A huge amount of interest has been placed in studying oxytocin, not only on for its implication in female reproduction, but also for modulation of several aspects of social behavior. This review will first focus on mammalian organisms. In most of the experiments discussed below, microdialysis was used to measure the level of OT and AVP because of its ability to directly monitor both neuropeptides when released in the brain (Landgraf & Newmann, 2004).
a) Social bonding
A study on the behavioral effects of OT and AVP was done using prairie and montane vole models because they are genetically similar but, socially different. Prairie voles are social and form long-lasting bond with their mates and both parents are involved in the young care. In …show more content…
A comparative study done by McGraw & Young (2010) used voles as subjects, because of their distinct social behavior. They showed that prairie vole pups, which are part of monogamous species, react to social isolation with ultrasonic calls as well as an increase in corticosterone level, which is a hormone involved in stress responses. On the other hand, montane vole pups, which are promiscuous species, did not respond to social isolation as a stressor, but on the contrary did produce ultrasonic calls and presented a rise in corticosterone in response to nonsocial stressors. Other differences in those two species of voles were seen after mating. Male prairie voles presented an increase in behaviors such as affiliation and mate guarding (Insel, 2010). These behaviors were not present in montane voles after mating occurred. This might suggest that the monogamous social organization in prairie vole is reflected through pair bonding right after mating. Knowing that AVP and OT are released during mating, it was proven that AVP, when centrally administered to prairie vole males who have not mated, will lead to behaviors such as pair bonding; no effect of AVP was observed on mating behavior (Cushing & Carter, 2000). OT on the contrary, did not seem to induce any pair bonding in male prairie voles, but if an antagonist of OT receptor was given to them, a decrease in parental care behavior as well as partner …show more content…
OT does have anti-stress effects such as a decreases in blood pressure and cortisone level, and increases in insulin. According to Uvnas (1998), anti-stress effects could not be affected or blocked by an OT antagonist, generating ideas of the presence of other OT receptors that have yet to be identified. OT also has some anxiolytic properties that are necessary for the facilitation of social interactions, thus aid to modify behavior in order to improve both short-term coping and survival. For example, an increase in OT secretion was recorded in virgin and early pregnant rats when forced to swim; OT played a role here by reducing the stress associated with forced swimming , which was physically shown by the increase in the time of floating (Ebner, 2004), most likely to reduce the stress associated with it. Along with these findings, a Smith & Wang (2013) study showed that after administration of OT in the PVN of female prairie voles that recovered not in presence of their pair bond partner did not presented intense anxiety because OXT attenuated anxiety-like behavior. Whereas injection of an OT antagonist blocked that effect and more anxiety behavior was observed. Along with that, OT receptors are rich in the amygdala. Churchland and Winkielman (2012) stated that OT administration reduces amygdala activity and as a consequence reduce physiological and psychological reactivity to stressors. AVP on
a) Social bonding
A study on the behavioral effects of OT and AVP was done using prairie and montane vole models because they are genetically similar but, socially different. Prairie voles are social and form long-lasting bond with their mates and both parents are involved in the young care. In …show more content…
A comparative study done by McGraw & Young (2010) used voles as subjects, because of their distinct social behavior. They showed that prairie vole pups, which are part of monogamous species, react to social isolation with ultrasonic calls as well as an increase in corticosterone level, which is a hormone involved in stress responses. On the other hand, montane vole pups, which are promiscuous species, did not respond to social isolation as a stressor, but on the contrary did produce ultrasonic calls and presented a rise in corticosterone in response to nonsocial stressors. Other differences in those two species of voles were seen after mating. Male prairie voles presented an increase in behaviors such as affiliation and mate guarding (Insel, 2010). These behaviors were not present in montane voles after mating occurred. This might suggest that the monogamous social organization in prairie vole is reflected through pair bonding right after mating. Knowing that AVP and OT are released during mating, it was proven that AVP, when centrally administered to prairie vole males who have not mated, will lead to behaviors such as pair bonding; no effect of AVP was observed on mating behavior (Cushing & Carter, 2000). OT on the contrary, did not seem to induce any pair bonding in male prairie voles, but if an antagonist of OT receptor was given to them, a decrease in parental care behavior as well as partner …show more content…
OT does have anti-stress effects such as a decreases in blood pressure and cortisone level, and increases in insulin. According to Uvnas (1998), anti-stress effects could not be affected or blocked by an OT antagonist, generating ideas of the presence of other OT receptors that have yet to be identified. OT also has some anxiolytic properties that are necessary for the facilitation of social interactions, thus aid to modify behavior in order to improve both short-term coping and survival. For example, an increase in OT secretion was recorded in virgin and early pregnant rats when forced to swim; OT played a role here by reducing the stress associated with forced swimming , which was physically shown by the increase in the time of floating (Ebner, 2004), most likely to reduce the stress associated with it. Along with these findings, a Smith & Wang (2013) study showed that after administration of OT in the PVN of female prairie voles that recovered not in presence of their pair bond partner did not presented intense anxiety because OXT attenuated anxiety-like behavior. Whereas injection of an OT antagonist blocked that effect and more anxiety behavior was observed. Along with that, OT receptors are rich in the amygdala. Churchland and Winkielman (2012) stated that OT administration reduces amygdala activity and as a consequence reduce physiological and psychological reactivity to stressors. AVP on