The DOI matches its Crossref record; 69 of the 69 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Oxytocin receptors in the nucleus accumbens facilitate “spontaneous” maternal behavior in adult female prairie voles
Abstract
Oxytocin and the nucleus accumbens have been extensively implicated in the regulation of maternal behavior, and the processing of pup-related stimuli relevant for this behavior. Oxytocin receptor density in the nucleus accumbens is highly variable in virgin female prairie voles, as is their behavioral response to pups, ranging from neglecting and infanticidal to full maternal behavior. We hypothesized that oxytocin receptor in the nucleus accumbens facilitates the expression of "spontaneous" maternal behavior in prairie voles. Forty sexually-naive adult females were exposed to pups for the first time and tested for maternal behavior. Oxytocin receptor binding in the nucleus accumbens and other brain regions was later determined using autoradiography. Females that showed maternal behavior (lick and groom the pups and hover over them for at least 30 s, n=24) had higher oxytocin receptor density in the nucleus accumbens (shell subregion) (P<0.05) than females that did not show maternal behavior or attacked the pups (n=16). No differences were found in other brain regions (medial preoptic area, septum, prelimbic cortex). In a second experiment, we tested whether infusions of the oxytocin receptor antagonist (d(CH2)5(1),Tyr(Me)2,Orn8)-AVT into the nucleus accumbens would block "spontaneous" maternal behavior. As a control region, oxytocin receptor antagonist was also infused into the caudate putamen. Ten females were infused bilaterally into the nucleus accumbens or caudate putamen with either 2 ng/0.5 microl of oxytocin receptor antagonist or CSF (vehicle). While five of 10 nucleus accumbens CSF-infused animals showed maternal behavior, none of the nucleus accumbens oxytocin receptor antagonist-infused subjects did (0/10; chi2, P<0.01). Nucleus accumbens oxytocin receptor antagonist-infused females recovered the next day and were not different from controls. Animals infused with CSF or oxytocin receptor antagonist into the caudate putamen did not differ (four/10, four/10). This is the first study to show that the nucleus accumbens is involved in the regulation of "spontaneous" maternal behavior and that oxytocin receptor in this brain region facilitates maternal responses.
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In the citing paper
“Prairie voles are highly nurturing, and virgin females can display spontaneous levels of maternal care depending on density of nucleus accumbens oxytocin receptors”
From Oxytocin, Neural Plasticity, and Social Behavior (2021) · cites this paper as Olazábal & Young 2006
In the citing paper
“When administered intranasally to human subjects, OT stimulates behaviors consistent with an enhancement of interpersonal trust during economic games [99].”
From Oxytocin and the Neural Mechanisms Regulating Social Cognition and Affiliative Behavior (2009) · cites this paper as [99]
In the citing paper
“For example, among virgin female prairie voles, a cooperative breeding species, alloparent behavior was positively correlated with oxytocin receptor density (Olazabal and Young, 2006) and when given an oxytocin receptor antagonist, adult female alloparent behavior was completely absent.”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Olazabal and Young (2006)
In the citing paper
“For example, among virgin female prairie voles, a cooperative breeding species, alloparent behavior was positively correlated with oxytocin receptor density (Olazabal and Young, 2006) and when given an oxytocin receptor antagonist, adult female alloparent behavior was completely absent.”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Olazabal and Young (2006)
In the citing paper
“Oxytocin transmission and oxytocin receptors in the NAc seem to facilitate maternal behavior in female voles [546].”
From Reward circuitry dysfunction in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic syndromes: animal models and clinical findings (2012) · cites this paper as [546]
In the citing paper
“Further, an infusion OTR antagonist into the NAcc prevents the display of spontaneous maternal behavior [33].”
From The prairie vole: An emerging model organism for understanding the social brain (2010) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“Approximately 60% of adult females display spontaneous maternal nurturing toward novel pups, while 40% either ignore or attack pups [33–35].”
From The prairie vole: An emerging model organism for understanding the social brain (2010) · cites this paper as [33]
In the citing paper
“For example, virgin female prairie voles that display maternal behavior have higher densities of OTR in the NAcc than non-maternal females [33, 34].”
From The prairie vole: An emerging model organism for understanding the social brain (2010) · cites this paper as [33]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Olazábal, D. E., & Young, L. J.
- Affiliations
- Emory University (US)
- Venue
- Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006
- Volume
- 141
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 559-568
- ISSN
- 0306-4522 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2071523320
- Cited by
- 289
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 14
- FWCI
- 13.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (K02MH064692, MH064692, MH 56538, R01MH056538)
- National Center for Research Resources (RR-00 165, P51RR000165)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin receptor, nucleus accumbens, maternal behavior, Microtus ochrogaster, oxytocin receptor antagonist, caudate-putamen, infanticide
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animals, Newborn, Behavior, Animal, Arvicolinae, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Iodine Isotopes, Maternal Behavior, Nucleus Accumbens, Protein Binding, Radioligand Assay, Time Factors, Vasotocin, Chi-Square Distribution, Receptors, Oxytocin
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