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Cited by 107Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorStress Responses and CortisolHuman-Animal Interaction Studies

Sex differences and developmental effects of manipulations of oxytocin on alloparenting and anxiety in prairie voles

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Bales, Karen L., Pfeifer, Lisa A., Carter, C. Sue·2004·Developmental Psychobiology
DOI 10.1002/dev.10165
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Abstract

In adult animals, peptide hormones, including oxytocin and arginine vasopressin, have been implicated in both parental behavior and the modulation of anxiety. The purpose of this study was to examine the consequences of developmental manipulations of oxytocin for the later expression of alloparental behavior as well as behavioral responses to a novel environment, the elevated plus maze (EPM). Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), a cooperatively breeding species, were selected for this study. On neonatal Day 1, pups received an ip injection of oxytocin or oxytocin antagonist, or were controls, receiving either saline or handling only. At 21 and approximately 60 days of age, each animal was tested for parental care toward novel stimulus pups. At approximately 67 days, an EPM test was administered. Control females at 60 days of age were more likely to attack pups and spent less time in the open arm of the EPM, both of which might reflect higher levels of anxiety in females than males. In males, neonatal treatment with oxytocin antagonist was associated with reductions in parental care, especially during the initial exposure to pups on Day 21. Female behavior was not significantly changed as a function of neonatal treatments. Findings to date implicate vasopressin in the behavioral changes in males, that in later life followed a single exposure to an oxytocin antagonist, and suggest caution in the clinical use of agents such as Atosiban, which may have the potential to influence infant development.

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71 of 71 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • A single neonatal i.p. injection of an OTR antagonist on postnatal day 1 decreased alloparental care in male, but not female, juvenile prairie voles.

    “a single neonatal i.p. injection of an OTR antagonist ([d(CH2)5, Tyr(Me)2, Orn8]-Vasotocin) on postnatal day 1 decreased alloparental care in male, but not female, juvenile prairie voles”

    From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Bales et al., 2004

  • After single developmental manipulations of the oxytocin system, male prairie voles appear more responsive to lower doses of oxytocin, which induce changes in partner preference, sexual behavior and reproductive potential, responses to infants, and AVP receptors.

    “Single developmental manipulations of the OT system males appear to be more responsive to lower doses of OT which induce changes in partner preference (20,35), sexual behavior and reproductive potential (36), responses to infants (37), and AVP receptors (38).”

    From Chronic intranasal oxytocin causes long-term impairments in partner preference formation in male prairie voles (2013) · cites this paper as [37]

  • Sex differences in responses to OT are pervasive in both adult voles and in single-dose developmental studies.

    “While sex differences in responses to OT are pervasive in both adult voles (3,72) and in single-dose developmental studies (37,38,73)”

    From Chronic intranasal oxytocin causes long-term impairments in partner preference formation in male prairie voles (2013) · cites this paper as [37]

  • Studies in numerous species provide converging evidence that oxytocin during development can have permanent effects on the brain and behavior.

    “Yet, in the last 12 years, there has been a resurgence of research in this area, with studies in numerous species providing converging evidence that Oxt during development can have permanent effects on the brain and behavior (3, 13–29) (see Table 1).”

    From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [14]

  • In male prairie voles, treatment with an oxytocin receptor antagonist in neonates decreases alloparental behaviors, as measured by fewer retrievals, less time spent huddling over pups, and increases in pup-directed attacks when tested on postnatal day 21.

    “Specifically, males injected with an OTA within 24 h of birth and later tested on PND21 decrease their parental care, as measured by fewer retrievals, less time spent huddling over pups, and increases in pup-directed attacks.”

    From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [14]

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Authors
Bales, K. L., Pfeifer, L. A., & Carter, C. S.
Affiliations
  • University of Illinois Chicago (US)
  • University of Maryland, College Park (US)
Corresponding author
Bales, Karen L.
ORCID
Venue
Developmental Psychobiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-02-23
Volume
44
Issue
2
Pages
123-131
ISSN
  • 0012-1630 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-2302
DOI
10.1002/dev.10165
OpenAlex
W1973555825
Cited by
107
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 8
FWCI
8.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Developmental Psychobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P01 HD 38490, P01HD038490, F32 HD08702, F32HD008702)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Keywords
oxytocin, oxytocin antagonist, Microtus ochrogaster, alloparenting, parental care, anxiety, sex differences, vasopressin, elevated plus maze, atosiban, infant development, cooperative breeding
MeSH terms
Animals, Anxiety, Behavior, Animal, Cooperative Behavior, Female, Male, Oxytocin, Random Allocation, Sex Factors, Vasopressins, Parenting

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