that contain its receptor, and from their dendrites in hypothalamic nuclei and potentially into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Understanding oxytocin's complex functions requires the knowledge on patterns of oxytocinergic projections in relationship to its receptor (OXTR). This study provides the first comprehensive examination of the oxytocinergic system in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), an animal exhibiting social behaviors that mirror human social behaviors linked to oxytocinergic functioning. Using light and electron microscopy, we characterized the neuroanatomy of the oxytocinergic system in this species. OXT+ cell bodies were found primarily in the hypothalamus, and axons were densest in subcortical regions. Examination of the OXT+ fibers and their relationship to oxytocin receptor transcripts (Oxtr) revealed that except for some subcortical structures, the presence of axons was not correlated with the amount of Oxtr across the brain. Of particular interest, the cerebral cortex that had high expression of Oxtr transcripts contained little to no fibers. Electron microscopy is used to quantify dense cored vesicles (DCV) in OXT+ axons and to identify potential axonal release sites. The ependymal cells that line the ventricles were frequently permissive of DCV-containing OXT+ dendrites reaching the third ventricle. Our results highlight a mechanism in which oxytocin is released directly into the ventricles and circulates throughout the ventricular system, may serve as the primary source for oxytocin that binds to OXTR in the cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- E N Ramos
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - G M Jiron
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - J S Danoff
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Z Anderson
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - C S Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - A M Perkeybile
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - J J Connelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - A Erisir
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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4
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Johnson MC, Zweig JA, Zhang Y, Nunez L, Ryabinina OP, Hibert M, Ryabinin AE. Effects of oxytocin receptor agonism on acquisition and expression of pair bonding in male prairie voles. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:286. [PMID: 39009600 PMCID: PMC11251033 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02993-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
There is much interest in targeting the activity in the oxytocin system to regulate social bonding. However, studies with exogenous administration of oxytocin face the caveats of its low stability, poor brain permeability and insufficient receptor specificity. The use of a small-molecule oxytocin receptor-specific agonist could overcome these caveats. Prior to testing the potential effects of a brain-penetrant oxytocin receptor agonist in clinical settings, it is important to assess how such an agonist would affect social bonds in animal models. The facultatively monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), capable of forming long-term social attachments between adult individuals, are an ideal rodent model for such testing. Therefore, in a series of experiments we investigated the effects of the recently developed oxytocin receptor-specific agonist LIT-001 on the acquisition and expression of partner preference, a well-established model of pair bonding, in prairie voles. LIT-001 (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), as expected, facilitated the acquisition of partner preference when administered prior to a 4hr cohabitation. In contrast, while animals injected with vehicle after the 4hr cohabitation exhibited significant partner preference, animals that were injected with LIT-001 did not show such partner preference. This result suggests that OXTR activation during expression of pair bonding can inhibit partner preference. The difference in effects of LIT-001 on acquisition versus expression was not due to basal differences in partner preference between the experiments, as LIT-001 had no significant effects on expression of partner preference if administered following a shorter (2hr-long) cohabitation. Instead, this difference agrees with the hypothesis that the activation of oxytocin receptors acts as a signal of presence of a social partner. Our results indicate that the effects of pharmacological activation of oxytocin receptors crucially depend on the phase of social attachments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Johnson
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jonathan A Zweig
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Yangmiao Zhang
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Louis Nunez
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Olga P Ryabinina
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Marcel Hibert
- Laboratoire d'Innovation Thérapeutique, Faculté de Pharmacie, UMR7200 CNRS/Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, IL, France
| | - Andrey E Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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5
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Ryabinin A, Johnson M, Zweig J, Zhang Y, Nunez L, Ryabinina O, Hibert M. Effects of Oxytocin Receptor Agonism on Acquisition and Expression of Pair Bonding in Male Prairie Voles. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4351761. [PMID: 38798348 PMCID: PMC11118693 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4351761/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
There is much interest in targeting the activity in the oxytocin system to regulate social bonding. However, studies with exogenous administration of oxytocin face the caveats of its low stability, poor brain permeability and insufficient receptor specificity. The use of a small-molecule oxytocin receptor-specific agonist could overcome these caveats. Prior to testing the potential effects of a brain-penetrant oxytocin receptor agonist in clinical settings, it is important to assess how such an agonist would affect social bonds in animal models. The facultatively monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), capable of forming long-term social attachments between adult individuals, are an ideal rodent model for such testing. Therefore, in a series of experiments we investigated the effects of the recently developed oxytocin receptor-specific agonist LIT-001 on the acquisition and expression of partner preference, a well-established model of pair bonding, in prairie voles. LIT-001 (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), as expected, facilitated the acquisition of partner preference when administered prior to a 4-hour cohabitation. In contrast, while animals injected with vehicle after the 4-hour cohabitation exhibited significant partner preference, animals that were injected with LIT-001 did not show such partner preference. This result suggests that OXTR activation during expression of pair bonding can inhibit partner preference. The difference in effects of LIT-001 on acquisition versus expression was not due to basal differences in partner preference between the experiments, as LIT-001 had no significant effects on expression of partner preference if administered following a shorter (2 hour-long) cohabitation. Instead, this difference agrees with the hypothesis that the activation of oxytocin receptors acts as a signal of presence of a social partner. Our results indicate that the effects of pharmacological activation of oxytocin receptors crucially depend on the phase of social attachments.
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6
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Sanson A, Krieg P, Schramm MM, Kellner K, Maloumby R, Klampfl SM, Brunton PJ, Bosch OJ. CRF binding protein activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus is essential for stress adaptations and normal maternal behaviour in lactating rats. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100631. [PMID: 38601362 PMCID: PMC11004997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
To ensure the unrestricted expression of maternal behaviour peripartum, activity of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system needs to be minimised. CRF binding protein (CRF-BP) might be crucial for this adaptation, as its primary function is to sequester freely available CRF and urocortin1, thereby dampening CRF receptor (CRF-R) signalling. So far, the role of CRF-BP in the maternal brain has barely been studied, and a potential role in curtailing activation of the stress axis is unknown. We studied gene expression for CRF-BP and both CRF-R within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. In lactating rats, Crh-bp expression in the parvocellular PVN was significantly higher and Crh-r1 expression in the PVN significantly lower compared to virgin rats. Acute CRF-BP inhibition in the PVN with infusion of CRF(6-33) increased basal plasma corticosterone concentrations under unstressed conditions in dams. Furthermore, while acute intra-PVN infusion of CRF increased corticosterone secretion in virgin rats, it was ineffective in vehicle (VEH)-pre-treated lactating rats, probably due to a buffering effect of CRF-BP. Indeed, pre-treatment with CRF(6-33) reinstated a corticosterone response to CRF in lactating rats, highlighting the critical role of CRF-BP in maintaining attenuated stress reactivity in lactation. To our knowledge, this is the first study linking hypothalamic CRF-BP activity to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis regulation in lactation. In terms of behaviour, acute CRF-BP inhibition in the PVN under non-stress conditions reduced blanket nursing 60 min and licking/grooming 90 min after infusion compared to VEH-treated rats, while increasing maternal aggression towards an intruder. Lastly, chronic intra-PVN inhibition of CRF-BP strongly reduced maternal aggression, with modest effects on maternal motivation and care. Taken together, intact activity of the CRF-BP in the PVN during the postpartum period is essential for the dampened responsiveness of the stress axis, as well as for the full expression of appropriate maternal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Sanson
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Paula Krieg
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Milena M. Schramm
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Kellner
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Rodrigue Maloumby
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie M. Klampfl
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Paula J. Brunton
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Oliver J. Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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7
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Sadino JM, Donaldson ZR. Prairie voles as a model for adaptive reward remodeling following loss of a bonded partner. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2024; 1535:20-30. [PMID: 38594916 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15134] [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] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Loss of a loved one is a painful event that substantially elevates the risk for physical and mental illness and impaired daily function. Socially monogamous prairie voles are laboratory-amenable rodents that form life-long pair bonds and exhibit distress upon partner separation, mirroring phenotypes seen in humans. These attributes make voles an excellent model for studying the biology of loss. In this review, we highlight parallels between humans and prairie voles, focusing on reward system engagement during pair bonding and loss. As yearning is a unique feature that differentiates loss from other negative mental states, we posit a model in which the homeostatic reward mechanisms that help to maintain bonds are disrupted upon loss, resulting in yearning and other negative impacts. Finally, we synthesize studies in humans and voles that delineate the remodeling of reward systems during loss adaptation. The stalling of these processes likely contributes to prolonged grief disorder, a diagnosis recently added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Sadino
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Zoe R Donaldson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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8
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Bottemanne H, English I, Bottemanne L, Torres P, Beauquier B, Joly L. From love to pain: is oxytocin the key to grief complications? L'ENCEPHALE 2024; 50:85-90. [PMID: 37993287 DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2023.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
While most adults confronted with the death of a loved one manage to grieve, about 10-20% of individuals develop complicated grief, characterized by persistent distress and impaired social skills, or pathological grief, defined by the onset or decompensation of a psychiatric disorder. Little is known about the biological causes of these grief complications. Recent work suggests that oxytocin, a major neuroendocrine hormone regulating many neurocognitive mechanisms, may be involved in this process. Oxytocin is widely studied and well known for its impact on the mother-child bond and hormonal and brain systems related to attachment and social interactions. In this article, we propose a neurocognitive model of grief complications based on existing data on the role of oxytocin in interpersonal attachment and its impact on brain activity. We suggest that complicated grief is associated with dysfunctional cerebral oxytocinergic signaling and persistent hyperactivation of the nucleus accumbens. This mechanism is involved in limiting the reduction of interpersonal attachment to the deceased during acute phases and in searching for new interpersonal relationships during the recovery phase. We show how the exploration of cerebral oxytocinergic signaling would improve the understanding of physiological grief mechanisms in the general population and could allow the development of new therapeutic perspectives against the complications of grief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Bottemanne
- Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau (ICM), UMR 7225/UMRS 1127, CNRS, Inserm, Paris, France; Department of Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, DMU Neuroscience, AP-HP, Sorbonne University, Paris, France; Department of Philosophy, SND Research Unit, UMR 8011, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.
| | - Isolde English
- Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau (ICM), UMR 7225/UMRS 1127, CNRS, Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Laure Bottemanne
- Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau (ICM), UMR 7225/UMRS 1127, CNRS, Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Paloma Torres
- Department of Psychiatry, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, DMU Neuroscience, AP-HP, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | | | - Lucie Joly
- Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau (ICM), UMR 7225/UMRS 1127, CNRS, Inserm, Paris, France; Department of Psychiatry, Saint-Antoine Hospital, DMU Neuroscience, AP-HP, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
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9
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Naderi A, Liles K, Burns T, Chavez B, Huynh-Dam KT, Kiaris H. Pair bonding and disruption impact lung transcriptome in monogamous Peromyscus californicus. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:789. [PMID: 38114920 PMCID: PMC10729396 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09873-6] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Social interactions affect physiological and pathological processes, yet their direct impact in peripheral tissues remains elusive. Recently we showed that disruption of pair bonds in monogamous Peromyscus californicus promotes lung tumorigenesis, pointing to a direct effect of bonding status in the periphery (Naderi et al., 2021). Here we show that lung transcriptomes of tumor-free Peromyscus are altered in a manner that depends on pair bonding and superseding the impact of genetic relevance between siblings. Pathways affected involve response to hypoxia and heart development. These effects are consistent with the profile of the serum proteome of bonded and bond-disrupted Peromyscus and were extended to lung cancer cells cultured in vitro, with sera from animals that differ in bonding experiences. In this setting, the species' origin of serum (deer mouse vs FBS) is the most potent discriminator of RNA expression profiles, followed by bonding status. By analyzing the transcriptomes of lung cancer cells exposed to deer mouse sera, an expression signature was developed that discriminates cells according to the history of social interactions and possesses prognostic significance when applied to primary human lung cancers. The results suggest that present and past social experiences modulate the expression profile of peripheral tissues such as the lungs, in a manner that impacts physiological processes and may affect disease outcomes. Furthermore, they show that besides the direct effects of the hormones that regulate bonding behavior, physiological changes influencing oxygen metabolism may contribute to the adverse effects of bond disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Naderi
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - K Liles
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC, USA
| | - T Burns
- Department of Biology, Claflin University, Orangeburg, SC, USA
| | - B Chavez
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - K-T Huynh-Dam
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - H Kiaris
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
- Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
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10
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Menon R, Neumann ID. Detection, processing and reinforcement of social cues: regulation by the oxytocin system. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:761-777. [PMID: 37891399 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00759-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Many social behaviours are evolutionarily conserved and are essential for the healthy development of an individual. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is crucial for the fine-tuned regulation of social interactions in mammals. The advent and application of state-of-the-art methodological approaches that allow the activity of neuronal circuits involving OXT to be monitored and functionally manipulated in laboratory mammals have deepened our understanding of the roles of OXT in these behaviours. In this Review, we discuss how OXT promotes the sensory detection and evaluation of social cues, the subsequent approach and display of social behaviour, and the rewarding consequences of social interactions in selected reproductive and non-reproductive social behaviours. Social stressors - such as social isolation, exposure to social defeat or social trauma, and partner loss - are often paralleled by maladaptations of the OXT system, and restoring OXT system functioning can reinstate socio-emotional allostasis. Thus, the OXT system acts as a dynamic mediator of appropriate behavioural adaptations to environmental challenges by enhancing and reinforcing social salience and buffering social stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Menon
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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11
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Vitale EM, Kirckof A, Smith AS. Partner-seeking and limbic dopamine system are enhanced following social loss in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2023; 22:e12861. [PMID: 37519035 PMCID: PMC10733564 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Death of a loved one is recognized as one of life's greatest stresses, and 10%-20% of bereaved individuals will experience a complicated or prolonged grieving period that is characterized by intense yearning for the deceased. The monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) is a rodent species that forms pair bonds between breeding partners and has been used to study the neurobiology of social behaviors and isolation. Male prairie voles do not display distress after isolation from a familiar, same-sex conspecific; however, separation from a bonded female partner increases emotional, stress-related, and proximity-seeking behaviors. Here, we tested the investigatory response of male voles to partner odor during a period of social loss. We found that males who lost their partner spent significantly more time investigating partner odor but not non-partner social odor or food odor. Bachelor males and males in intact pairings did not respond uniquely to any odor. Furthermore, we examined dopamine (DA) receptor mRNA expression in the anterior insula cortex (aIC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and anterior cingulate (ACC), regions with higher activation in grieving humans. While we found some effects of relationship type on DRD1 and DRD2 expression in some of these regions, loss of a high-quality opposite-sex relationship had a significant effect on DA receptor expression, with pair-bonded/loss males having higher expression in the aIC and ACC compared with pair-bonded/intact and nonbonded/loss males. Together, these data suggest that both relationship type and relationship quality affect reunion-seeking behavior and motivational neurocircuits following social loss of a bonded partner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika M. Vitale
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of PharmacyUniversity of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
| | - Adrianna Kirckof
- Program in Neuroscience, School of PharmacyUniversity of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
| | - Adam S. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of PharmacyUniversity of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
- Program in Neuroscience, School of PharmacyUniversity of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
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12
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Neumann ID. Monitoring oxytocin signaling in the brain: More than a love story. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2023; 16:100206. [PMID: 38108033 PMCID: PMC10724740 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
More than any other neuropeptide, oxytocin (OXT) is attracting the attention of neurobiologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, evolutionary biologists and even economists. It is often called a "love hormone" due to its many prosocial functions described in vertebrates including mammals and humans, especially its ability to support "bonding behaviour". Oxytocin plays an important role in female reproduction, as it promotes labour during parturition, enables milk ejection in lactation and is essential for related reproductive behaviours. Therefore, it particularly attracts the interest of many female researchers. In this short narrative review I was invited to provide a personal overview on my scientific journey closely linked to my research on the brain OXT system and the adventures associated with starting my research career behind the Iron Curtain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga D. Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Centre of Neurosciences, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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13
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Berendzen KM, Bales KL, Manoli DS. Attachment across the lifespan: Examining the intersection of pair bonding neurobiology and healthy aging. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105339. [PMID: 37536581 PMCID: PMC11073483 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that intact social bonds are protective against age-related morbidity, while bond disruption and social isolation increase the risk for multiple age-related diseases. Social attachments, the enduring, selective bonds formed between individuals, are thus essential to human health. Socially monogamous species like the prairie vole (M. ochrogaster) form long-term pair bonds, allowing us to investigate the mechanisms underlying attachment and the poorly understood connection between social bonds and health. In this review, we explore several potential areas of focus emerging from data in humans and other species associating attachment and healthy aging, and evidence from prairie voles that may clarify this link. We examine gaps in our understanding of social cognition and pair bond behavior. Finally, we discuss physiologic pathways related to pair bonding that promote resilience to the processes of aging and age-related disease. Advances in the development of molecular genetic tools in monogamous species will allow us to bridge the mechanistic gaps presented and identify conserved research and therapeutic targets relevant to human health and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M. Berendzen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
| | - Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis; Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Devanand S. Manoli
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA 95158, USA
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14
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Schimmer J, Patwell R, Küppers S, Grinevich V. The Relationship Between Oxytocin and Alcohol Dependence. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37697074 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_444] [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: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is well known for its prosocial, anxiolytic, and ameliorating effects on various psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this chapter, we will first introduce the basic neurophysiology of the OT system and its interaction with other neuromodulatory and neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Next, we provide an overview over the current state of research examining the effects of acute and chronic alcohol exposure on the OT system as well as the effects of OT system manipulation on alcohol-related behaviors in rodents and humans. In rodent models of AUD, OT has been repeatedly shown to reduce ethanol consumption, particularly in models of acute alcohol exposure. In humans however, the results of OT administration on alcohol-related behaviors are promising but not yet conclusive. Therefore, we further discuss several physiological and methodological limitations to the effective application of OT in the clinic and how they may be mitigated by the application of synthetic OT receptor (OTR) agonists. Finally, we discuss the potential efficacy of cutting-edge pharmacology and gene therapies designed to specifically enhance endogenous OT release and thereby rescue deficient expression of OT in the brains of patients with severe forms of AUD and other incurable mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Schimmer
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ryan Patwell
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie Küppers
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
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15
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Arizmendi BJ, Seeley SH, Allen JJ, Killgore WDS, Andrews-Hanna J, Weihs K, O’Connor MF. A pull to be close: The differentiating effects of oxytocin and grief stimulus type on approach behavior in complicated grief. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2023; 7:100339. [PMID: 37719065 PMCID: PMC10501263 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2023.100339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Theoretical models of complicated grief (CG) suggest that maladaptive motivational tendencies (e.g., perseverative proximity-seeking of the deceased; excessive avoidance of reminders) interfere with a person's ability to recover from their loved one's death. Due in part to conflicting evidence, little mechanistic understanding of how these behaviors develop in grief exists. We sought to (1) identify behavioral differences between CG and non-CG groups based on approach/avoidance bias for grief-, deceased-, and social-related stimuli, and (2) test the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin in shaping approach/avoidance bias. Widowed older adults with (n = 17) and without (n = 22) CG completed an approach/avoidance task measuring implicit bias for both personalized and non-specific grief-related stimuli (among other stimuli). In a double-blinded, randomized, counterbalanced design, each participant attended both an intranasal oxytocin session and a placebo session. Aims were to (1) identify differential effects of CG and stimulus type on implicit approach/avoidance bias [placebo session], and (2) investigate interactive effects of CG, stimulus type, and oxytocin vs. placebo on approach/avoidance bias [both sessions]. In the placebo session, participants in the non-CG group demonstrated an approach bias across all stimuli. Intranasal oxytocin had an overall slowing effect on the CG group's response times. Further, oxytocin decreased avoidance bias in response to photos of the deceased spouse in the CG group only. Findings support the hypothesis that oxytocin has a differential effect on motivational tendency in CG compared to non-CG, strengthening evidence for its role in CG. Findings also emphasize the need to consider differences in personalized vs. generic stimuli when designing grief-relevant tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J. Arizmendi
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Saren H. Seeley
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
| | - John J.B. Allen
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - Karen Weihs
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Sato M, Nakai N, Fujima S, Choe KY, Takumi T. Social circuits and their dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3194-3206. [PMID: 37612363 PMCID: PMC10618103 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02201-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Social behaviors, how individuals act cooperatively and competitively with conspecifics, are widely seen across species. Rodents display various social behaviors, and many different behavioral paradigms have been used for investigating their neural circuit bases. Social behavior is highly vulnerable to brain network dysfunction caused by neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Studying mouse models of ASD provides a promising avenue toward elucidating mechanisms of abnormal social behavior and potential therapeutic targets for treatment. In this review, we outline recent progress and key findings on neural circuit mechanisms underlying social behavior, with particular emphasis on rodent studies that monitor and manipulate the activity of specific circuits using modern systems neuroscience approaches. Social behavior is mediated by a distributed brain-wide network among major cortical (e.g., medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior cingulate cortex, and insular cortex (IC)) and subcortical (e.g., nucleus accumbens, basolateral amygdala (BLA), and ventral tegmental area) structures, influenced by multiple neuromodulatory systems (e.g., oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin). We particularly draw special attention to IC as a unique cortical area that mediates multisensory integration, encoding of ongoing social interaction, social decision-making, emotion, and empathy. Additionally, a synthesis of studies investigating ASD mouse models demonstrates that dysfunctions in mPFC-BLA circuitry and neuromodulation are prominent. Pharmacological rescues by local or systemic (e.g., oral) administration of various drugs have provided valuable clues for developing new therapeutic agents for ASD. Future efforts and technological advances will push forward the next frontiers in this field, such as the elucidation of brain-wide network activity and inter-brain neural dynamics during real and virtual social interactions, and the establishment of circuit-based therapy for disorders affecting social functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Sato
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nakai
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Shuhei Fujima
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan
| | - Katrina Y Choe
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Toru Takumi
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0017, Japan.
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Chuo, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan.
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Blumenthal SA, Young LJ. The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:844. [PMID: 37372130 PMCID: PMC10295201 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Love is a powerful emotional experience that is rooted in ancient neurobiological processes shared with other species that pair bond. Considerable insights have been gained into the neural mechanisms driving the evolutionary antecedents of love by studies in animal models of pair bonding, particularly in monogamous species such as prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Here, we provide an overview of the roles of oxytocin, dopamine, and vasopressin in regulating neural circuits responsible for generating bonds in animals and humans alike. We begin with the evolutionary origins of bonding in mother-infant relationships and then examine the neurobiological underpinnings of each stage of bonding. Oxytocin and dopamine interact to link the neural representation of partner stimuli with the social reward of courtship and mating to create a nurturing bond between individuals. Vasopressin facilitates mate-guarding behaviors, potentially related to the human experience of jealousy. We further discuss the psychological and physiological stress following partner separation and their adaptive function, as well as evidence of the positive health outcomes associated with being pair-bonded based on both animal and human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Blumenthal
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Larry J. Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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18
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Boender AJ, Boon M, Albers HE, Eck SR, Fricker BA, Kelly AM, LeDoux JE, Motta SC, Shrestha P, Taylor JH, Trainor BC, Triana-Del Rio R, Young LJ. An AAV-CRISPR/Cas9 strategy for gene editing across divergent rodent species: Targeting neural oxytocin receptors as a proof of concept. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf4950. [PMID: 37256960 PMCID: PMC10413677 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf4950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A major issue in neuroscience is the poor translatability of research results from preclinical studies in animals to clinical outcomes. Comparative neuroscience can overcome this barrier by studying multiple species to differentiate between species-specific and general mechanisms of neural circuit functioning. Targeted manipulation of neural circuits often depends on genetic dissection, and use of this technique has been restricted to only a few model species, limiting its application in comparative research. However, ongoing advances in genomics make genetic dissection attainable in a growing number of species. To demonstrate the potential of comparative gene editing approaches, we developed a viral-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 strategy that is predicted to target the oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) gene in >80 rodent species. This strategy specifically reduced OXTR levels in all evaluated species (n = 6) without causing gross neuronal toxicity. Thus, we show that CRISPR/Cas9-based tools can function in multiple species simultaneously. Thereby, we hope to encourage comparative gene editing and improve the translatability of neuroscientific research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjen J. Boender
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Marina Boon
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - H. Elliott Albers
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Samantha R. Eck
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Aubrey M. Kelly
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joseph E. LeDoux
- Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical School, New York, NY, USA
| | - Simone C. Motta
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Anatomy, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Prerana Shrestha
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Jack H. Taylor
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brian C. Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | - Larry J. Young
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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19
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Hou W, Huang S, Li L, Guo X, He Z, Shang S, Jia Z, Zhang L, Qu Y, Huang C, Li Y, Li Y, Lv Z, Tai F. Oxytocin treatments or activation of the paraventricular nucleus-the shell of nucleus accumbens pathway reduce adverse effects of chronic social defeat stress on emotional and social behaviors in Mandarin voles. Neuropharmacology 2023; 230:109482. [PMID: 36893984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Chronic social stress can cause psychological disease. Although oxytocin (OT) has been showed to modulate effects of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) on emotional and social behaviors, however, how OT circuits mediate effects of CSDS on emotional and social abnormalities remains unclear. Here, we found that repeated intraperitoneal OT administration in the process of CSDS buffered adverse effects of CSDS on emotional and social behaviors in mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus) of both sexes except no effect on depression-like behavior of males. Repeated OT treatments during CSDS prevented decrease of oxytocin receptors in nucleus accumbens (NAc) in females, but produced no effects on males. Furthermore, using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs)-based chemogenetic tools, we determined that the activation of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN)-the shell of NAc (NAcs) projections before social defeat during CSDS process significantly prevented the increase of the anxiety-like behaviors and social avoidance induced by CSDS in both sexes, and reversed the depressive-like behaviors induced by CSDS only in females. Besides, optogenetic activation of PVN-NAcs projections after CSDS reduced anxiety-like behaviors and increased levels of sociality. Collectively, we suggest that PVN-NAcs projections modulate emotional and social behaviors during or after the process of CSDS sex-specifically, although AAV viruses did not specifically infect OT neurons. These findings offer potential targets for preventing or treating emotional and social disorders induced by chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Hou
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Shuying Huang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Lu Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zhixiong He
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Shufeng Shang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China; College of Bioscience and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, 723000, China
| | - Ziyan Jia
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Lizi Zhang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yishan Qu
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Caihong Huang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yin Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yitong Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zijian Lv
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Fadao Tai
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China.
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20
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Sadino JM, Bradeen XG, Kelly CJ, Brusman LE, Walker DM, Donaldson ZR. Prolonged partner separation erodes nucleus accumbens transcriptional signatures of pair bonding in male prairie voles. eLife 2023; 12:e80517. [PMID: 36852906 PMCID: PMC10112888 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80517] [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: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The loss of a spouse is often cited as the most traumatic event in a person's life. However, for most people, the severity of grief and its maladaptive effects subside over time via an understudied adaptive process. Like humans, socially monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) form opposite-sex pair bonds, and upon partner separation, show stress phenotypes that diminish over time. We test the hypothesis that extended partner separation diminishes pair bond-associated behaviors and causes pair bond transcriptional signatures to erode. Opposite-sex or same-sex paired males were cohoused for 2 weeks and then either remained paired or were separated for 48 hours or 4 weeks before collecting fresh nucleus accumbens tissue for RNAseq. In a separate cohort, we assessed partner-directed affiliation at these time points. We found that these behaviors persist despite prolonged separation in both same-sex and opposite-sex paired voles. Opposite-sex pair bonding led to changes in accumbal transcription that were stably maintained while animals remained paired but eroded following prolonged partner separation. Eroded genes are associated with gliogenesis and myelination, suggesting a previously undescribed role for glia in pair bonding and loss. Further, we pioneered neuron-specific translating ribosomal affinity purification in voles. Neuronally enriched transcriptional changes revealed dopaminergic-, mitochondrial-, and steroid hormone signaling-associated gene clusters sensitive to acute pair bond disruption and loss adaptation. Our results suggest that partner separation erodes transcriptomic signatures of pair bonding despite core behavioral features of the bond remaining intact, revealing potential molecular processes priming a vole to be able to form a new bond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Sadino
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Xander G Bradeen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
- Department of Adult Hematology, University of Colorado- Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Conor J Kelly
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Liza E Brusman
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Deena M Walker
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, School of MedicinePortlandUnited States
| | - Zoe R Donaldson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
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21
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Alghamdi NJ, Burns CT, Valdes R. The urocortin peptides: biological relevance and laboratory aspects of UCN3 and its receptor. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2022; 59:573-585. [PMID: 35738909 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2022.2080175] [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: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The urocortins are polypeptides belonging to the corticotropin-releasing hormone family, known to modulate stress responses in mammals. Stress, whether induced physically or psychologically, is an underlying cause or consequence of numerous clinical syndromes. Identifying biological markers associated with the homeostatic regulation of stress could provide a clinical laboratory approach for the management of stress-related disorders. The neuropeptide, urocortin 3 (UCN3), and the corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) constitute a regulatory axis known to mediate stress homeostasis. Dysregulation of this peptide/receptor axis is believed to play a role in several clinical conditions including post-traumatic stress, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems related to stress. Understanding the physiology and measurement of the UCN3/CRHR2 axis is important for establishing a viable clinical laboratory diagnostic. In this article, we focus on evidence supporting the role of UCN3 and its receptor in stress-related clinical syndromes. We also provide insight into the measurements of UCN3 in blood and urine. These potential biomarkers provide new opportunities for clinical research and applications of laboratory medicine diagnostics in stress management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norah J Alghamdi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | | | - Roland Valdes
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
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22
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Inoue K, Ford CL, Horie K, Young LJ. Oxytocin receptors are widely distributed in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) brain: Relation to social behavior, genetic polymorphisms, and the dopamine system. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:2881-2900. [PMID: 35763609 PMCID: PMC9474670 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin regulates social behavior via direct modulation of neurons, regulation of neural network activity, and interaction with other neurotransmitter systems. The behavioral effects of oxytocin signaling are determined by the species-specific distribution of brain oxytocin receptors. The socially monogamous prairie vole has been a useful model organism for elucidating the role of oxytocin in social behaviors, including pair bonding, response to social loss, and consoling. However, there has been no comprehensive mapping of oxytocin receptor-expressing cells throughout the prairie vole brain. Here, we employed a highly sensitive in situ hybridization, RNAscope, to construct an exhaustive, brain-wide map of oxytocin receptor mRNA-expressing cells. We found that oxytocin receptor mRNA expression was widespread and diffused throughout the brain, with specific areas displaying a particularly robust expression. Comparing receptor binding with mRNA revealed that regions of the hippocampus and substantia nigra contained oxytocin receptor protein but lacked mRNA, indicating that oxytocin receptors can be transported to distal neuronal processes, consistent with presynaptic oxytocin receptor functions. In the nucleus accumbens, a region involved in oxytocin-dependent social bonding, oxytocin receptor mRNA expression was detected in both the D1 and D2 dopamine receptor-expressing subtypes of cells. Furthermore, natural genetic polymorphisms robustly influenced oxytocin receptor expression in both D1 and D2 receptor cell types in the nucleus accumbens. Collectively, our findings further elucidate the extent to which oxytocin signaling is capable of influencing brain-wide neural activity, responses to social stimuli, and social behavior. KEY POINTS: Oxytocin receptor mRNA is diffusely expressed throughout the brain, with strong expression concentrated in certain areas involved in social behavior. Oxytocin receptor mRNA expression and protein localization are misaligned in some areas, indicating that the receptor protein may be transported to distal processes. In the nucleus accumbens, oxytocin receptors are expressed on cells expressing both D1 and D2 dopamine receptor subtypes, and the majority of variation in oxytocin receptor expression between animals is attributable to polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoshi Inoue
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Charles L Ford
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kengo Horie
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Zablocki-Thomas PB, Rogers FD, Bales KL. Neuroimaging of human and non-human animal emotion and affect in the context of social relationships. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:994504. [PMID: 36338883 PMCID: PMC9633678 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.994504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term relationships are essential for the psychological wellbeing of humans and many animals. Positive emotions and affective experiences (e.g., romantic or platonic love) seem to be closely related to the creation and maintenance of social bonds. When relationships are threatened or terminated, other emotions generally considered to be negative can arise (e.g., jealousy or loneliness). Because humans and animals share (to varying degrees) common evolutionary histories, researchers have attempted to explain the evolution of affect and emotion through the comparative approach. Now brain imaging techniques allow the comparison of the neurobiological substrates of affective states and emotion in human and animal brains using a common methodology. Here, we review brain imaging studies that feature emotions characterized by the context of social bonding. We compare imaging findings associated with affective and emotional states elicited by similar social situations between humans and animal models. We also highlight the role of key neurohormones (i.e., oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine) that jointly support the occurrence of socially contextualized emotions and affect across species. In doing so, we seek to explore and clarify if and how humans and animals might similarly experience social emotion and affect in the context of social relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline B. Zablocki-Thomas
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Pauline B. Zablocki-Thomas,
| | - Forrest D. Rogers
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Psychology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Karen L. Bales
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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López-Gutiérrez MF, Mejía-Chávez S, Alcauter S, Portillo W. The neural circuits of monogamous behavior. Front Neural Circuits 2022; 16:978344. [PMID: 36247729 PMCID: PMC9559370 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2022.978344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The interest in studying the neural circuits related to mating behavior and mate choice in monogamous species lies in the parallels found between human social structure and sexual behavior and that of other mammals that exhibit social monogamy, potentially expanding our understanding of human neurobiology and its underlying mechanisms. Extensive research has suggested that social monogamy, as opposed to non-monogamy in mammals, is a consequence of the neural encoding of sociosensory information from the sexual partner with an increased reward value. Thus, the reinforced value of the mate outweighs the reward value of mating with any other potential sexual partners. This mechanism reinforces the social relationship of a breeding pair, commonly defined as a pair bond. In addition to accentuated prosocial behaviors toward the partner, other characteristic behaviors may appear, such as territorial and partner guarding, selective aggression toward unfamiliar conspecifics, and biparental care. Concomitantly, social buffering and distress upon partner separation are also observed. The following work intends to overview and compare known neural and functional circuits that are related to mating and sexual behavior in monogamous mammals. We will particularly discuss reports on Cricetid rodents of the Microtus and Peromyscus genus, and New World primates (NWP), such as the Callicebinae subfamily of the titi monkey and the marmoset (Callithrix spp.). In addition, we will mention the main factors that modulate the neural circuits related to social monogamy and how that modulation may reflect phenotypic differences, ultimately creating the widely observed diversity in social behavior.
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Bales KL, Rogers FD. Interactions between the
κ
opioid system, corticotropin-releasing hormone and oxytocin in partner loss. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210061. [PMID: 35858099 PMCID: PMC9272146 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective adult social attachments, or ‘pair bonds’, represent central relationships for individuals in a number of social species, including humans. Loss of a pair mate has emotional consequences that may or may not diminish over time, and that often translate into impaired psychological and physical health. In this paper, we review the literature on the neuroendocrine mechanisms for the emotional consequences of partner loss, with a special focus on hypothesized interactions between oxytocin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and the κ opioid system. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Forrest D. Rogers
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, NJ 08540, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08540, USA
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Shih HC, Kuo ME, Wu CW, Chao YP, Huang HW, Huang CM. The Neurobiological Basis of Love: A Meta-Analysis of Human Functional Neuroimaging Studies of Maternal and Passionate Love. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12070830. [PMID: 35884637 PMCID: PMC9313376 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12070830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal and passionate love are both crucial for reproduction and involve attachment behaviors with high rewards. Neurobiological studies of attachment in animal and human neuroimaging studies have suggested that the coordination of oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic pathways, coupled with the dopaminergic reward system, contribute to the formation and maintenance of maternal and passionate love. In the present study, we carried out a quantitative meta-analysis of human neuroimaging to identify common and dissociable neural substrates associated with maternal and passionate love, using the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) approach. The ALE results showed significant activation of the brain regions in the left ventral tegmental area (VTA), right thalamus, left substantia nigra, and the left putamen for maternal love, but in the bilateral VTA for passionate love. The meta-analytic neuroimaging evidence suggests the greater involvement of cognitive–affective regulation in maternal attachment and the greater desire to combine liking and wanting in romantic love behaviors. The conjunction analysis highlights the functional convergence of the VTA across the two types of human love, indicating a shared neurobiological mechanism of maternal and passionate love with evolutionary roots. Our findings suggest that the processing of both maternal and passionate love involve the affective and motivational regulation associated with dopaminergic systems; our neuroimaging evidence supports the notion that maternal and passionate love share a common evolutionary origin and neurobiological basis in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsuan-Chu Shih
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan; (H.-C.S.); (M.-E.K.)
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Mu-En Kuo
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan; (H.-C.S.); (M.-E.K.)
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Changwei W. Wu
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 106052, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Ping Chao
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan;
| | - Hsu-Wen Huang
- Department of Linguistics and Translation, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Chih-Mao Huang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan; (H.-C.S.); (M.-E.K.)
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-3571-2121
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Arias del Razo R, Velasco Vazquez MDL, Turcanu P, Legrand M, Lau AR, Weinstein TAR, Goetze LR, Bales KL. Effects of Chronic and Acute Intranasal Oxytocin Treatments on Temporary Social Separation in Adult Titi Monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus). Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:877631. [PMID: 35813591 PMCID: PMC9257099 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.877631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In socially monogamous titi monkeys, involuntary separation from a pair mate can produce behavioral distress and increased cortisol production. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is thought to play an important role in the separation response of pair-bonded species. Previous studies from our lab have shown that chronic intranasal oxytocin (IN OXT) during development can have long-term effects on adult social behavior. In the current study, we examined the chronic and acute effects of IN OXT or Saline (SAL) on the subjects’ response to a brief separation from their pair mates. Subjects with a history of chronic IN OXT or SAL treatment during development received a single dose of OXT or SAL as adults 30 min before being separated from their pair mate. Chronic treatment consisted of a daily dose of IN OXT (0.8 IU/kg) or SAL (control) from 12 to 18 months of age. Subjects (N = 29) were introduced to a pair mate at 30 months of age. After the pairs had cohabitated for 5 months, pairs underwent two “Brief Separation” (OXT and SAL) and two “Non-Separation” (OXT and SAL) test sessions. Vocalizations and locomotion were measured as behavioral indices of agitation or distress during the Brief Separation and Non-Separation periods (30 min each). We collected blood samples after the Brief Separation and Non-Separation periods to measure cortisol levels. Our results showed subjects treated with chronic OXT had a reduction in long call and peep vocalizations compared to subjects treated with chronic SAL. Subjects treated with chronic SAL and acute OXT produced more peeps and long calls compared to animals treated with acute SAL; however, patterns in this response depended on sex. Cortisol and locomotion were significantly higher during the Brief Separation period compared to the Non-Separation period; however, we did not find any treatment or sex effects. We conclude that chronic IN OXT given during development blunts the separation response, while acute OXT in chronic SAL subjects had sexually dimorphic effects, which could reflect increased partner seeking behaviors in males and increased anxiety in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Arias del Razo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Petru Turcanu
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mathieu Legrand
- CNRS, LNCA UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
- Centre de Primatologie de l’Université de Strasbourg, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Allison R. Lau
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Leana R. Goetze
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Karen L. Bales
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Vitale EM, Smith AS. Neurobiology of Loneliness, Isolation, and Loss: Integrating Human and Animal Perspectives. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:846315. [PMID: 35464141 PMCID: PMC9029604 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.846315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In social species such as humans, non-human primates, and even many rodent species, social interaction and the maintenance of social bonds are necessary for mental and physical health and wellbeing. In humans, perceived isolation, or loneliness, is not only characterized by physical isolation from peers or loved ones, but also involves negative perceptions about social interactions and connectedness that reinforce the feelings of isolation and anxiety. As a complex behavioral state, it is no surprise that loneliness and isolation are associated with dysfunction within the ventral striatum and the limbic system - brain regions that regulate motivation and stress responsiveness, respectively. Accompanying these neural changes are physiological symptoms such as increased plasma and urinary cortisol levels and an increase in stress responsivity. Although studies using animal models are not perfectly analogous to the uniquely human state of loneliness, studies on the effects of social isolation in animals have observed similar physiological symptoms such as increased corticosterone, the rodent analog to human cortisol, and also display altered motivation, increased stress responsiveness, and dysregulation of the mesocortical dopamine and limbic systems. This review will discuss behavioral and neuropsychological components of loneliness in humans, social isolation in rodent models, and the neurochemical regulators of these behavioral phenotypes with a neuroanatomical focus on the corticostriatal and limbic systems. We will also discuss social loss as a unique form of social isolation, and the consequences of bond disruption on stress-related behavior and neurophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika M. Vitale
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
| | - Adam S. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
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Ryabinin AE, Zhang Y. Barriers and Breakthroughs in Targeting the Oxytocin System to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:842609. [PMID: 35295777 PMCID: PMC8919088 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.842609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of better treatments for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is urgently needed. One promising opportunity for this development is the potential of targeting the oxytocin peptide system. Preclinical studies showed that administration of exogenous oxytocin or, more recently, stimulation of neurons expressing endogenous oxytocin lead to a decreased alcohol consumption across several rodent models. Initial clinical studies also showed that administration of oxytocin decreased craving for alcohol and heavy alcohol drinking. However, several more recent clinical studies were not able to replicate these effects. Thus, although targeting the oxytocin system holds promise for the treatment of AUD, more nuanced approaches toward development and application of these treatments are needed. In this mini-review we discuss potential caveats resulting in differential success of attempts to use oxytocin for modulating alcohol use disorder-related behaviors in clinical studies and evaluate three directions in which targeting the oxytocin system could be improved: (1) increasing potency of exogenously administered oxytocin, (2) developing oxytocin receptor agonists, and (3) stimulating components of the endogenous oxytocin system. Both advances and potential pitfalls of these directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey E. Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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30
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McParlin Z, Cerritelli F, Friston KJ, Esteves JE. Therapeutic Alliance as Active Inference: The Role of Therapeutic Touch and Synchrony. Front Psychol 2022; 13:783694. [PMID: 35250723 PMCID: PMC8892201 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.783694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognizing and aligning individuals' unique adaptive beliefs or "priors" through cooperative communication is critical to establishing a therapeutic relationship and alliance. Using active inference, we present an empirical integrative account of the biobehavioral mechanisms that underwrite therapeutic relationships. A significant mode of establishing cooperative alliances-and potential synchrony relationships-is through ostensive cues generated by repetitive coupling during dynamic touch. Established models speak to the unique role of affectionate touch in developing communication, interpersonal interactions, and a wide variety of therapeutic benefits for patients of all ages; both neurophysiologically and behaviorally. The purpose of this article is to argue for the importance of therapeutic touch in establishing a therapeutic alliance and, ultimately, synchrony between practitioner and patient. We briefly overview the importance and role of therapeutic alliance in prosocial and clinical interactions. We then discuss how cooperative communication and mental state alignment-in intentional communication-are accomplished using active inference. We argue that alignment through active inference facilitates synchrony and communication. The ensuing account is extended to include the role of (C-) tactile afferents in realizing the beneficial effect of therapeutic synchrony. We conclude by proposing a method for synchronizing the effects of touch using the concept of active inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe McParlin
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
| | - Francesco Cerritelli
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
| | - Karl J. Friston
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge E. Esteves
- Foundation COME Collaboration, Clinical-Based Human Research Department, Pescara, Italy
- Malta ICOM Educational Ltd., Gzira, Malta
- Research Department, University College of Osteopathy, London, United Kingdom
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31
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Donovan ML, Chun EK, Liu Y, Wang Z. Post-weaning Social Isolation in Male and Female Prairie Voles: Impacts on Central and Peripheral Immune System. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:802569. [PMID: 35111003 PMCID: PMC8801571 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.802569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) offers a unique opportunity to examine the impacts of adolescent social isolation on the brain, immune system, and behavior. In the current study, male and female prairie voles were randomly assigned to be housed alone or with a same-sex cagemate after weaning (i.e., on postnatal day 21-22) for a 6-week period. Thereafter, subjects were tested for anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and Forced Swim Test (FST), respectively. Blood was collected to measure peripheral cytokine levels, and brain tissue was processed for microglial density in various brain regions, including the Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc), Medial Amygdala (MeA), Central Amygdala (CeA), Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST), and Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus (PVN). Sex differences were found in EPM and FST behaviors, where male voles had significantly lower total arm entries in the EPM as well as lower latency to immobility in the FST compared to females. A sex by treatment effect was found in peripheral IL-1β levels, where isolated males had a lower level of IL-1β compared to cohoused females. Post-weaning social isolation also altered microglial density in a brain region-specific manner. Isolated voles had higher microglial density in the NAcc, MeA, and CeA, but lower microglial density in the dorsal BNST. Cohoused male voles also had higher microglial density in the PVN compared to cohoused females. Taken together, these data suggest that post-weaning social housing environments can alter peripheral and central immune systems in prairie voles, highlighting a potential role for the immune system in shaping isolation-induced alterations to the brain and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan L. Donovan
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Eileen K. Chun
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Yan Liu
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | - Zuoxin Wang
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
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Ghazy AA, Soliman OA, Elbahnasi AI, Alawy AY, Mansour AM, Gowayed MA. Role of Oxytocin in Different Neuropsychiatric, Neurodegenerative, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 186:95-134. [PMID: 36416982 DOI: 10.1007/112_2022_72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin has recently gained significant attention because of its role in the pathophysiology and management of dominant neuropsychiatric disorders. Oxytocin, a peptide hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus, is released into different brain regions, acting as a neurotransmitter. Receptors for oxytocin are present in many areas of the brain, including the hypothalamus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens, which have been involved in the pathophysiology of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Animal studies have spotlighted the role of oxytocin in social, behavioral, pair bonding, and mother-infant bonding. Furthermore, oxytocin protects fetal neurons against injury during childbirth and affects various behaviors, assuming its possible neuroprotective characteristics. In this review, we discuss some of the concepts and mechanisms related to the role of oxytocin in the pathophysiology and management of some neuropsychiatric, neurodegenerative, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya A Ghazy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Omar A Soliman
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Aya I Elbahnasi
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Aya Y Alawy
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Amira Ma Mansour
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mennatallah A Gowayed
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
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Gryksa K, Neumann ID. Consequences of pandemic-associated social restrictions: Role of social support and the oxytocin system. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 135:105601. [PMID: 34837776 PMCID: PMC8605825 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
During pandemics, governments take drastic actions to prevent the spreading of the disease, as seen during the present COVID-19 crisis. Sanctions of lockdown, social distancing and quarantine urge people to exclusively work and teach at home and to restrict social contacts to a minimum; lonely people get into further isolation, while families` nerves are strained to the extreme. Overall, this results in a dramatic and chronic increase in the level of psychosocial stress over several months mainly caused by i) social isolation and ii) psychosocial stress associated with overcrowding, social tension in families, and domestic violence. Moreover, pandemic-associated social restrictions are accompanied by loss of an essential stress buffer and important parameter for general mental and physical health: social support. Chronic psychosocial stress and, in particular, social isolation and lack of social support affect not only mental health, but also the brain oxytocin system and the immune system. Hence, pandemic-associated social restrictions are expected to increase the risk of developing psychopathologies, such as depression, anxiety-related and posttraumatic stress disorders, on the one hand, but also to induce a general inflammatory state and to impair the course of infectious disorders on the other. Due to its pro-social and stress-buffering effects, resulting in an anti-inflammatory state in case of disease, the role of the neuropeptide oxytocin will be discussed and critically considered as an emerging treatment option in cases of pandemic-induced psychosocial stress, viral infection and during recovery. In this review, we aim to critically focus on possible short- and long-term consequences of social restrictions on mental health and the immune system, while discussion oxytocin as a possible treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Gryksa
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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Okuda T, Osako Y, Hidaka C, Nishihara M, Young LJ, Mitsui S, Yuri K. Separation from a bonded partner alters neural response to inflammatory pain in monogamous rodents. Behav Brain Res 2021; 418:113650. [PMID: 34748865 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Pain experience is known to be modified by social factors, but the brain mechanisms remain unspecified. We recently established an animal model of social stress-induced hyperalgesia (SSIH) using a socially monogamous rodent, the prairie vole, in which males separated from their female partners (loss males) became anxious and displayed exacerbated inflammatory pain behaviors compared to males with partners (paired males). In the present study, to explore the neural pathways involved in SSIH, a difference in neuronal activation in pain-related brain regions, or "pain matrix", during inflammatory pain between paired and loss males was detected using Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-ir). Males were paired with a female and pair bonding was confirmed in all subjects using a partner preference test. During formalin-induced inflammatory pain, both paired and loss males showed a significant induction of Fos-ir throughout the analyzed pain matrix components compared to basal condition (without injection), and no group differences in immunoreactivity were found among the injected males in many brain regions. However, the loss males had significantly lower Fos-ir following inflammatory pain in the medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens shell than the paired males, even though base Fos-ir levels were comparable between groups. Notably, both regions with different Fos-ir are major components of the dopamine and oxytocin systems, which play critical roles in both pair bonding and pain regulation. The present results suggest the possibility that pain exacerbation by social stress emerges through alteration of signaling in social brain circuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Okuda
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan; Department of Physical Therapy, Tosa Rehabilitation College, Otsu, Ohtsu, Kochi 781-5103, Japan.
| | - Yoji Osako
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Chiharu Hidaka
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
| | - Makoto Nishihara
- Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Aichi Medical University, School of Medicine, 21 Karimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes National Primate Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Rd. Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Center for Social Neural Networks, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan
| | - Shinichi Mitsui
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8514, Japan
| | - Kazunari Yuri
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Oko-cho, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8505, Japan
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Demarchi L, Pawluski JL, Bosch OJ. The brain oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing factor systems in grieving mothers: What we know and what we need to learn. Peptides 2021; 143:170593. [PMID: 34091013 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The bond between a mother and her child is the strongest bond in nature. Consequently, the loss of a child is one of the most stressful and traumatic life events that causes Prolonged Grief Disorder in up to 94 % of bereaved parents. While both parents are affected, mothers are of higher risk to develop mental health complications; yet, very little research has been done to understand the impact of the loss of a child, stillbirth and pregnancy loss on key neurobiological systems. The emotional impact of losing a child, e.g., Prolonged Grief Disorder, is likely accompanied by dysregulations in neural systems important for mental health. Among those are the neuropeptides contributing to attachment and stress processing. In this review, we present evidence for the involvement of the brain oxytocin (OXT) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) systems, which both play a role in maternal behavior and the stress response, in the neurobiology of grief in mothers from a behavioral and molecular point of view. We will draw conclusions from reviewing relevant animal and human studies. However, the paucity of research on the tragic end to an integral bond in a female's life calls for the need and responsibility to conduct further studies on mothers experiencing the loss of a child both in the clinic and in appropriate animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Demarchi
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Jodi L Pawluski
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S, 1085 Rennes, France.
| | - Oliver J Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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Microglia react to partner loss in a sex- and brain site-specific manner in prairie voles. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 96:168-186. [PMID: 34058309 PMCID: PMC8319132 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Positive social relationships are paramount for the survival of mammals and beneficial for mental and physical health, buffer against stressors, and even promote appropriate immune system functioning. By contrast, impaired social relationships, social isolation, or the loss of a bonded partner lead to aggravated physical and mental health. For example, in humans partner loss is detrimental for the functioning of the immune system and heightens the susceptibility for the development of post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety disorders, and major depressive disorders. To understand potential underlying mechanisms, the monogamous prairie vole can provide important insights. In the present study, we separated pair bonded male and female prairie voles after five days of co-housing, subjected them to the forced swim test on the fourth day following separation, and studied their microglia morphology and activation in specific brain regions. Partner loss increased passive stress-coping in male, but not female, prairie voles. Moreover, partner loss was associated with microglial priming within the parvocellular region of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in male prairie voles, whereas in female prairie voles the morphological activation within the whole PVN and the prelimbic cortex (PrL) was decreased, marked by a shift towards ramified microglial morphology. Expression of the immediate early protein c-Fos following partner loss was changed within the PrL of male, but not female, prairie voles. However, the loss of a partner did not affect the investigated aspects of the peripheral immune response. These data suggest a potential sex-dependent mechanism for the regulation of microglial activity following the loss of a partner, which might contribute to the observed differences in passive stress-coping. This study furthers our understanding of the effects of partner loss and its short-term impact on the CNS as well as the CNS immune system and the peripheral innate immune system in both male and female prairie voles.
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Nass SR, Lark ARS, Hahn YK, McLane VD, Ihrig TM, Contois L, Napier TC, Knapp PE, Hauser KF. HIV-1 Tat and morphine decrease murine inter-male social interactions and associated oxytocin levels in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Horm Behav 2021; 133:105008. [PMID: 34171549 PMCID: PMC8277758 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Many persons infected with HIV-1 (PWH) and opioid-dependent individuals experience deficits in sociability that interfere with daily living. Sociability is regulated by the prefrontal cortico-hippocampal-amygdalar circuit. Within this circuit HIV-1 trans-activator of transcription (HIV-1 Tat) and opioids can increase dendritic pathology and alter neuronal firing. Changes in sociability are also associated with dysregulation of hypothalamic neuropeptides such as oxytocin or corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) in the prefrontal cortico-hippocampal-amygdalar circuit. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the interaction of HIV-1 Tat and morphine would impair inter-male social interactions and disrupt oxytocin and CRF within the PFC and associated circuitry. Male mice were exposed to HIV-1 Tat for 8 weeks and administered saline or escalating doses of morphine twice daily (s.c.) during the last 2 weeks of HIV-1 Tat exposure. Tat attenuated aggressive interactions with an unknown intruder, whereas morphine decreased both non-aggressive and aggressive social interactions in the resident-intruder test. However, there was no effect of Tat or morphine on non-reciprocal interactions in the social interaction and novelty tests. Tat, but not morphine, decreased oxytocin levels in the PFC and amygdala, whereas both Tat and morphine decreased the percentage of oxytocin-immunoreactive neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In Tat(+) or morphine-exposed mice, regional levels of CRF and oxytocin correlated with alterations in behavior in the social interaction and novelty tests. Overall, decreased expression of oxytocin in the prefrontal cortico-hippocampal-amygdalar circuit is associated with morphine- and HIV-Tat-induced deficits in social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara R Nass
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Arianna R S Lark
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Yun K Hahn
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USA
| | - Virginia D McLane
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Therese M Ihrig
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - Liangru Contois
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA
| | - T Celeste Napier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612-2847, USA; Center for Compulsive Behavior and Addiction, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612-3818, USA
| | - Pamela E Knapp
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0059, USA
| | - Kurt F Hauser
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0613, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0709, USA; Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Campus, Richmond, VA 23298-0059, USA.
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38
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Zilkha N, Sofer Y, Kashash Y, Kimchi T. The social network: Neural control of sex differences in reproductive behaviors, motivation, and response to social isolation. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 68:137-151. [PMID: 33910083 PMCID: PMC8528716 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Social animal species present a vast repertoire of social interactions when encountering conspecifics. Reproduction-related behaviors, such as mating, parental care, and aggression, are some of the most rewarding types of social interactions and are also the most sexually dimorphic ones. This review focuses on rodent species and summarizes recent advances in neuroscience research that link sexually dimorphic reproductive behaviors to sexual dimorphism in their underlying neuronal circuits. Specifically, we present a few possible mechanisms governing sexually-dimorphic behaviors, by hypothalamic and reward-related brain regions. Sex differences in the neural response to social isolation in adulthood are also discussed, as well as future directions for comparative studies with naturally solitary species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noga Zilkha
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yizhak Sofer
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yael Kashash
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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Horie K, Inoue K, Nishimori K, Young LJ. Investigation of Oxtr-expressing Neurons Projecting to Nucleus Accumbens using Oxtr-ires-Cre Knock-in prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Neuroscience 2021; 448:312-324. [PMID: 33092784 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Social bonds such as parent-infant attachment or pair bonds can be critical for mental and physical well-being. The monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) has proven useful for examining the neural substrates regulating social behaviors, including social bonding. Oxytocin (OXT) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) play critical roles in alloparental care, pair bonding and consoling behavior in prairie voles. While OXTR in a few regions, such as the nucleus accumbnes (NAcc), prefrontal cortex (PFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), have been implicated in regulating these behaviors, the extent to which other OXT sensitive areas modulate social behaviors has not been investigated. The NAcc is a central hub for modulating OXTR dependent social behaviors. To identify neurons expressing Oxtr in prairie vole brain, we generated gene knock-in voles expressing Cre recombinase in tandem with Oxtr (Oxtr-ires-Cre) using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. We confirmed Oxtr and Cre mRNA co-localization in NAcc, validating this model. Next, we identified putative Oxtr-expressing neurons projecting to NAcc by infusing retrograde CRE-dependent EGFP AAV into NAcc and visualizing fluorescence. We found enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) positive neurons in anterior olfactory nucleus, PFC, ACC, insular cortex (IC), paraventricular thalamus (PVT), basolateral amygdala (BLA), and posteromedial and posterolateral cortical amygdaloid area (PMCo, PLCo). The ACC to NAcc OXTR projection may represent a species-specific circuit since Oxtr-expressing neurons in the ACC of mice were reported not to project to the NAcc. This is the first delineation of Oxtr-expressing neural circuits in the prairie vole, and demonstrates the utility of this novel genetically modified organism for characterizing OXTR circuits involved in social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kengo Horie
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 468-1, Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0845, Japan; Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Kiyoshi Inoue
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Katsuhiko Nishimori
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, 468-1, Aramaki Aza-Aoba, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0845, Japan.
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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40
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Hou W, Ma H, Xun Y, Zhang X, Cai W, Huang S, He Z, Tai F, Jia R. Sex-Dependent Effects of Chronic Social Defeat on Emotional and Social Behaviors, and Parameters of Oxytocin and Vasopressin Systems in Mandarin Voles ( Microtus mandarinus). Front Neurosci 2021; 15:625116. [PMID: 34045941 PMCID: PMC8144301 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.625116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the regulation of emotional and social behaviors, both oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are sex specific. Although significant sex differences have been reported in the context of behavioral and hormonal responses to social stress, such differences in response to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and the underlying neural mechanisms remain largely unknown. By investigating monogamous mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus), CSDS was found to decrease the percentages of time spent in the central area of the open field, in the open arms of the elevated plus maze, as well as in the light area of the light and dark boxes in both male and female voles. CSDS also increased the observed level of social withdrawal in both sex groups. However, CSDS exposure increased the percentages of immobile time in both the tail suspension test and the forced swim test and reduced the locomotor activity in the open field (in females only). Along with these behavioral changes, the oxytocin receptor (OTR) levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) were significantly lower in CSDS-exposed voles of both sexes; however, in males, the levels of OTR in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were reduced. CSDS-exposed males showed lower levels of V1aR in the NAc than CSDS-exposed females. Furthermore, induced by a single social defeat event, CSDS reduced c-Fos and OT double labeling in the PVN of females but increased c-Fos and AVP double-labeled neurons in the PVN of males exposed to a single social defeat event. Collectively, the present study indicates that OT and AVP systems may play important regulatory roles in the sex differences of behavioral performances in response to CSDS. These findings suggest mandarin voles as a useful animal model for studying sex-specific behavioral performance and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of stress-related mental disorders in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Hou
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Huan Ma
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yufeng Xun
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenqi Cai
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shuying Huang
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhixiong He
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fadao Tai
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Rui Jia
- Laboratory for Brain and Behavioral Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
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41
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Grippo AJ, McNeal N, Normann MC, Colburn W, Dagner A, Woodbury M. Behavioral and neuroendocrine consequences of disrupting a long-term monogamous social bond in aging prairie voles. Stress 2021; 24:239-250. [PMID: 32820956 PMCID: PMC7914264 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2020.1812058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social support from a spouse, long-term partner, or someone who provides emotional or instrumental support may protect against consequences of aging, including mediating behavioral stress reactivity and altering neurobiological process that underlie short-term stress responses. Therefore, long-term social bonding may have behavioral and neurobiological benefits. The socially monogamous prairie vole provides a valuable experimental model for investigating the benefits of long-term social bonds on short-term stress reactivity in aging animals, given their unique social structure of forming enduring opposite-sex bonds, living in family groups, and bi-parental rearing strategies. Male-female pairs of long-term, cohabitating prairie voles were investigated for short-term behavioral and neuroendocrine stress reactivity following either long-term social pairing (control), or a period of social isolation. In Experiment 1, social isolation was associated with altered behavioral reactivity to an acute swim stressor, and greater neural activation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, as well as specifically the parvocellular region, following the swim stressor (vs. control). In Experiment 2, social isolation was associated with greater corticosterone reactivity following an acute restraint stressor (vs. control). No sex differences were observed. Exploratory correlation and subgroup analyses revealed systematic relationships among various demographic variables (such as age of the subjects, amount of time the pair cohabitated together, and number of litters the pair reared together) and the behavioral and neuroendocrine outcome measures. These findings may inform our understanding of the benefits of long-term social bonding on modulating short-term behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to stress.LAY SUMMARYReceiving social support from a long-term spouse or partner, or having a strong support network from friends, may have important health benefits as people age. In aging monogamous prairie voles, social isolation from a long-term social partner disrupted behaviors and short-term stress responses, whereas living with a long-term partner protected against these disruptions. This research is important for our understanding of the benefits of social support on stress responses as we age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela J Grippo
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Neal McNeal
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Marigny C Normann
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - William Colburn
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Ashley Dagner
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
| | - Matthew Woodbury
- Department of Psychology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA
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42
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Abstract
Oxytocin regulates parturition, lactation, parental nurturing, and many other social behaviors in both sexes. The circuit mechanisms by which oxytocin modulates social behavior are receiving increasing attention. Here, we review recent studies on oxytocin modulation of neural circuit function and social behavior, largely enabled by new methods of monitoring and manipulating oxytocin or oxytocin receptor neurons in vivo. These studies indicate that oxytocin can enhance the salience of social stimuli and increase signal-to-noise ratios by modulating spiking and synaptic plasticity in the context of circuits and networks. We highlight oxytocin effects on social behavior in nontraditional organisms such as prairie voles and discuss opportunities to enhance the utility of these organisms for studying circuit-level modulation of social behaviors. We then discuss recent insights into oxytocin neuron activity during social interactions. We conclude by discussing some of the major questions and opportunities in the field ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Froemke
- Skirball Institute, Neuroscience Institute, and Departments of Otolaryngology and Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA; .,Center for Neural Science, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA.,Center for Social Neural Networks, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8577, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
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43
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Warrener CD, Valentin EM, Gallin C, Richey L, Ross DB, Hood CJ, Lori A, Cubells J, Rauch SA, Rilling JK. The role of oxytocin signaling in depression and suicidality in returning war veterans. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 126:105085. [PMID: 33582574 PMCID: PMC8483597 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Many war veterans struggle with depression and suicidality, and separation from the military is a time of particularly high risk. Based on research in non-human animals, we hypothesized that reduced oxytocin signaling would mediate symptoms of depression and suicidality in war veterans recently separated from their close comrades. We also hypothesized that veterans with more frequent contact with comrades would have fewer symptoms of depression and suicidality. In this cross-sectional study, male veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (n = 86) provided blood and urine samples for measurement of peripheral oxytocin (OT) levels, as well as saliva samples for DNA extraction followed by genotyping of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, and CpG-methylation assessment. Participants also completed a series of mental health questionnaires and interviews. Veterans reported feeling very close to their comrades during war, and missing them greatly upon returning home. Neither peripheral OT levels nor OXTR genotypes were related to symptoms of depression or suicidality. On the other hand, methylation at OXTR CpG -924 was negatively correlated with depressive symptomology, after controlling for possible confounds. Veterans who socialized with comrades more frequently had higher levels of urinary, but not plasma OT, as well as less depressive symptomology. Social connectedness was a strong negative predictor of symptoms of both depression and suicidality, eclipsing the predictive power of other variables such as post-deployment social support, the degree to which participants reported missing their comrades, and the frequency with which they socialized with comrades. Our results suggest that veteran mental health is more impacted by lack of social connectedness than by separation from close comrades per se. While there is some evidence that OXTR methylation relates to depressive symptomology, decreased OT signaling does not appear to mediate the relationship between social disconnectedness and depression or suicidality. Sleep quality and anxiety disorders were also significantly associated with mental health symptoms, independent of social connectedness. Our findings suggest that efforts aimed at alleviating the burden of depression and suicidality in returning war veterans should focus on re-integrating veterans into society and establishing a feeling of social connectedness, as well as on treating anxiety disorders and sleep problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne D. Warrener
- The Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work, Clark Atlanta University, USA
| | - Edward M. Valentin
- The Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work, Clark Atlanta University, USA
| | - Camilla Gallin
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory University, USA
| | | | | | - Chelsea J. Hood
- The Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work, Clark Atlanta University, USA
| | - Adriana Lori
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Joseph Cubells
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Sheila A.M. Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA,Mental Health Service Line, VA Atlanta Healthcare System, USA
| | - James K. Rilling
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, USA,Department of Anthropology, Emory University, USA,Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, USA,Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, USA,Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, USA,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, USA,Corresponding author at: Department of Anthropology, Emory University, USA. (J.K. Rilling)
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44
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Acosta H, Jansen A, Kircher T. Larger bilateral amygdalar volumes are associated with affective loss experiences. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:1763-1779. [PMID: 33789356 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Affective loss (AL) (i.e., bereavement, relationship breakup) is a stressful life event leading to a heightened risk of developing a psychiatric disorder, for example, depression and anxiety disorder. These disorders have been associated with altered subcortical brain volumes. Little is known though, how AL in healthy subjects is linked to subcortical volumes. In a study with 196 healthy young adults, we probed the association between AL across the individual entire life span, assessed via the List of Threatening Experiences Questionnaire, and magnetic resonance imaging brain gray matter volumes (a priori selected: bilateral amygdalae, hippocampi, thalami; exploratory analyses: nuclei accumbens, caudate, putamina), segmented by use of volBrain. AL was defined as death of a first-degree relative/spouse, close relative/friend, and breakup of a marriage or steady relationship. AL was associated with larger bilateral amygdalar volumes and, after taking into account the total number of ALs, with smaller right hippocampal volumes, both irrespective of sex. Exploratory analyses of striatal volumes yielded an association of AL with larger right nucleus accumbens volumes in men, and increased caudate volumes after the loss of a first-degree relative irrespective of sex. Our data suggest that AL engenders alterations in limbic structures that likely involve processes of chronic stress and amygdala- and hippocampus-dependent fear conditioning, and resemble those observed in general anxiety disorder, childhood maltreatment, and major depressive disorder. Our exploratory findings of striatal volume alterations hint at a modulation of reward processing by AL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henriette Acosta
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,The FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Andreas Jansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Core-Unit Brainimaging, Faculty of Medicine, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tilo Kircher
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Che X, Cai J, Liu Y, Xu T, Yang J, Wu C. Oxytocin signaling in the treatment of drug addiction: Therapeutic opportunities and challenges. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 223:107820. [PMID: 33600854 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Drug addiction is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Despite great advances were achieved in understanding the neurobiology of drug addiction, the therapeutic options are severely limited, with poor effectiveness and serious side effects. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is well known for its effects on uterine contraction, sexual/maternal behaviors, social affiliation, stress and learning/memory by interacting with the OXT receptor and other neuromodulators. Emerging evidence suggests that the acute or chronic exposure to drugs can affect the OXT system. Additionally, OXT administration can ameliorate a wide range of abused drug-induced neurobehavioral changes. Overall, OXT not only suppresses drug reward in the binge stage of drug addiction, but also reduces stress responses and social impairments during the withdrawal stage and, finally, prevents drug/cue/stress-induced reinstatement. More importantly, clinical studies have also shown that OXT can exert beneficial effects on reducing substance use disorders of a series of drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, alcohol, cannabis and nicotine. Thus, the present review focuses on the role of OXT in treating drug addiction, including the preclinical and clinical therapeutic potential of OXT and its analogs on the neurobiological perspectives of drugs, to provide a better insight of the efficacy of OXT as a clinical addiction therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohang Che
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacodynamics Evaluation of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Jialing Cai
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Yueyang Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacodynamics Evaluation of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Tianyu Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
| | - Jingyu Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacodynamics Evaluation of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Chunfu Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China; Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacodynamics Evaluation of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China.
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Prigerson HG, Kakarala S, Gang J, Maciejewski PK. History and Status of Prolonged Grief Disorder as a Psychiatric Diagnosis. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2021; 17:109-126. [PMID: 33524263 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-093600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a diagnostic entity now included in the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) and soon to appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR). A characteristic feature of PGD is distressing, disabling yearning that persists a year or more after the loss. Other characteristic symptoms include disbelief and lack of acceptance of the loss, emotional detachment from others since the loss, loneliness, identity disturbance, and sense of meaninglessness. In this review, we detail psychiatric views on grief and their evolution over the twentieth century. We then discuss the development of diagnostic formulations for disordered grief, which culminated in PGD's status as a mental disorder in the DSM. After summarizing recent evidence that may suggest that PGD is linked to the neural reward system, we suggest further areas of research. In particular, we note the need for studies that extend the evidence base concerning PGD across cultural and sociodemographic boundaries and that investigate novel treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly G Prigerson
- Cornell Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; .,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Sophia Kakarala
- Cornell Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA;
| | - James Gang
- Cornell Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA;
| | - Paul K Maciejewski
- Cornell Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; .,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Althammer F, Eliava M, Grinevich V. Central and peripheral release of oxytocin: Relevance of neuroendocrine and neurotransmitter actions for physiology and behavior. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 180:25-44. [PMID: 34225933 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820107-7.00003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is critically involved in the modulation of socio-emotional behavior, sexual competence, and pain perception and anticipation. While intracellular signaling of OT and its receptor (OTR), as well as the functional connectivity of hypothalamic and extra-hypothalamic OT projections, have been recently explored, it remains elusive how one single molecule has pleotropic effects from cell proliferation all the way to modulation of complex cognitive processes. Moreover, there are astonishing species-dependent differences in the way OT regulates various sensory modalities such as touch, olfaction, and vision, which can be explained by differences in OTR expression in brain regions processing sensory information. Recent research highlights a small subpopulation of OT-synthesizing cells, namely, parvocellular cells, which merely constitute 1% of the total number of OT cells but act as "master cells' that regulate the activity of the entire OT system. In this chapter, we summarize the latest advances in the field of OT research with a particular focus on differences between rodents, monkeys and humans and highlight the main differences between OT and its "sister" peptide arginine-vasopressin, which often exerts opposite effects on physiology and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Althammer
- Neuroscience Department, Center for Neuroinflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Marina Eliava
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
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Brain oxytocin: how puzzle stones from animal studies translate into psychiatry. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:265-279. [PMID: 32514104 PMCID: PMC7278240 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0802-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin has attracted great attention of the general public, basic neuroscience researchers, psychologists, and psychiatrists due to its profound pro-social, anxiolytic, and "anti-stress" behavioral and physiological effects, and its potential application for treatment of mental diseases associated with altered socio-emotional competence. During the last decade, substantial progress has been achieved in understanding the complex neurobiology of the oxytocin system, including oxytocinergic pathways, local release patterns, and oxytocin receptor distribution in the brain, as well as intraneuronal oxytocin receptor signaling. However, the picture of oxytocin actions remains far from being complete, and the central question remains: "How does a single neuropeptide exert such pleotropic actions?" Although this phenomenon, typical for many of about 100 identified neuropeptides, may emerge from the anatomical divergence of oxytocin neurons, their multiple central projections, distinct oxytocin-sensitive cell types in different brain regions, and multiple intraneuronal signaling pathways determining the specific cellular response, further basic studies are required. In conjunction, numerous reports on positive effects of intranasal application of oxytocin on human brain networks controlling socio-emotional behavior in health and disease require harmonic tandems of basic researchers and clinicians. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, oxytocin research seems central as question of social isolation-induced inactivation of the oxytocin system, and buffering effects of either activation of the endogenous system or intranasal application of synthetic oxytocin need to be thoroughly investigated.
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Harbert KJ, Pellegrini M, Gordon KM, Donaldson ZR. How prior pair-bonding experience affects future bonding behavior in monogamous prairie voles. Horm Behav 2020; 126:104847. [PMID: 32910950 PMCID: PMC7725863 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) form mating-based pair bonds. Although wild prairie voles rarely re-pair following loss of a partner, laboratory studies have shown that previous pairing and mating does not negate the ability to form a new partner preference. However, little is known about how prior bond experience may alter the trajectory and display of a new pair bond. In the present study, we disrupted an initial pair bond by separating partners and then varied the amount of time before a new partner was introduced. We assessed how separation time affected the stability of partner preference over time and influenced decision-making in male voles performing a head-to-head partner preference test in which they chose between the first and second partner. We found that the ability to consistently display a preference for the second partner, supplanting the initial pair bond, depended on how long the test animal was separated from their first partner. Prior bonding experience also shaped the subsequent effects of mating on partner preference. Partner preference strength was sensitive to latency to mate with the second partner but not the first partner, irrespective of separation time. These results suggest that the ability to form a consistent, strong preference for a new partner after an initial pair bond depends upon the amount of time that has passed since separation from the first partner. These results provide valuable insight into how social bonds are dynamically shaped by prior social experience and identify variables that contribute to recovery from partner loss and the ability to form a new pair bond. They also delineate a behavioral trajectory essential for future work examining the hormonal and genetic changes that enable recovery from partner loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey J Harbert
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 80309, USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Department of Psychology, University of Trento, 38122 Trento, TN, Italy
| | - Katelyn M Gordon
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, 80309, USA
| | - Zoe R Donaldson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 80309, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, 80309, USA.
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Duque-Wilckens N, Torres LY, Yokoyama S, Minie VA, Tran AM, Petkova SP, Hao R, Ramos-Maciel S, Rios RA, Jackson K, Flores-Ramirez FJ, Garcia-Carachure I, Pesavento PA, Iñiguez SD, Grinevich V, Trainor BC. Extrahypothalamic oxytocin neurons drive stress-induced social vigilance and avoidance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020. [PMID: 33020267 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2011890117/suppl_file/pnas.2011890117.sm01.mp4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin increases the salience of both positive and negative social contexts and it is thought that these diverse actions on behavior are mediated in part through circuit-specific action. This hypothesis is based primarily on manipulations of oxytocin receptor function, leaving open the question of whether different populations of oxytocin neurons mediate different effects on behavior. Here we inhibited oxytocin synthesis in a stress-sensitive population of oxytocin neurons specifically within the medioventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTmv). Oxytocin knockdown prevented social stress-induced increases in social vigilance and decreases in social approach. Viral tracing of BNSTmv oxytocin neurons revealed fibers in regions controlling defensive behaviors, including lateral hypothalamus, anterior hypothalamus, and anteromedial BNST (BNSTam). Oxytocin infusion into BNSTam in stress naïve mice increased social vigilance and reduced social approach. These results show that a population of extrahypothalamic oxytocin neurons plays a key role in controlling stress-induced social anxiety behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Duque-Wilckens
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Lisette Y Torres
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Sae Yokoyama
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Vanessa A Minie
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Amy M Tran
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Stela P Petkova
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Rebecca Hao
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | | | - Roberto A Rios
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Kenneth Jackson
- Department of Pathobiology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | | | | | - Patricia A Pesavento
- Department of Pathobiology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Sergio D Iñiguez
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616;
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