Document Detail


Oxytocin receptor density is associated with male mating tactics and social monogamy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  22285648     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Despite its well-described role in female affiliation, the influence of oxytocin on male pairbonding is largely unknown. However, recent human studies indicate that this nonapeptide has a potent influence on male behaviors commonly associated with monogamy. Here we investigated the distribution of oxytocin receptors (OTR) throughout the forebrain of the socially monogamous male prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). Because males vary in both sexual and spatial fidelity, we explored the extent to which OTR predicted monogamous or non-monogamous patterns of space use, mating success and sexual fidelity in free-living males. We found that monogamous males expressed higher OTR density in the nucleus accumbens than non-monogamous males, a result that mirrors species differences in voles with different mating systems. OTR density in the posterior portion of the insula predicted mating success. Finally, OTR in the hippocampus and septohippocampal nucleus, which are nuclei associated with spatial memory, predicted patterns of space use and reproductive success within mating tactics. Our data highlight the importance of oxytocin receptor in neural structures associated with pairbonding and socio-spatial memory in male mating tactics. The role of memory in mating systems is often neglected, despite the fact that mating tactics impose an inherently spatial challenge for animals. Identifying mechanisms responsible for relating information about the social world with mechanisms mediating pairbonding and mating tactics is crucial to fully appreciate the suite of factors driving mating systems. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior.
Authors:
Alexander G Ophir; Ana Gessel; Da-Jiang Zheng; Steven M Phelps
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.     Date:  2012-01-21
Journal Detail:
Title:  Hormones and behavior     Volume:  61     ISSN:  1095-6867     ISO Abbreviation:  Horm Behav     Publication Date:  2012 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2012-03-26     Completed Date:  2012-06-25     Revised Date:  2013-04-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0217764     Medline TA:  Horm Behav     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  445-53     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Published by Elsevier Inc.
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. ophir@okstate.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Arvicolinae
Brain / anatomy & histology
Brain Chemistry / physiology
Cerebral Cortex / metabolism,  physiology
Female
Hippocampus / metabolism,  physiology
Homing Behavior
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Memory / physiology
Nucleus Accumbens / metabolism,  physiology
Pair Bond
Receptors, Oxytocin / physiology*
Receptors, Vasopressin / physiology
Septum of Brain / metabolism,  physiology
Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*
Social Behavior*
Space Perception / physiology
Telemetry
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
HD065604-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS; R15 HD065604-01/HD/NICHD NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Receptors, Oxytocin; 0/Receptors, Vasopressin
Comments/Corrections

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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