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Olazábal DE, Pillay N, Sandberg N, Hartman KJ. Description and comparison of brain distribution of oxytocin receptors in Rhabdomys pumillio and Rhabdomys dilectus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 335:114224. [PMID: 36702289 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114224] [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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) distribution in the brain has been associated with different reproductive and social strategies of species. Rhabdomys pumilio (R. pumilio) and Rhabdomys dilectus (R. dilectus) are two sister rodent species that live in large/medium (but flexible) or small (mostly solitary) social groups respectively. In this study, we describe and compare the distribution of OXTR in these two species. OXTR binding in the brain of R. pumilio (8 females and 5 males) and R. dilectus (8 females and 5 males) adults was determined using autoradiography. Our results revealed significant differences in the nucleus accumbens, diagonal band, medial preoptic area, lateral habenula, superior colliculus, periaqueductal area and anterior paraventricular nucleus (higher in R. dilectus), and the dorsal lateral septum and anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (higher in R. pumilio). OXTR density in other brain regions, such as the amygdala nuclei and hippocampus, did not differ between the two species. Sex differences were found in the medial preoptic area and ventral region of the lateral septum in R. pumilio (OXTR density higher in males) and in the anterior paraventricular thalamic nucleus, ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus and basolateral amygdala of R. dilectus (OXTR density higher in females). A sex difference in the density of OXTR was also found in the posterior region of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, where it was higher in males than in females of both species. This study shows species-specific brain distribution of OXTR in R. pumilio and R. dilectus that are unique, but with similarities with other polygynous or promiscuous rodent species that live in variable size groups, such as R. norvergicus, C. sociabilis, S. teguina and M. musculus.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E Olazábal
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Udelar, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - N Pillay
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - N Sandberg
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Udelar, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - K-J Hartman
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Krause S, Boeck C, Gumpp AM, Rottler E, Schury K, Karabatsiakis A, Buchheim A, Gündel H, Kolassa IT, Waller C. Child Maltreatment Is Associated with a Reduction of the Oxytocin Receptor in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. Front Psychol 2018. [PMID: 29535656 PMCID: PMC5835067 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Child maltreatment (CM) and attachment experiences are closely linked to alterations in the human oxytocin (OXT) system. However, human data about oxytocin receptor (OXTR) protein levels are lacking. Therefore, we investigated oxytocin receptor (OXTR) protein levels in circulating immune cells and related them to circulating levels of OXT in peripheral blood. We hypothesized reduced OXTR protein levels, associated with both, experiences of CM and an insecure attachment representation. Methods: OXTR protein expressions were analyzed by western blot analyses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma OXT levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 49 mothers. We used the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to assess adverse childhood experiences. Attachment representations (secure vs. insecure) were classified using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) and levels of anxiety and depression were assessed with the German version of the Hospital Depression and Anxiety scale (HADS-D). Results: CM-affected women showed significantly lower OXTR protein expression with significantly negative correlations between the OXTR protein expression and the CTQ sum score, whereas plasma OXT levels showed no significant differences in association with CM. Lower OXTR protein expression in PBMC were particularly pronounced in the group of insecurely attached mothers compared to the securely attached group. Anxiety levels were significantly higher in CM-affected women. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant association between CM and an alteration of OXTR protein expression in human blood cells as a sign for chronic, long-lasting alterations in this attachment-related neurobiological system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Krause
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christina Boeck
- Department of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Anja M Gumpp
- Department of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Ulm University, Germany
| | - Edit Rottler
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Katharina Schury
- Department of Clinical and Biological Psychology, Ulm University, Germany
| | | | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Harald Gündel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Krause S, Pokorny D, Schury K, Doyen-Waldecker C, Hulbert AL, Karabatsiakis A, Kolassa IT, Gündel H, Waller C, Buchheim A. Effects of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System on Oxytocin and Cortisol Blood Levels in Mothers. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:627. [PMID: 28008313 PMCID: PMC5143683 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin, a small neuropeptide of nine amino acids, has been characterized as the “hormone of affiliation” and is stimulated, for instance, in mothers when interacting with their offspring. Variations in maternal oxytocin levels were reported to predict differences in the quality of care provided by mothers. In this study, the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) as a valid measure to assess attachment representations was used as an activating attachment-related stimulus. We investigated whether the AAP induces a release of oxytocin in mothers with a secure attachment representation and a stress-related cortisol response in mothers with an insecure attachment representation. Therefore, pre-post effects of AAP administration on plasma oxytocin and serum cortisol levels were investigated in n = 44 mothers 3 months after parturition. Oxytocin levels increased from pre to post in the significant majority of 73% participants (p = 0.004) and cortisol decreased in the significant majority of 73% participants (p = 0.004). Interestingly, no association between alterations in oxytocin and cortisol were found; this suggests taking a model of two independent processes into considerations. These results show that the AAP test procedure induces an oxytocin response. Concerning the results within the four AAP representation subgroups, our hypothesis of a particularly strong increase in oxytocin in secure mothers was not confirmed; however, in secure mothers we observed a particularly strong decrease in cortisol. Effect sizes are reported, allowing the replication of results in a larger study with sufficient sample size to draw final conclusions with respect to differences in OT and cortisol alterations depending on attachment representation. When interpreting the results, one should keep in mind that this study investigated lactating mothers. Thus, the generalizability of results is limited and future studies should investigate non-lactating healthy females as well as males and include a control stimulus condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Krause
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | - Dan Pokorny
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | - Katharina Schury
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Anna-Lena Hulbert
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander Karabatsiakis
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | - Iris-Tatjana Kolassa
- Clinical and Biological Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | - Harald Gündel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
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Rem sleep, early experience, and the development of reproductive strategies. HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2015; 13:405-35. [PMID: 26193088 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-002-1001-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2002] [Accepted: 05/22/2002] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We hypothesize that rapid eye movement or REM sleep evolved, in part, to mediate sexual/reproductive behaviors and strategies. Because development of sexual and mating strategies depends crucially on early attachment experiences, we further hypothesize that REM functions to mediate attachment processes early in life. Evidence for these hypotheses comes from (1) the correlation of REM variables with both attachment and sexual/reproductive variables; (2) attachment-related and sex-related hormonal release during REM; (3) selective activation during REM of brain sites implicated in attachment and sexual processes; (4) effects of maternal deprivation on REM; (5) effects of REM deprivation on sexual behaviors; and (6) the REM-associated sexual excitation. To explain why we find associations among REM sleep, attachment, and adult reproductive strategies, we rely on recent extensions of parent-offspring conflict theory. Using data from recent findings on genomic imprinting, Haig (2000) and others suggest that paternally expressed genes are selected to promote growth of the developing fetus/child at the expense of the mother, while maternally expressed genes counter these effects. Because developmental REM facilitates attachment-related outcomes in the child, developmental REM may be regulated by paternally expressed genes. In that case, REM may have evolved to support the "aims" of paternal genes at the expense of maternal genes.
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Parker KJ, Maestripieri D. Identifying key features of early stressful experiences that produce stress vulnerability and resilience in primates. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2011; 35:1466-83. [PMID: 20851145 PMCID: PMC3023826 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2010] [Revised: 08/18/2010] [Accepted: 09/10/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This article examines the complex role of early stressful experiences in producing both vulnerability and resilience to later stress-related psychopathology in a variety of primate models of human development. Two types of models are reviewed: Parental Separation Models (e.g., isolate-rearing, peer-rearing, parental separations, and stress inoculation) and Maternal Behavior Models (e.g., foraging demands, variation in maternal style, and maternal abuse). Based on empirical evidence, it is argued that early life stress exposure does not increase adult vulnerability to stress-related psychopathology as a linear function, as is generally believed, but instead reflects a quadratic function. Features of early stress exposure including the type, duration, frequency, ecological validity, sensory modality, and developmental timing, within and between species, are identified to better understand how early stressful experiences alter neurobiological systems to produce such diverse developmental outcomes. This article concludes by identifying gaps in our current knowledge, providing directions for future research, and discussing the translational implications of these primate models for human development and psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J Parker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1201 Welch Road MSLS P-104, Stanford, CA 94305-5485, USA.
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Griffond B, Deray A, Bahjaoui-Bouhaddi M, Colard C, Bugnon C, Fellmann D. Induction of Fos-like immunoreactivity in rat oxytocin neurons following insulin injections. Neurosci Lett 1994; 178:119-23. [PMID: 7816320 DOI: 10.1016/0304-3940(94)90304-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Double immunostaining for oxytocin (OT) and Fos was used to study the oxytocinergic system of the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) following intraperitoneal insulin injections. The expression of c-fos in the PVN appeared about 3 h after insulin treatment and was very high after 5 h while no labelling was observed in isotonic saline-injected animals. Twelve to 18% of OT neurons expressed Fos-like immunoreactivity and these activated neurons were found in both the magno- and the parvocellular compartments of the PVN suggesting that the OT neuron responses to insulin induced disturbances are complex and involve hormonal as well as autonomic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Griffond
- CNRS URA 561, Faculté de Médecine, Besançon, France
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