Social experience and social context alter the behavioral response to centrally administered oxytocin in female Syrian hamsters

Neuroscience
A C HarmonH E Albers

Abstract

The type of social behavior displayed by an individual is profoundly influenced by its immediate social environment or context and its prior social experience. Although oxytocin is important in the expression of social behavior in several species, it is not known if social factors alter the ability of oxytocin to influence behavior. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that social experience and social context alter the ability of oxytocin to regulate flank marking (a form of scent marking) in female Syrian hamsters. Oxytocin was microinjected into the medial preoptic anterior hypothalamic continuum (MPOA-AH) of socially experienced, dominant female hamsters which were then tested with either a subordinate partner, with a novel partner, or alone. Oxytocin induced flank marking in a dose-dependent manner but only when the experienced dominant hamsters were tested with their familiar, subordinate partners. Oxytocin did not induce flank marking when injected into socially naive female hamsters that were tested with an opponent or alone. In males, by contrast, oxytocin induced flank marking in dominant hamsters when they were tested with their subordinate partner or alone. These data support the hypothesis th...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1994·Physiology & Behavior·A C HennesseyH E Albers
Sep 1, 1993·Behavioral and Neural Biology·M PotegalJ Meyerhoff
Jan 1, 1996·Critical Reviews in Neurobiology·C Barberis, E Tribollet
Jan 1, 1997·Reviews of Reproduction·T R InselZ Wang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 11, 2002·Journal of Neuroendocrinology·A C HarmonH E Albers
Apr 27, 2004·Neuroreport·Michael P BlackMatthew S Grober
Mar 16, 2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Elena CholerisDonald W Pfaff
Aug 21, 2010·Physiology & Behavior·Luis A MartinezAras Petrulis
Jan 8, 2013·Psychoneuroendocrinology·James L Goodson
Jul 2, 2014·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·Remco BredewoldAlexa H Veenema
Jun 9, 2010·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Stephanie J GutzlerH E Albers

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.