Region-specific associations between sex, social status, and oxytocin receptor density in the brains of eusocial rodents
Open accessAbstract
Naturally occurring variations in neuropeptide receptor distributions in the brain contribute to numerous mammalian social behaviors. In naked mole-rats, which live in large social groups and exhibit remarkable reproductive skew, colony-related social behaviors vary with reproductive status. Here we examined whether variation in social status is associated with variations in the location and/or density of oxytocin binding in this species. Autoradiography was performed to assess forebrain oxytocin receptor (OTR) densities in breeding and non-breeding naked mole-rats of both sexes. Overall, males exhibited higher OTR binding in the medial amygdala in comparison to females. While there were no main effects of reproductive status in any region, a sex difference in OTR binding in the nucleus accumbens was mediated by status. Specifically, breeding males tended to have more OTR binding than breeding females in the nucleus accumbens, while no sex difference was observed in subordinates. These effects suggest that oxytocin may act in a sex- and region-specific way that corresponds to reproductive status and associated social behaviors.
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OTR densities in the NAc correlate with socially monogamous mating strategies and other forms of social behavioral variation in prairie voles and other mammals.
“OTR densities in the NAc correlate with socially monogamous mating strategies and other forms of social behavioral variation in prairie voles and other mammals”
From Oxytocin receptors modulate a social salience neural network in male prairie voles (2017) · cites this paper as Mooney et al., 2015
In voles, OTR density in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is associated with individual and species variation in social attachment behavior.
“In voles, OTR density in the nucleus accumbens (NAc)—a region important for social and reward learning—is associated with individual and species variation in social attachment behavior.”
From Oxytocin receptors modulate a social salience neural network in male prairie voles (2017) · cites this paper as Mooney et al., 2015
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References 70 · Cited by 30
- Authors
- Mooney, S. J., Coen, C. W., Holmes, M. M., & Beery, A. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- King's College London (GB)
- Smith College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Holmes, M.M.
- Beery, A.K.
- Venue
- Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-09
- Volume
- 303
- Pages
- 261-269
- ISSN
- 0306-4522 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W758226247
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 4.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Neuroscience (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- NSF
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Keywords
- oxytocin receptor, naked mole-rat, social status, sex differences, reproductive status, medial amygdala, nucleus accumbens, social behavior
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Biological, Animals, Autoradiography, Brain, Female, Interpersonal Relations, Iodine Isotopes, Male, Oxytocin, Sex Characteristics, Social Dominance, Social Environment, Vasoconstrictor Agents, Vasotocin, Receptors, Oxytocin, Mole Rats
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