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Mountoufaris G, Nair A, Yang B, Kim DW, Vinograd A, Kim S, Linderman SW, Anderson DJ. A line attractor encoding a persistent internal state requires neuropeptide signaling. Cell 2024; 187:5998-6015.e18. [PMID: 39191257 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.08.015] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Internal states drive survival behaviors, but their neural implementation is poorly understood. Recently, we identified a line attractor in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) that represents a state of aggressiveness. Line attractors can be implemented by recurrent connectivity or neuromodulatory signaling, but evidence for the latter is scant. Here, we demonstrate that neuropeptidergic signaling is necessary for line attractor dynamics in this system by using cell-type-specific CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing combined with single-cell calcium imaging. Co-disruption of receptors for oxytocin and vasopressin in adult VMH Esr1+ neurons that control aggression diminished attack, reduced persistent neural activity, and eliminated line attractor dynamics while only slightly reducing overall neural activity and sex- or behavior-specific tuning. These data identify a requisite role for neuropeptidergic signaling in implementing a behaviorally relevant line attractor in mammals. Our approach should facilitate mechanistic studies in neuroscience that bridge different levels of biological function and abstraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Mountoufaris
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Aditya Nair
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Program in Computation and Neural Systems, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Bin Yang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Dong-Wook Kim
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Amit Vinograd
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Samuel Kim
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - Scott W Linderman
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David J Anderson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Pasadena, CA 91001, USA.
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2
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Duque FG, Azam A, Kaur A, Pao R, Lynch KS. Divergent neural nodes are species- and hormone-dependent in the brood parasitic brain. GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2024; 23:e12907. [PMID: 39246030 PMCID: PMC11381655 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12907] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Avian brood parasitism is an evolutionarily derived behavior for which the neurobiological mechanisms are mostly unexplored. We aimed to identify brain regions that have diverged in the brood-parasitic brain using relative transcript abundance of social neuropeptides and receptors. We compared behavioral responses and transcript abundance in three brain regions in the brown-headed cowbird (BHCO), a brood parasite, and a closely related parental species, the red-winged blackbird (RWBL). Females of both species were treated with mesotocin (MT; avian homolog of oxytocin) or saline prior to exposure to nest stimuli. Results reveal that MT promotes approach toward nests with eggs rather than nests with begging nestlings in both species. We also examined relative transcript abundance of the five social neuropeptides and receptors in the brain regions examined: preoptic area (POA), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST). We found that MT-treated cowbirds but not blackbirds exhibited lower transcript abundance for two receptors, corticotropin-releasing factor 2 (CRFR2) and prolactin receptor (PRLR) in BST. Additionally, MT-treated cowbirds had higher PRLR in POA, comparable to those found in blackbirds, regardless of treatment. No other transcripts of interest exhibited significant differences as a result of MT treatment, but we found a significant effect of species in the three regions. Together, these results indicate that POA, PVN, and BST represent neural nodes that have diverged in avian brood parasites and may serve as neural substrates of brood-parasitic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda G Duque
- Biology Department, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | - Asma Azam
- Biology Department, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA
| | - Amanpreet Kaur
- Biology Department, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA
| | - Rachel Pao
- Biology Department, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA
| | - Kathleen S Lynch
- Biology Department, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA
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3
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Sharma R, Berendzen KM, Everitt A, Wang B, Williams G, Wang S, Quine K, Larios RD, Long KLP, Hoglen N, Sulaman BA, Heath MC, Sherman M, Kinkel M, Cai A, Galo D, Caamal LC, Goodwin NL, Beery A, Bales KL, Pollard KS, Willsey AJ, Manoli DS. Oxytocin receptor controls distinct components of pair bonding and development in prairie voles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.25.613753. [PMID: 39399774 PMCID: PMC11468833 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.25.613753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) signaling influences complex social behaviors in diverse species, including social monogamy in prairie voles. How Oxtr regulates specific components of social attachment behaviors and the neural mechanisms mediating them remains unknown. Here, we examine prairie voles lacking Oxtr and demonstrate that pair bonding comprises distinct behavioral modules: the preference for a bonded partner, and the rejection of novel potential mates. Our longitudinal study of social attachment shows that Oxtr sex-specifically influences early interactions between novel partners facilitating the formation of partner preference. Additionally, Oxtr suppresses promiscuity towards novel potential mates following pair bonding, contributing to rejection. Oxtr function regulates coordinated patterns of gene expression in regions implicated in attachment behaviors and regulates the expression of oxytocin in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, a principal source of oxytocin. Thus, Oxtr controls genetically separable components of pair bonding behaviors and coordinates development of the neural substrates of attachment.
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4
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Huang S, Shi C, Tao D, Yang C, Luo Y. Modulating reward and aversion: Insights into addiction from the paraventricular nucleus. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e70046. [PMID: 39295107 PMCID: PMC11410887 DOI: 10.1111/cns.70046] [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: 06/16/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug addiction, characterized by compulsive drug use and high relapse rates, arises from complex interactions between reward and aversion systems in the brain. The paraventricular nucleus (PVN), located in the anterior hypothalamus, serves as a neuroendocrine center and is a key component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to explore how the PVN impacts reward and aversion in drug addiction through stress responses and emotional regulation and to evaluate the potential of PVN as a therapeutic target for drug addiction. METHODS We review the current literature, focusing on three main neuron types in the PVN-corticotropin-releasing factor, oxytocin, and arginine vasopressin neurons-as well as other related neurons, to understand their roles in modulating addiction. RESULTS Existing studies highlight the PVN as a key mediator in addiction, playing a dual role in reward and aversion systems. These findings are crucial for understanding addiction mechanisms and developing targeted therapies. CONCLUSION The role of PVN in stress response and emotional regulation suggests its potential as a therapeutic target in drug addiction, offering new insights for addiction treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Huang
- Hunan Province People's HospitalThe First‐Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal UniversityChangshaChina
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence ResearchPeking UniversityBeijingChina
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical SciencesPeking University Health Science CenterBeijingChina
| | - Cuijie Shi
- College of Forensic MedicineHebei Medical UniversityShijiazhuangChina
| | - Dan Tao
- School of MedicineHunan Normal UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Chang Yang
- School of MedicineHunan Normal UniversityChangshaChina
| | - Yixiao Luo
- Hunan Province People's HospitalThe First‐Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal UniversityChangshaChina
- Key Laboratory for Birth Defects Research and Prevention of the National Health CommissionHunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care HospitalChangshaChina
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5
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Brooks J, Maeda T, Ringhofer M, Yamamoto S. Oxytocin homogenizes horse group organization. iScience 2024; 27:110356. [PMID: 39071893 PMCID: PMC11277748 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The oxytocinergic system has been suggested to make up an important part of the endocrine basis of group cohesion. However, controlled studies in open-group settings have not been performed. We here investigated the impact of exogenous intranasal oxytocin on the group-level social organization of 5 groups of horses (N = 58; 12 mares and 46 geldings) through GPS tracking and social network analysis. We find oxytocin flattened social differentiation across levels. Most strikingly, oxytocin did not simply reinforce existing bonds but selectively shifted social preferences toward homogenization - individuals and pairs who otherwise rarely associated spent more time close together, while individuals and pairs with the highest baseline association instead spent more time further apart. This resulted in a more distributed structure and lower clustering coefficient at the network level. These effects reinforce and extend oxytocin's role in collective behavior, social organization, and the evolution of group-based sociality across taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Brooks
- Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tamao Maeda
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Research Center for Integrative Evolutionary Science, The Graduate University of Advanced Science (SOKENDAI), Hayama, Japan
| | - Monamie Ringhofer
- Department of Animal Sciences, Teikyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Yamamoto
- Institute for Advanced Study, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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6
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Lim MM, Wang Z, de Vries G, Albers HE. In memoriam: Larry J. Young, PhD (1967-2024). Horm Behav 2024; 163:105573. [PMID: 38820622 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Miranda M Lim
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; VA Portland Heath Care System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Zuoxin Wang
- Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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7
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Monari PK, Hammond ER, Zhao X, Maksimoski AN, Petric R, Malone CL, Riters LV, Marler CA. Conditioned preferences: Gated by experience, context, and endocrine systems. Horm Behav 2024; 161:105529. [PMID: 38492501 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Central to the navigation of an ever-changing environment is the ability to form positive associations with places and conspecifics. The functions of location and social conditioned preferences are often studied independently, limiting our understanding of their interplay. Furthermore, a de-emphasis on natural functions of conditioned preferences has led to neurobiological interpretations separated from ecological context. By adopting a naturalistic and ethological perspective, we uncover complexities underlying the expression of conditioned preferences. Development of conditioned preferences is a combination of motivation, reward, associative learning, and context, including for social and spatial environments. Both social- and location-dependent reward-responsive behaviors and their conditioning rely on internal state-gating mechanisms that include neuroendocrine and hormone systems such as opioids, dopamine, testosterone, estradiol, and oxytocin. Such reinforced behavior emerges from mechanisms integrating past experience and current social and environmental conditions. Moreover, social context, environmental stimuli, and internal state gate and modulate motivation and learning via associative reward, shaping the conditioning process. We highlight research incorporating these concepts, focusing on the integration of social neuroendocrine mechanisms and behavioral conditioning. We explore three paradigms: 1) conditioned place preference, 2) conditioned social preference, and 3) social conditioned place preference. We highlight nonclassical species to emphasize the naturalistic applications of these conditioned preferences. To fully appreciate the complex integration of spatial and social information, future research must identify neural networks where endocrine systems exert influence on such behaviors. Such research promises to provide valuable insights into conditioned preferences within a broader naturalistic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick K Monari
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychology, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Emma R Hammond
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychology, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Xin Zhao
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychology, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Alyse N Maksimoski
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Integrative Biology, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Radmila Petric
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychology, Madison, WI, USA; Institute for the Environment, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Candice L Malone
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychology, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Lauren V Riters
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Integrative Biology, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Catherine A Marler
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychology, Madison, WI, USA; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Integrative Biology, Madison, WI, USA.
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8
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López-Arjona M, Cerón JJ, Mateo SV, Contreras-Aguilar MD, Martínez-Subiela S. Validation of two immunoassays for oxytocin measurements in human saliva. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297539. [PMID: 38635553 PMCID: PMC11025789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The objective of this research was to develop and validate two immunoassays for oxytocin measurement in human saliva, one using a monoclonal and the other a polyclonal antibody against oxytocin, whose affinity for oxytocin was tested by an antibody mapping epitope analysis. These assays were analytically validated and used to compare oxytocin concentrations with those obtained with a commercial kit before and after the extraction or reduction/alkylation (R/A) treatments to saliva samples. The assays were also used to evaluate changes in salivary oxytocin concentrations following a physical effort and an induced psychological stress, which have previously been described as situations that cause an increase in salivary oxytocin. Both assays showed to be precise and accurate in the validation studies, and the antibodies used showed a defined binding region in case of the monoclonal antibody, whereas the polyclonal antibody showed binding events through all the oxytocin sequence. Although the monoclonal and polyclonal assays showed a positive correlation, they give results in a different range of magnitude. Both assays showed significant increases in oxytocin concentrations when applied after the physical effort and the psychological stress. This study shows that a variability in the reported values of oxytocin can occur depending on the assay and indicates that the use of different types of antibodies can give a different range of values when measuring oxytocin in saliva.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina López-Arjona
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Joaquín Cerón
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Sandra V. Mateo
- Molecular Inflammation Group, University Clinical Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain
| | - María Dolores Contreras-Aguilar
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Martínez-Subiela
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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9
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Witczak LR, Samra J, Dufek M, Goetze LR, Freeman SM, Lau AR, Rothwell ES, Savidge LE, Arias-Del Razo R, Baxter A, Karaskiewicz CL, Ferrer E, Bales KL. Expression of bond-related behaviors affects titi monkey responsiveness to oxytocin and vasopressin treatments. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2024; 1534:118-129. [PMID: 38442081 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15119] [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: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Social bonds influence physiology and behavior, which can shape how individuals respond to physical and affective challenges. Coppery titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) offspring form selective bonds with their fathers, making them ideal for investigating how father-daughter bonds influence juveniles' responses to oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) manipulations. We quantified the expression of father-daughter bond-related behaviors in females (n = 10) and gave acute intranasal treatments of saline, low/medium/high OT, low/high AVP, or an OT receptor antagonist (OTA) to subjects prior to a parent preference test. While females spent more time in proximity to their parents than strangers, we found a large degree of individual variation. Females with greater expression of bonding behaviors responded to OT treatments in a dose-dependent manner. Subjects also spent less time in proximity to strangers when treated with High OT (p = 0.003) and Low OT (p = 0.007), but more time when treated with High AVP (p = 0.007), Low AVP (p = 0.009), and OTA (p = 0.001). Findings from the present study suggest that variation in the expression of bond-related behaviors may alter responsiveness to OT and AVP, increasing engagement with unfamiliar social others. This enhanced sociality with strangers may promote the formation of pair bonds with partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynea R Witczak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jaclyn Samra
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Madison Dufek
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Leana R Goetze
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Sara M Freeman
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Allison R Lau
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Emily S Rothwell
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Logan E Savidge
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Rocío Arias-Del Razo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Alexander Baxter
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Chloe L Karaskiewicz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Emilio Ferrer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
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10
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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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11
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Fam J, Holmes N, Westbrook RF. Stimulating oxytocin receptors in the basolateral amygdala enhances stimulus processing: Differential and consistent effects for stimuli paired with fear versus sucrose in extinction and reversal learning. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 160:106917. [PMID: 38071877 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) influences a range of social behaviors by enhancing the salience of social cues and regulating the expression of specific social behaviors (e.g., maternal care versus defensive aggression). We previously showed that stimulating OT receptors in the basolateral amygdala of rats also enhanced the salience of fear conditioned stimuli: relative to rats given vehicle infusions, rats infused with [Thr4,Gly7]-oxytocin (TGOT), a selective OT receptor agonist, showed greater discrimination between a cue predictive of danger, and one that signaled safety. In the present series of experiments using male rats, the effects of OT receptor activation in the basolateral amygdala on stimulus processing were examined further using conditioning protocols that consist of changes in stimulus-outcome contingencies (i.e., extinction and reversal), and with stimuli paired with aversive (i.e., foot shock) and appetitive (i.e., sucrose) outcomes. It was revealed that the effects of OTR stimulation diverge for aversive and appetitive learning - enhancing the former but not the latter. However, across both types of learning, OTR stimulation enhanced the detection of conditioned stimuli. Overall, these results are consistent with an emerging view of OT's effects on stimulus salience; facilitating the detection of meaningful stimuli while reducing responding to those that are irrelevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Fam
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Nathan Holmes
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
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12
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Sadedin S, Duéñez-Guzmán EA, Leibo JZ. Emotions and courtship help bonded pairs cooperate, but emotional agents are vulnerable to deceit. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2308911120. [PMID: 37948585 PMCID: PMC10655579 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308911120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordinated pair bonds are common in birds and also occur in many other taxa. How do animals solve the social dilemmas they face in coordinating with a partner? We developed an evolutionary model to explore this question, based on observations that a) neuroendocrine feedback provides emotional bookkeeping which is thought to play a key role in vertebrate social bonds and b) these bonds are developed and maintained via courtship interactions that include low-stakes social dilemmas. Using agent-based simulation, we found that emotional bookkeeping and courtship sustained cooperation in the iterated prisoner's dilemma in noisy environments, especially when combined. However, when deceitful defection was possible at low cost, courtship often increased cooperation, whereas emotional bookkeeping decreased it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Sadedin
- Independent Researcher, Abbots LangleyWD5 0QS, United Kingdom
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13
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Mountoufaris G, Nair A, Yang B, Kim DW, Anderson DJ. Neuropeptide Signaling is Required to Implement a Line Attractor Encoding a Persistent Internal Behavioral State. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.01.565073. [PMID: 37961374 PMCID: PMC10635056 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.01.565073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Internal states drive survival behaviors, but their neural implementation is not well understood. Recently we identified a line attractor in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) that represents an internal state of aggressiveness. Line attractors can be implemented by recurrent connectivity and/or neuromodulatory signaling, but evidence for the latter is scant. Here we show that neuropeptidergic signaling is necessary for line attractor dynamics in this system, using a novel approach that integrates cell type-specific, anatomically restricted CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing with microendoscopic calcium imaging. Co-disruption of receptors for oxytocin and vasopressin in adult VMH Esr1 + neurons that control aggression suppressed attack, reduced persistent neural activity and eliminated line attractor dynamics, while only modestly impacting neural activity and sex- or behavior-tuning. These data identify a requisite role for neuropeptidergic signaling in implementing a behaviorally relevant line attractor. Our approach should facilitate mechanistic studies in neuroscience that bridge different levels of biological function and abstraction.
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14
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Badshah M, Ibrahim J, Su N, Whiley P, Whittaker M, Exintaris B. The Effects of Age on Prostatic Responses to Oxytocin and the Effects of Antagonists. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2956. [PMID: 38001957 PMCID: PMC10669827 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112956] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related enlargement of the prostate with urethral obstruction that predominantly affects the middle-aged and older male population, resulting in disruptive lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), thus creating a profound impact on an individual's quality of life. The development of LUTS may be linked to overexpression of oxytocin receptors (OXTR), resulting in increased baseline myogenic tone within the prostate. Thus, it is hypothesised that targeting OXTR using oxytocin receptor antagonists (atosiban, cligosiban, and β-Mercapto-β,β-cyclopentamethylenepropionyl1, O-Me-Tyr2, Orn8]-Oxytocin (ßMßßC)), may attenuate myogenic tone within the prostate. Organ bath and immunohistochemistry techniques were conducted on prostate tissue from young and older rats. Our contractility studies demonstrated that atosiban significantly decreased the frequency of spontaneous contractions within the prostate of young rats (**** p < 0.0001), and cligosiban (* p < 0.05), and ßMßßC (**** p < 0.0001) in older rats. Additionally, immunohistochemistry findings revealed that nuclear-specific OXTR was predominantly expressed within the epithelium of the prostate of both young (*** p < 0.001) and older rats (**** p < 0.0001). In conclusion, our findings indicate that oxytocin is a key modulator of prostate contractility, and targeting OXTR is a promising avenue in the development of novel BPH drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masroor Badshah
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia;
| | - Jibriil Ibrahim
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia (N.S.)
| | - Nguok Su
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia (N.S.)
| | - Penny Whiley
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia;
| | - Michael Whittaker
- Drug, Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
| | - Betty Exintaris
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia (N.S.)
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15
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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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16
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Wright KA, Polk R, Lin T, Feifel D, Ebner NC. Four-week intranasal oxytocin administration reduces attachment avoidance in older women. Horm Behav 2023; 155:105413. [PMID: 37659357 PMCID: PMC10961710 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105413] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) serves as a critical modulator of social cognition and social behavior. Adult attachment is an affiliative process crucial for social interaction across adulthood. Insecure adult attachment comprises two broad dimensions, attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Both these dimensions of attachment are currently understudied regarding OT modulation, and especially in older adults. The present study determined the effects of chronic intranasal OT administration on adult attachment in generally healthy older women and men (aged 55-95 years). Embedded in a larger project, participants were randomly assigned to self-administer 24 international units of either OT or a placebo (P) intranasally twice daily for four weeks. The Experiences in Close Relationships Scale assessed adult attachment (anxiety and avoidance) pre- and post-treatment. There was no significant pre- to post-treatment change in attachment avoidance overall, but the treatment x timepoint x sex interaction was significant, in that women (but not men) in the OT (vs. P) group reported decreased attachment avoidance. No comparable effects were observed for attachment anxiety. Results suggest that older women may benefit from chronic intranasal OT treatment by experiencing less attachment avoidance in their adult relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie A Wright
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| | - Rebecca Polk
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Tian Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - David Feifel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America; Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
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17
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Woodson J, Bergan JF. Uncovering the brain-wide pattern of synaptic input to vasopressin-expressing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. J Comp Neurol 2023; 531:1017-1031. [PMID: 37121600 PMCID: PMC10566340 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a neuropeptide critical for the mammalian stress response and social behavior. AVP produced in the hypothalamus regulates water osmolality and vasoconstriction in the body, and in the brain, it regulates social behavior, aggression, and anxiety. However, the circuit mechanisms that link AVP to social behavior, homeostatic function, and disease are not well understood. This study investigates the circuit configurations of AVP-expressing neurons in the rodent hypothalamus and characterizes synaptic input from the entire brain. We targeted the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) using retrograde viral tracing techniques to identify direct afferent synaptic connections made onto AVP-expressing neurons. AVP neurons in the PVN display region-specific anatomical configurations that reflect their unique contributions to homeostatic function, motor behaviors, feeding, and affiliative behavior. The afferent connections identified were similar in both sexes and subsequent molecular investigation of these inputs shows that those local hypothalamic inputs are overwhelmingly nonpeptidergic cells indicating a potential interneuron nexus between hormone cell activation and broader cortical connection. This proposed work reveals new insights into the organization of social behavior circuits in the brain, and how neuropeptides act centrally to modulate social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Woodson
- Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph F Bergan
- Neuroscience and Behavior Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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18
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Harvey AM, Beausoleil NJ, Ramp D, Mellor DJ. Mental Experiences in Wild Animals: Scientifically Validating Measurable Welfare Indicators in Free-Roaming Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091507. [PMID: 37174544 PMCID: PMC10177449 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091507] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mental experiences of animals are what characterises their welfare status. The Five Domains Model for assessing welfare aligns with the understanding that physical and mental states are linked. Following measurement of indicators within each of the four physical/functional Domains (1. Nutrition; 2. Physical environment; 3. Health; and 4. Behavioural interactions), the anticipated negative or positive affective consequences (mental experiences) are cautiously inferred and assigned to Domain 5. Those inferences derive credibility from validated knowledge of the underlying systems of physiology, neurophysiology, neuroethology and affective neuroscience. Any indicators used for assessing welfare need to be scientifically validated. This requires, firstly, evidence of the links between a measurable/observable indicator and the physical/functional impact (in Domains 1 to 4), and secondly, a demonstrable relationship between the physical/functional impact and the mental experience it is inferred the indicators reflect (in Domain five). This review refers to indicators of physical/functional states in Domains 1 to 4, which have been shown to be measurable in free-roaming wild horses, and then evaluates the scientific evidence linking them to inferred mental experiences in Domain 5. This is the first time that the scientific evidence validating a comprehensive range of welfare indicators has been synthesised in this way. Inserting these indicators into the Five Domains Model enables transparently justifiable assessment and grading of welfare status in free-roaming horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Harvey
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Ngaio J Beausoleil
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - David J Mellor
- Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
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19
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Exploring a Possible Interplay between Schizophrenia, Oxytocin, and Estrogens: A Narrative Review. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030461. [PMID: 36979271 PMCID: PMC10046503 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterized by symptoms of psychosis and sociocognitive deficits. Considering oxytocin’s antipsychotic and prosocial properties, numerous clinical, and preclinical studies have explored the neuropeptide’s therapeutic efficacy. Sex differences in the clinical course of schizophrenia, as well as in oxytocin-mediated behaviors, indicate the involvement of gonadal steroid hormones. The current narrative review aimed to explore empirical evidence on the interplay between schizophrenia psychopathology and oxytocin’s therapeutic potential in consideration of female gonadal steroid interactions, with a focus on estrogens. The review was conducted using the PubMed and PsychINFO databases and conforms to the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines. The results suggest a potential synergistic effect of the combined antipsychotic effect of oxytocin and neuroprotective effect of estrogen on schizophrenia. Consideration of typical menstrual cycle-related hormonal changes is warranted and further research is needed to confirm this assumption.
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20
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Bienboire-Frosini C, Marcet-Rius M, Orihuela A, Domínguez-Oliva A, Mora-Medina P, Olmos-Hernández A, Casas-Alvarado A, Mota-Rojas D. Mother-Young Bonding: Neurobiological Aspects and Maternal Biochemical Signaling in Altricial Domesticated Mammals. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030532. [PMID: 36766424 PMCID: PMC9913798 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Mother-young bonding is a type of early learning where the female and their newborn recognize each other through a series of neurobiological mechanisms and neurotransmitters that establish a behavioral preference for filial individuals. This process is essential to promote their welfare by providing maternal care, particularly in altricial species, animals that require extended parental care due to their limited neurodevelopment at birth. Olfactory, auditory, tactile, and visual stimuli trigger the neural integration of multimodal sensory and conditioned affective associations in mammals. This review aims to discuss the neurobiological aspects of bonding processes in altricial mammals, with a focus on the brain structures and neurotransmitters involved and how these influence the signaling during the first days of the life of newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Bienboire-Frosini
- Department of Molecular Biology and Chemical Communication, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Míriam Marcet-Rius
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare Department, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Agustín Orihuela
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Mexico
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Cuautitlán Izcalli 54740, Mexico
| | - Adriana Olmos-Hernández
- Division of Biotechnology—Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra (INR-LGII), Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
- Correspondence:
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21
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Jolink TA, Way BM, Younge A, Oveis C, Algoe SB. Everyday co-presence with a romantic partner is associated with lower C-reactive protein. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 107:132-139. [PMID: 36126852 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social relationships are an important driver of health, and inflammation has been proposed as a key neurobiological mechanism to explain this effect. Behavioral researchers have focused on social relationship quality to further explain the association, yet recent research indicates that relationship quality may not be as robust a predictor as previously thought. Here, building on animal models of social bonds and recent theory on close relationships, we instead investigated merely being in the physical presence of one's romantic partner. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that spending more time co-present with a loved partner in everyday life would be associated with lower C-reactive protein (CRP). Three times over the course of one month, 100 people in romantic relationships reported how much time they spent in the same physical space as their partner in the prior 24 h, in minutes, and provided a sample of blood for CRP assay (n observations = 296). Results from multi-level models showed that when one reported spending more time in the physical presence of their partner they had lower CRP - an effect that was independent from social relationship quality explanations from the prior literature, including romantic relationship quality, hostility, and loneliness. These findings move past global assessments of social isolation to consider a novel everyday behavior that is of great interest in the non-human animal literature - spending time together -- as a potential mechanism linking high-quality relationships and physical health in adult humans. The findings also point to future research on additional behavioral mechanisms that are not dependent on stress pathways: people in high-quality relationships tend to spend enjoyable and affectionate time with one another, which may impact inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatum A Jolink
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Baldwin M Way
- Department of Psychology, Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ayana Younge
- Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Christopher Oveis
- Rady School of Management, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sara B Algoe
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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22
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Coccia G, La Greca F, Di Luca M, Scheggia D. Dissecting social decision-making: A spotlight on oxytocinergic transmission. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1061934. [PMID: 36618824 PMCID: PMC9813388 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1061934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Social decision-making requires the ability to balance both the interests of the self and the interests of others to survive in social environments. Empathy is essential to the regulation of this type of interaction, and it often sustains relevant prosocial behaviors such as altruism and helping behavior. In the last decade, our capacity to assess affective and empathy-like behaviors in rodents has expanded our understanding of the neurobiological substrates that underly social decision-making processes such as prosocial behaviors. Within this context, oxytocinergic transmission is profoundly implicated in modulating some of the major components of social decision-making. Thus, this review will present evidence of the association between oxytocin and empathy-like and prosocial behaviors in nonhuman animals. Then, we will dissect the involvement of oxytocinergic transmission-across different brain regions and pathways-in some of the key elements of social decision-making such as emotional discrimination, social recognition, emotional contagion, social dominance, and social memory. Evidence of the modulatory role of oxytocin on social decision-making has raised considerable interest in its clinical relevance, therefore we will also discuss the controversial findings on intranasal oxytocin administration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Diego Scheggia
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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23
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Tsingotjidou AS. Oxytocin: A Multi-Functional Biomolecule with Potential Actions in Dysfunctional Conditions; From Animal Studies and Beyond. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1603. [PMID: 36358953 PMCID: PMC9687803 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a hormone secreted from definite neuroendocrine neurons located in specific nuclei in the hypothalamus (mainly from paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei), and its main known function is the contraction of uterine and/or mammary gland cells responsible for parturition and breastfeeding. Among the actions of the peripherally secreted oxytocin is the prevention of different degenerative disorders. These actions have been proven in cell culture and in animal models or have been tested in humans based on hypotheses from previous studies. This review presents the knowledge gained from the previous studies, displays the results from oxytocin intervention and/or treatment and proposes that the well described actions of oxytocin might be connected to other numerous, diverse actions of the biomolecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia S Tsingotjidou
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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24
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Huang J, Hao Y, Lai K, Lyu L, Yuan X, Yang G, Li W, Sun C. Neurosecretory protein GL in GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): cDNA cloning, tissue distribution and effects of feeding on its expression. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 327:114096. [PMID: 35841941 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL), a novel neuropeptide, has been identified in the hypothalamus of chicks and rodents. NPGL plays a crucial role in monitoring energetic status via the regulation of feeding and metabolism. However, no study on NPGL has been reported in fish thus far. In the present study, the full-length cDNA of NPGL was identified from the hypothalamus of GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The ORF of tilapia NPGL is 471 bp and encodes a precursor peptide with a size of 156 a.a, consisting of a 26 a.a signal peptide and an 82 a.a mature peptide. Tissue distribution profiles of npgl in tilapia were acquired using semiquantitative PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH). The results showed that the highest npgl mRNA is expressed in the telencephalic-preoptic complex, which comprises both the telencephalon and the anterior preoptic area (POA) of male tilapia, and in the ovary of female tilapia. In addition, in male tilapia, the ISH results showed that the cells containing npgl mRNA were distributed exclusively in the anterior periventricular pretectal nucleus (Ppa) of the POA. FISH results demonstrated that npgl mRNA is also expressed in the lateral tuberal nucleus of the hypothalamus (NLT). Real-time PCR showed that npgl mRNA significantly increased in the telencephalic-preoptic complex of male tilapia that were fasted for 24 h and then fed a full diet for 20 min compared with the unfed group. Results of the FISH study showed that parvocellular cells containing npgl mRNA in the Ppa of fed fish were apparently more abundant than those of the unfed group. Few npgl positive signals also appeared in the NLT after full feeding, where pomc mRNA is highly expressed. These results indicate that NPGL may be a short-term satiety factor in fish and that the coexpression of NPGL and POMC may be present in the hypothalamus of male tilapia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Huang
- State Key Laboratory Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Yuchen Hao
- State Key Laboratory Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Kingwai Lai
- State Key Laboratory Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Likang Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, PR China
| | - Xi Yuan
- State Key Laboratory Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Guokun Yang
- State Key Laboratory Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Wensheng Li
- State Key Laboratory Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Caiyun Sun
- State Key Laboratory Biocontrol, Institute of Aquatic Economic Animals and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
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25
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Nose-to-Brain Delivery of Therapeutic Peptides as Nasal Aerosols. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091870. [PMID: 36145618 PMCID: PMC9502087 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as psychiatric disorders, neurodegeneration, chronic pain, stroke, brain tumor, spinal cord injury, and many other CNS diseases, would hugely benefit from specific and potent peptide pharmaceuticals and their low inherent toxicity. The delivery of peptides to the brain is challenging due to their low metabolic stability, which decreases their duration of action, poor penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and their incompatibility with oral administration, typically resulting in the need for parenteral administration. These challenges limit peptides’ clinical application and explain the interest in alternative routes of peptide administration, particularly nose-to-brain (N-to-B) delivery, which allows protein and peptide drugs to reach the brain noninvasively. N-to-B delivery can be a convenient method for rapidly targeting the CNS, bypassing the BBB, and minimizing systemic exposure; the olfactory and trigeminal nerves provide a unique pathway to the brain and the external environment. This review highlights the intranasal delivery of drugs, focusing on peptide delivery, illustrating various clinical applications, nasal delivery devices, and the scope and limitations of this approach.
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Witczak LR, Blozis SA, Bales KL. Assessing variability in affiliative maintenance behaviours in captive coppery titi monkeys, Plecturocebus cupreus. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Dong C, Zheng Y, Long-Iyer K, Wright EC, Li Y, Tian L. Fluorescence Imaging of Neural Activity, Neurochemical Dynamics, and Drug-Specific Receptor Conformation with Genetically Encoded Sensors. Annu Rev Neurosci 2022; 45:273-294. [PMID: 35316611 PMCID: PMC9940643 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-110520-031137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in fluorescence imaging permit large-scale recording of neural activity and dynamics of neurochemical release with unprecedented resolution in behaving animals. Calcium imaging with highly optimized genetically encoded indicators provides a mesoscopic view of neural activity from genetically defined populations at cellular and subcellular resolutions. Rigorously improved voltage sensors and microscopy allow for robust spike imaging of populational neurons in various brain regions. In addition, recent protein engineering efforts in the past few years have led to the development of sensors for neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Here, we discuss the development and applications of these genetically encoded fluorescent indicators in reporting neural activity in response to various behaviors in different biological systems as well as in drug discovery. We also report a simple model to guide sensor selection and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Dong
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA;
| | - Yu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research; and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China;
| | - Kiran Long-Iyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA;
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Emily C Wright
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA;
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences; PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research; and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China;
| | - Lin Tian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA;
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Tonoike A, Otaki KI, Terauchi G, Ogawa M, Katayama M, Sakata H, Miyasako F, Mogi K, Kikusui T, Nagasawa M. Identification of genes associated with human-canine communication in canine evolution. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6950. [PMID: 35680934 PMCID: PMC9184530 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11130-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The dog (Canis familiaris) was the first domesticated animal and hundreds of breeds exist today. During domestication, dogs experienced strong selection for temperament, behaviour, and cognitive ability. However, the genetic basis of these abilities is not well-understood. We focused on ancient dog breeds to investigate breed-related differences in social cognitive abilities. In a problem-solving task, ancient breeds showed a lower tendency to look back at humans than other European breeds. In a two-way object choice task, they showed no differences in correct response rate or ability to read human communicative gestures. We examined gene polymorphisms in oxytocin, oxytocin receptor, melanocortin 2 receptor, and a Williams-Beuren syndrome-related gene (WBSCR17), as candidate genes of dog domestication. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms on melanocortin 2 receptor were related to both tasks, while other polymorphisms were associated with the unsolvable task. This indicates that glucocorticoid functions are involved in the cognitive skills acquired during dog domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Tonoike
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Otaki
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Go Terauchi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Misato Ogawa
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Maki Katayama
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Hikari Sakata
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Fumina Miyasako
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Mogi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
- Center for Human and Animal Symbiosis Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Takefumi Kikusui
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
- Center for Human and Animal Symbiosis Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan
| | - Miho Nagasawa
- Department of Veterinary Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan.
- Center for Human and Animal Symbiosis Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan.
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Kashash Y, Smarsh G, Zilkha N, Yovel Y, Kimchi T. Alone, in the dark: The extraordinary neuroethology of the solitary blind mole rat. eLife 2022; 11:78295. [PMID: 35674717 PMCID: PMC9177142 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
On the social scale, the blind mole rat (BMR; Spalax ehrenbergi) is an extreme. It is exceedingly solitary, territorial, and aggressive. BMRs reside underground, in self-excavated tunnels that they rarely leave. They possess specialized sensory systems for social communication and navigation, which allow them to cope with the harsh environmental conditions underground. This review aims to present the blind mole rat as an ideal, novel neuroethological model for studying aggressive and solitary behaviors. We discuss the BMR's unique behavioral phenotype, particularly in the context of 'anti-social' behaviors, and review the available literature regarding its specialized sensory adaptations to the social and physical habitat. To date, the neurobiology of the blind mole rat remains mostly unknown and holds a promising avenue for scientific discovery. Unraveling the neural basis of the BMR's behavior, in comparison to that of social rodents, can shed important light on the underlying mechanisms of psychiatric disorders in humans, in which similar behaviors are displayed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yael Kashash
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Grace Smarsh
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.,School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noga Zilkha
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yossi Yovel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Hydbring-Sandberg E, von Walter LW, Forkman B. Cortisol is not enough: A complex stress reaction in tethered goats. Anim Welf 2022. [DOI: 10.7120/09627286.31.1.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the diversity of physiological stress responses elicited by tethering versus loose holding in the Swedish domestic goat (Capra hircus). Eight goats were randomly divided into two groups and the experiment was performed in a crossover design.
Six goats had implanted transmitters that registered heart rate and arterial blood pressure telemetrically and blood samples were taken on separate days. Heart rate increased around feeding both when the goats were held loose in pairs, and when they were tied up. When the goats were tethered,
the heart rates and blood pressures were higher, and the concentrations of β-endorphin and oxytocin lower, compared to when held loose in pairs. In conclusion, housing and the company of another animal affect arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and the concentrations of β-endorphin
and oxytocin in goats, but the cortisol and vasopressin concentrations did not differ between the treatments. The higher arterial blood pressure and heart rate, and lower concentrations of β-endorphin and oxytocin in tethered goats indicate that being tied up may be more stressful for
the goats compared to being held loose. The use of single measures, eg cortisol concentrations, was not sufficient to give an accurate picture of the animals' response to the management system. This study demonstrates the importance of using a wide variety of physiological measures when evaluating
stress in animal welfare research.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Hydbring-Sandberg
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Box 7011, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - L Winblad von Walter
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Box 7011, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - B Forkman
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Animal Welfare and Disease Control Section, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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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] [MESH Headings] [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.
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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Raymond JS, Rehn S, Hoyos CM, Bowen MT. The influence of oxytocin-based interventions on sleep-wake and sleep-related behaviour and neurobiology: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:1005-1026. [PMID: 34673110 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The oxytocin (OXT) system has garnered considerable interest due to its influence on diverse behaviours. However, scant research has considered the influence of oxytocin on sleep-wake and sleep-related behaviour and neurobiology. Consequently, the objective of this systematic review was to assess the extant preclinical and clinical evidence for the influence of oxytocin-based interventions on sleep-wake outcomes. The primary search was conducted on 22/7/2020 using six electronic databases; 30 studies (19 preclinical, 11 clinical) were included based on inclusion criteria. Studies were evaluated for risk of bias using the SYRCLE tool and the Cochrane risk of bias tools for preclinical and clinical studies, respectively. Results indicated manipulation of the OXT system can influence sleep-wake outcomes. Preclinical evidence suggests a wake-promoting influence of OXT system activation whereas the clinical evidence suggests little or no sleep-promoting influence of OXT. OXT dose was identified as a likely modulatory factor of OXT-induced effects on sleep-wake behaviour. Future studies are necessary to validate and strengthen these tentative conclusions about the influence of OXT on sleep-wake behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel S Raymond
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Simone Rehn
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Camilla M Hoyos
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael T Bowen
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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Mengoli M, Oliva JL, Mendonça T, Chabaud C, Arroub S, Lafont-Lecuelle C, Cozzi A, Pageat P, Bienboire-Frosini C. Neurohormonal Profiles of Assistance Dogs Compared to Pet Dogs: What Is the Impact of Different Lifestyles? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092594. [PMID: 34573561 PMCID: PMC8466048 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Dogs are currently involved in various roles in our society beyond companionship. The tasks humans assign to them impact their daily life and can sometimes create stressful situations, possibly jeopardizing their welfare. For example, assistance dogs need to manage their emotions in various challenging situations and environments. Thus, the capacity to cope with emotional stress is highly desirable in assistance dogs (~40% of assistance dogs fail to complete their education program). The emotional and stress responses are guided by brain processes involving neuromodulators. Neurohormonal profiling of these dogs can: (i) give cues about their emotional suitability to fulfill an assistance role; (ii) enhance their selection; and (iii) help to assess and improve their welfare state during the training course. We compared basal blood levels of three neuromodulators of interest between two populations, assistance vs. pet dogs. We found significantly different concentrations of oxytocin, a neuromodulator involved in social behavior. Levels of prolactin, a putative marker of chronic stress, were higher (although not statistically significant) and variable in assistance dogs. Dogs’ age also seemed to influence the various neuromodulators levels. These findings highlight the impact of different lifestyles undergone by dogs and the possibility to use neurohormonal profiling to monitor their effect on the dogs’ welfare and stress state. Abstract Assistance dogs must manage stress efficiently because they are involved in challenging tasks. Their welfare is currently a fundamental issue. This preliminary study aimed to compare assistance dogs (AD; n = 22) with pet dogs (PD; n = 24), using blood neuromodulator indicators to help find biomarkers that can improve the AD breeding, selection, training, and welfare monitoring. Both populations originated from different breeds, are of different ages, and had different lifestyles. Basal peripheral concentrations of prolactin (PRL), serotonin (5-HT), free (fOT) and total (tOT) oxytocin were measured by immunoassays. Multiple linear regressions were performed to assess the effect of activity, age, sex, and their interactions on these parameters. Correlations between neurohormonal levels were analyzed. No interactions were significant. fOT and tOT concentrations were significantly influenced by age (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002, respectively) and dogs’ activity (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0277, respectively). A tendency was observed for age effect on PRL (p = 0.0625) and 5-HT (p = 0.0548), as well as for sex effect on tOT (p = 0.0588). PRL concentrations were heterogenous among AD. fOT and tOT were significantly but weakly correlated (Pearson’s r = 0.34; p = 0.04). Blood prolactin, serotonin, and oxytocin may represent biomarkers to assess workload and chronic stress-related responses in ADs and eventually improve their selection and training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Mengoli
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
- Clinical Ethology and Animal Welfare Centre (CECBA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Jessica L. Oliva
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Tiago Mendonça
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
- Clinical Ethology and Animal Welfare Centre (CECBA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Camille Chabaud
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Sana Arroub
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Céline Lafont-Lecuelle
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Alessandro Cozzi
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Patrick Pageat
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
- Clinical Ethology and Animal Welfare Centre (CECBA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Cécile Bienboire-Frosini
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-490-750-618
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Abellán-Álvaro M, Ayala G, Barneo-Muñoz M, Martínez-García F, Agustín-Pavón C, Lanuza E. Motherhood-induced gene expression in the mouse medial amygdala: Changes induced by pregnancy and lactation but not by pup stimuli. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21806. [PMID: 34369605 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100163rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During lactation, adult female mice display aggressive responses toward male intruders, triggered by male-derived chemosensory signals. This aggressive behavior is not shown by pup-sensitized virgin females sharing pup care with dams. The genetic mechanisms underlying the switch from attraction to aggression are unknown. In this work, we investigate the differential gene expression in lactating females expressing maternal aggression compared to pup-sensitized virgin females in the medial amygdala (Me), a key neural structure integrating chemosensory and hormonal information. The results showed 197 genes upregulated in dams, including genes encoding hormones such as prolactin, growth hormone, or follicle-stimulating hormone, neuropeptides such as galanin, oxytocin, and pro-opiomelanocortin, and genes related to catecholaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmission. In contrast, 99 genes were downregulated in dams, among which we find those encoding for inhibins and transcription factors of the Fos and early growth response families. The gene set analysis revealed numerous Gene Ontology functional groups with higher expression in dams than in pup-sensitized virgin females, including those related with the regulation of the Jak/Stat cascade. Of note, a number of olfactory and vomeronasal receptor genes was expressed in the Me, although without differences between dams and virgins. For prolactin and growth hormone, a qPCR experiment comparing dams, pup-sensitized, and pup-naïve virgin females showed that dams expressed higher levels of both hormones than pup-naïve virgins, with pup-sensitized virgins showing intermediate levels. Altogether, the results show important gene expression changes in the Me, which may underlie some of the behavioral responses characterizing maternal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Abellán-Álvaro
- Unitat mixta UV-UJI de Neuroanatomia Funcional Comparada, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Biologia Funcional i Antropologia Física, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Guillermo Ayala
- Department d'Estadística i Investigació Operativa, Facultat de Matemàtiques, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Manuela Barneo-Muñoz
- Unitat mixta UV-UJI de Neuroanatomia Funcional Comparada, Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Fac. Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez-García
- Unitat mixta UV-UJI de Neuroanatomia Funcional Comparada, Unitat Predepartamental de Medicina, Fac. Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló de la Plana, Spain
| | - Carmen Agustín-Pavón
- Unitat mixta UV-UJI de Neuroanatomia Funcional Comparada, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Biologia Funcional i Antropologia Física, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - Enrique Lanuza
- Unitat mixta UV-UJI de Neuroanatomia Funcional Comparada, Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Biologia Funcional i Antropologia Física, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, València, Spain
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Wirth S, Soumier A, Eliava M, Derdikman D, Wagner S, Grinevich V, Sirigu A. Territorial blueprint in the hippocampal system. Trends Cogn Sci 2021; 25:831-842. [PMID: 34281765 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
As we skillfully navigate through familiar places, neural computations of distances and coordinates escape our attention. However, we perceive clearly the division of space into socially meaningful territories. 'My space' versus 'your space' is a distinction familiar to all of us. Spatial frontiers are social in nature since they regulate individuals' access to utilities in space depending on hierarchy and affiliation. How does the brain integrate spatial geometry with social territory? We propose that the action of oxytocin (OT) in the entorhinal-hippocampal regions supports this process. Grounded on the functional role of the hypothalamic neuropeptide in the hippocampal system, we show how OT-induced plasticity may bias the geometrical coding of place and grid cells to represent social territories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Wirth
- Institute of Cognitive Science Marc Jeannerod, CNRS and University of Lyon, Etablissement 1, Bron, France.
| | - Amelie Soumier
- iMIND Center of Excellence for Autism, Le Vinatier Hospital, Bron, France
| | - Marina Eliava
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Dori Derdikman
- Neuroscience Department, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Integrated Brain and Behavior Research Center, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Angela Sirigu
- Institute of Cognitive Science Marc Jeannerod, CNRS and University of Lyon, Etablissement 1, Bron, France; iMIND Center of Excellence for Autism, Le Vinatier Hospital, Bron, France.
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36
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Koop S, Oster H. Eat, sleep, repeat - endocrine regulation of behavioural circadian rhythms. FEBS J 2021; 289:6543-6558. [PMID: 34228879 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The adaptation of organisms to a rhythmic environment is mediated by an internal timing system termed the circadian clock. In mammals, molecular clocks are found in all tissues and organs. This circadian clock network regulates the release of many hormones, which in turn influence some of the most vital behavioural functions. Sleep-wake cycles are under strict circadian control with strong influence of rhythmic hormones such as melatonin, cortisol and others. Food intake, in contrast, receives circadian modulation through hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, insulin and orexin. A third behavioural output covered in this review is mating and bonding behaviours, regulated through circadian rhythms in steroid hormones and oxytocin. Together, these data emphasize the pervasive influence of the circadian clock system on behavioural outputs and its mediation through endocrine networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Koop
- Centre of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Lübeck, Germany
| | - Henrik Oster
- Centre of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Lübeck, Germany
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Carmassi C, Marazziti D, Mucci F, Della Vecchia A, Barberi FM, Baroni S, Giannaccini G, Palego L, Massimetti G, Dell'Osso L. Decreased Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Patients With PTSD. Front Psychol 2021; 12:612338. [PMID: 34276462 PMCID: PMC8280334 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.612338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Although the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is still unclear, growing preclinical evidences suggest that oxytocin (OT), a pleiotropic hormone, is possibly involved. However, direct studies on OT levels or clinical trials with this exogenous hormone in patients with PTSD led to inconsistent findings. Therefore, the aim of the present study was at exploring and comparing the plasma OT levels in a group of patients with PTSD and matched healthy subjects as the control group. Materials and Methods Twenty-six outpatients (13 men, 13 women, mean age: 40.3 ± 11.5 years) suffering from PTSD, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), and 26 healthy subjects (13 men, 13 women, mean age: 43.8 ± 12.7 years) were included. The patients were assessed through the structured clinical interview for DSM-5 research version, patient edition (SCID-I/P), and the Impact for Event Scale revised (IES-R). All fasting subjects underwent three venous blood samples for the subsequent oxytocin radioimmunoassay. We used unpaired Student’s t-test to assess OT levels and the intergroup difference of demographic characteristics, while anxiety, avoidance, and hyperarousal scores were compared among groups adjusting for the effect of gender and age by means of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The correlations between different variables were investigated by Pearson’s method. Results The most common traumatic events of patients with PTSD were the following: severe car accident, physical violence, sexual violence, sudden death of a loved one, and natural disaster. The IES total score was 55 ± 15. Student’s t-test revealed that the patients showed significantly lower OT levels (mean ± SD, pg/ml) than healthy control subjects (4.37 ± 1.61 vs 5.64 ± 2.17, p < 0.001). We detected no correlation between the IES total score, subscales, or single items and OT plasma levels. Again, no difference between men and women was detected in the patients’ group, while healthy control women showed higher OT levels than men. Discussion Our study, while reporting the presence of decreased plasma OT levels in outpatients with PTSD of both sexes, as compared with healthy control subjects, would support the possible involvement of OT in the pathophysiology of PTSD. However, given the complexity of the clinical picture, future investigations are necessary to better deepen the role and level of OT in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Carmassi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Unicamillus-Saint Camillus International University of Medical and Health Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Mucci
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry, North-Western Tuscany Region, NHS Local Health Unit, Viareggio, Italy
| | - Alessandra Della Vecchia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Maria Barberi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Baroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Gabriele Massimetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Liliana Dell'Osso
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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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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Bubac CM, Cullingham CI, Fox JA, Bowen WD, den Heyer CE, Coltman DW. Genetic association with boldness and maternal performance in a free-ranging population of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). Heredity (Edinb) 2021; 127:35-51. [PMID: 33927365 PMCID: PMC8249389 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-021-00439-4] [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: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual variation in quantitative traits clearly influence many ecological and evolutionary processes. Moderate to high heritability estimates of personality and life-history traits suggest some level of genetic control over these traits. Yet, we know very little of the underlying genetic architecture of phenotypic variation in the wild. In this study, we used a candidate gene approach to investigate the association of genetic variants with repeated measures of boldness and maternal performance traits (weaning mass and lactation duration) collected over an 11- and 28-year period, respectively, in a free-ranging population of grey seals on Sable Island National Park Reserve, Canada. We isolated and re-sequenced five genes: dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), serotonin transporter (SERT), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), and melanocortin receptors 1 (MC1R) and 5 (MC5R). We discovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in each gene; and, after accounting for loci in linkage disequilibrium and filtering due to missing data, we were able to test for genotype-phenotype relationships at seven loci in three genes (DRD4, SERT, and MC1R). We tested for association between these loci and traits of 180 females having extreme shy-bold phenotypes using mixed-effects models. One locus within SERT was significantly associated with boldness (effect size = 0.189) and a second locus within DRD4 with weaning mass (effect size = 0.232). Altogether, genotypes explained 6.52-13.66% of total trait variation. Our study substantiates SERT and DRD4 as important determinants of behaviour, and provides unique insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying maternal performance variation in a marine predator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M. Bubac
- grid.17089.37Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Catherine I. Cullingham
- grid.34428.390000 0004 1936 893XDepartment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Janay A. Fox
- grid.17089.37Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Redpath Museum and Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - W. Don Bowen
- grid.418256.c0000 0001 2173 5688Population Ecology Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS Canada ,grid.55602.340000 0004 1936 8200Biology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Cornelia E. den Heyer
- grid.418256.c0000 0001 2173 5688Population Ecology Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS Canada
| | - David W. Coltman
- grid.17089.37Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
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Zheng X, Xu X, Xu L, Kou J, Luo L, Ma X, Kendrick KM. Intranasal oxytocin may help maintain romantic bonds by decreasing jealousy evoked by either imagined or real partner infidelity. J Psychopharmacol 2021; 35:668-680. [PMID: 33601928 DOI: 10.1177/0269881121991576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While romantic jealousy may help to maintain relationships, following partner infidelity and an irretrievable loss of trust it can also promote break-ups. The neuropeptide oxytocin can enhance the maintenance of social bonds and reduce couple conflict, although its influence on jealousy evoked by imagined or real infidelity is unclear. AIMS This study aimed to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) on romantic jealousy in both males and females in imagined and real contexts. METHODS Seventy heterosexual couples participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design study. Jealousy was firstly quantified in the context of subjects imagining partner infidelity and secondly in a Cyberball game where their partner interacted preferentially with an opposite-sexed rival stranger to simulate partner exclusion, or rejected a neutral stranger but not the partner. RESULTS Oxytocin primarily decreased jealousy and arousal ratings towards imagined emotional and sexual infidelity by a partner in both sexes. During the Cyberball game, while male and female subjects in both groups subsequently threw the ball least often to the rival stranger, under oxytocin they showed reduced romantic jealousy and arousal ratings for stranger players, particularly the rival one, and reported reduced negative and increased positive feelings while playing the game. CONCLUSIONS Together, our results suggest that oxytocin can reduce the negative emotional impact of jealousy in established romantic partners evoked by imagined or real infidelity or exclusive social interactions with others. This provides further support for oxytocin promoting maintenance of relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Zheng
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaolei Xu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Xu
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan Kou
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Lizhu Luo
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaole Ma
- The School of Educational Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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Madrigal MP, Jurado S. Specification of oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic circuits in the developing mouse brain. Commun Biol 2021; 4:586. [PMID: 33990685 PMCID: PMC8121848 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02110-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) support a broad range of behaviors and homeostatic functions including sex-specific and context-appropriate social behaviors. Although the alterations of these systems have been linked with social-related disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, their formation and developmental dynamics remain largely unknown. Using novel brain clearing techniques and 3D imaging, we have reconstructed the specification of oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic circuits in the developing mouse brain with unprecedented cellular resolution. A systematic quantification indicates that OXT and AVP neurons in the hypothalamus display distinctive developmental dynamics and high cellular plasticity from embryonic to early postnatal stages. Our findings reveal new insights into the specification and consolidation of neuropeptidergic systems in the developing CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pilar Madrigal
- grid.466805.90000 0004 1759 6875Instituto de Neurociencias CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Sandra Jurado
- grid.466805.90000 0004 1759 6875Instituto de Neurociencias CSIC-UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
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Guoynes CD, Marler CA. An acute dose of intranasal oxytocin rapidly increases maternal communication and maintains maternal care in primiparous postpartum California mice. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0244033. [PMID: 33886559 PMCID: PMC8061985 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal-offspring communication and care are essential for offspring survival. Oxytocin (OXT) is known for its role in initiation of maternal care, but whether OXT can rapidly influence maternal behavior or ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs; above 50 kHz) has not been examined. To test for rapid effects of OXT, California mouse mothers were administered an acute intranasal (IN) dose of OXT (0.8 IU/kg) or saline followed by a separation test with three phases: habituation with pups in a new testing chamber, separation via a wire mesh, and finally reunion with pups. We measured maternal care, maternal USVs, and pup USVs. In mothers, we primarily observed simple sweep USVs, a short downward sweeping call around 50 kHz, and in pups we only observed pup whines, a long call with multiple harmonics ranging from 20 kHz to 50 kHz. We found that IN OXT rapidly and selectively enhanced the normal increase in maternal simple sweep USVs when mothers had physical access to pups (habituation and reunion), but not when mothers were physically separated from pups. Frequency of mothers' and pups' USVs were correlated upon reunion, but IN OXT did not influence this correlation. Finally, mothers given IN OXT showed more efficient pup retrieval/carrying and greater total maternal care upon reunion. Behavioral changes were specific to maternal behaviors (e.g. retrievals) as mothers given IN OXT did not differ from controls in stress-related behaviors (e.g. freezing). Overall, these findings highlight the rapid effects and context-dependent effect a single treatment with IN OXT has on both maternal USV production and offspring care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleigh D. Guoynes
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States America
| | - Catherine A. Marler
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States America
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López-Arjona M, Mateo SV, Cerón JJ, Martínez-Subiela S. Changes in salivary oxytocin after stroking in dogs: Validation of two assays for its assessment. Res Vet Sci 2021; 136:527-534. [PMID: 33882381 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin is currently of high interest as a biomarker of welfare and stress in humans and animals. The purpose of this study was to validate two new assays (one using a monoclonal antibody and the other using a polyclonal antibody) for the oxytocin measurement in the saliva of dogs. For this purpose, an analytical validation was performed, and these assays were applied in an experimental trial in which dogs were stroked by their owners. In the experimental trial, saliva samples of 17 dogs were collected by the owners at three different times: a basal sample, at the end of 10 min of an affiliative interaction with their owners consisting of stroking and 15 min after the end of the affiliative interaction. The dogs were separated into two groups (group 1, n = 8 and group 2, n = 9) according to the acceptance of the sponge and the response to the stroking. Significant differences in the response of salivary oxytocin after stroking in the two groups were found when the assay with the monoclonal antibody was used. This assay showed a significant increase just after the end of affiliative interaction (P < 0.01) and 15 min after (P < 0.01) in those dogs that had a good acceptance of the sponge and the stroking induced a positive response on them (based in a Likert-type scale from 1 to 10). These data reflect that the assays used in this study can lead to different results when quantifying oxytocin in the saliva of dogs after stroking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina López-Arjona
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
| | - Sandra V Mateo
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
| | - José J Cerón
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Silvia Martínez-Subiela
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain
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Patterson DK, Pollock D, Carter CS, Chambers JE. Treating Opioid Use Disorder in Peripartum Mothers: A Look at the Psychodynamics, Neurobiology, and Potential Role of Oxytocin. Psychodyn Psychiatry 2021; 49:48-72. [PMID: 33635103 DOI: 10.1521/pdps.2021.49.1.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The peripartum period (pregnancy and postpartum) is a unique time filled with psychodynamic and biological changes that are critical in affecting the lives of mother and baby. Attachment, the biologically based emotional connection between a caregiver and infant, is critical to the development of the child. The early interactions in an infant's life shape their reward neuro-circuitry and the development of their internal working models and styles of attachment. Opioid use disorders in the mother affect the psychodynamics and neurobiology of attachment. There is significant overlap between the neurobiology of attachment and that of opioid use disorders. In this article, we hope to describe how opioid use disorders affect mother-infant attachment and how psychodynamic psychotherapy that is informed by attachment theory may be a potential treatment for mothers with opioid use disorders. Further, oxytocin plays a role in the attachment process and may function abnormally in mothers with opioid use disorders. As oxytocin affects attachment, administration of oxytocin during postpartum mother-infant interactions in the setting of psychotherapy may facilitate bonding and promote recovery from opioid use disorders in the peripartum population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle K Patterson
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | | | - C Sue Carter
- Distinguished University Research Scientist, Executive Director, Emerita, The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | - Joanna E Chambers
- Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and OB/GYN, Indiana University School of Medicine
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Combined Oxytocin and Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training for Social Function in People With Schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2021; 41:236-243. [PMID: 33783399 PMCID: PMC8887701 DOI: 10.1097/jcp.0000000000001397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A significant proportion of people with schizophrenia are characterized by impaired ability to socially engage with others. The development of effective interventions for social functioning remains a central therapeutic challenge. Cognitive-behavioral social skills training (CBSST) has been found to improve social functioning in schizophrenia, but with only medium effect sizes. Intranasal oxytocin also has prosocial effects, but also only with modest effect sizes. This study assessed whether the addition of intranasal oxytocin to CBSST can strengthen their impact on social function. METHODS Participants (N = 62) with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder entered a 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial with a 3-month follow-up evaluation at 2 sites: Maryland and San Diego. Participants were randomized to either intranasal oxytocin 36 IU (3 sprays) twice a day (n = 31) or intranasal placebo-oxytocin (3 sprays) twice a day (n = 31). All participants received CBSST plus a social cognition skills training module (48 total sessions). RESULTS There were no significant treatment group differences in social functioning, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, defeatist beliefs, or asocial beliefs. The interpretation of treatment effects was complicated by site effects, whereby participants in San Diego began the trial with greater severity of impairments and subsequently showed greater improvements compared with participants in Maryland. CONCLUSIONS The results did not support the utility of add-on intranasal oxytocin to psychosocial rehabilitation interventions like CBSST for improvement in social function (ClinicalTrials.gov trial number: NCT01752712).
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Understanding stress: Insights from rodent models. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2021; 2:100013. [PMID: 36246514 PMCID: PMC9559100 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2021.100013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Through incorporating both physical and psychological forms of stressors, a variety of rodent models have provided important insights into the understanding of stress physiology. Rodent models also have provided significant information with regards to the mechanistic basis of the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive illnesses, cognitive impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, rodent models of stress have served as valuable tools in the area of drug screening and drug development for treatment of stress-induced conditions. Although rodent models do not accurately reproduce the biochemical or physiological parameters of stress response and cannot fully mimic the natural progression of human disorders, yet, animal research has provided answers to many important scientific questions. In this review article, important studies utilizing a variety of stress models are described in terms of their design and apparatus, with specific focus on their capabilities to generate reliable behavioral and biochemical read-out. The review focusses on the utility of rodent models by discussing examples in the literature that offer important mechanistic insights into physiologically relevant questions. The review highlights the utility of rodent models of stress as important tools for advancing the mission of scientific research and inquiry. Stressful life events may lead to the onset of severe psychopathologies in humans. Rodents may model many features of stress exposure in human populations. Induction of stress via pharmacological and psychological manipulations alter rodent behavior. Mechanistic rodent studies reveal key molecular targets critical for new therapeutic targets.
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Coen CW, Bennett NC, Holmes MM, Faulkes CG. Neuropeptidergic and Neuroendocrine Systems Underlying Eusociality and the Concomitant Social Regulation of Reproduction in Naked Mole-Rats: A Comparative Approach. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1319:59-103. [PMID: 34424513 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-65943-1_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The African mole-rat family (Bathyergidae) includes the first mammalian species identified as eusocial: naked mole-rats. Comparative studies of eusocial and solitary mole-rat species have identified differences in neuropeptidergic systems that may underlie the phenomenon of eusociality. These differences are found in the oxytocin, vasopressin and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) systems within the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and lateral septal nucleus. As a corollary of their eusociality, most naked mole-rats remain pre-pubertal throughout life because of the presence of the colony's only reproductive female, the queen. To elucidate the neuroendocrine mechanisms that mediate this social regulation of reproduction, research on the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis in naked mole-rats has identified differences between the many individuals that are reproductively suppressed and the few that are reproductively mature: the queen and her male consorts. These differences involve gonadal steroids, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone-1 (GnRH-1), kisspeptin, gonadotrophin-inhibitory hormone/RFamide-related peptide-3 (GnIH/RFRP-3) and prolactin. The comparative findings in eusocial and solitary mole-rat species are assessed with reference to a broad range of studies on other mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clive W Coen
- Reproductive Neurobiology, Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Nigel C Bennett
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Melissa M Holmes
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada.,Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christopher G Faulkes
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Social Evolution in African Mole-Rats - A Comparative Overview. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1319:1-33. [PMID: 34424511 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-65943-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The African mole-rat superfamily are a unique group of subterranean rodents that are remarkable for their adaptations to a subterranean lifestyle and their range in sociality, spanning strictly solitary species to the naked mole-rat, the most social of all rodents. Widely distributed through sub-Saharan Africa their occurrence is associated with the presence of food resources in the form of underground roots, bulbs and tubers, which form their staple diet. African mole-rats have an ancient Oligocene/Eocene origin, with the naked mole-rat, the extant species with the earliest divergence from the common ancestor of the clade. As a consequence of its early evolution the naked mole-rat appears to have acquired many extraordinary biological features, even when compared with other mole-rats. Molecular phylogenies indicate that complex sociality and cooperative breeding has been convergently gained and/or lost more than once among African mole-rats, making them a fascinating group for comparative studies of social evolution. Ultimately, ecological constraints on digging and finding food have played a role in increasing cooperative behavior and social complexity, from what was most likely a monogamous ancestor living in family groups. Phylogenetically controlled comparisons suggest that proximate control of their lifestyle shows both conservation and divergence in the underlying mechanisms.
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Abstract
Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by the storage symptoms of urgency with or without urgency incontinence. Although there is no clear cause of this idiopathic disease, overall prevalence of OAB symptoms in individuals aged 40 years old is more than 15%. Oxytocin, which is one of the most powerful contracting neuropeptide, was also shown to exhibit high intrinsic contractile activity on detrusor muscle. Oxytocin receptor antagonists that inhibit of bladder activity might offer new insights into the treatment of OAB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onder Canguven
- Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Urology, USA
| | - Raidh Talib
- Department of Urology & Andrology, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar
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Campbell SK, Cortés-Ortiz L. Oxytocin amino acid variation within Neotropical primates: new genetic variants in hormone and receptor sequences and evidence for evolutionary forces driving this unexpected diversity. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Oxytocin is a mammalian neuropeptide hormone that mediates behaviours important to reproduction. Despite almost universal amino acid sequence conservation across most groups of mammals, several unique forms have been reported across Neotropical primates. To explore sequence diversity, we investigated the genes encoding oxytocin and its receptor across the Atelidae, which was known to contain at least three unique oxytocin sequences. Additionally, we included the genus Cebus, within the Cebidae, to further explore the ubiquity of the Pro8 variant in this family. We found a novel amino acid variant (Val3) within the Atelidae radiation, bringing the total number of oxytocin sequences within Neotropical primates to seven. Analyses of physicochemical properties revealed conservative substitutions that are likely tolerated within the selective constraints imposed by receptor binding. Furthermore, we report radical substitutions at the eighth codon and evidence for co-evolution between Pro8 and a ligand-binding region of the oxytocin receptor in the Atelidae, supporting the notion that this variant may affect binding specificity. Overall, we suggest that selective constraint on binding specificity may maintain proper oxytocin function and that the diversification of amino acid sequence is likely due to a variety of processes such as relaxed constraint, neutral mutation, positive selection and coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna K Campbell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Liliana Cortés-Ortiz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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