The document discusses research on the neuropeptide oxytocin and its role in pair-bonding behaviors in prairie voles through its actions in the nucleus accumbens. Specifically, it summarizes findings that oxytocin signaling is required for social conditioned place preference in mice. Oxytocin induces long-term depression of synaptic transmission onto medium spiny neurons in the nucleus accumbens through presynaptic oxytocin receptors located on serotonin neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus that project to the nucleus accumbens. Blocking serotonin 1B receptors in the nucleus accumbens also prevents social conditioned place preference.
2. OTR and pair-bonding
125I-OTA binding
Photo: Todd Ahern/Emory University/via the San Francisco
Chronicle
Prairie vole
Insel and Shapiro 1992
Montane vole
3.
4. How to make love like a prairie vole??
Kimberly A. Young, Kyle L. Gobrogge, Yan Liu, Zuoxin
Wang 2011
5. Love and other drugs
photograph copyright JeanLouis Klein and Marie-Luce
Hubert
In general partner preference formation is mediated through AVP neurotransmission in the ventral pallidum and lateral septum in males, and oxytocin in the Nacc and prelimbic cortex in females.For females, overexpression of OTR in Nacc facilitates partner preference in absence of matingBesides pair-bonding OT and AVP implicate I range of social behaviors, including social recognition, aggression and maternal care.
Implicated circuit for drug addiction but clearly evolved to motivate useful behaviors.GulDolen: Social behaviors in mice (right): Mice live in consociate “demes” consisting of five to ten adult members that share territorial defense and alloparental responsibilities as well as exhibit a number of behaviors (e.g. vocal communication, imitation, and empathy) that are the hallmarks of sociality
Also proof of principal for target-specific synaptic modulation by OT, before some may have thought there was only paracrine signaling.
Social experience reduces LTD, consistent with the idea that social experience induces OT LTD on its own
Previous paper using OTR venus reporter mouse found 50% colocalization in the dorsal raphe
Direct infusion of OT into dorsal raphe facilitated serotonin release