Oxytocin induces social communication by activating arginine-vasopressin V1a receptors and not oxytocin receptors
Open accessAbstract
Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) and their receptors are very similar in structure. As a result, at least some of the effects of these peptides may be the result of crosstalk between their canonical receptors. The present study investigated this hypothesis by determining whether the induction of flank marking, a form of social communication in Syrian hamsters, by OT is mediated by the OT receptor or the AVP V1a receptor. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of OT or AVP induced flank marking in a dose-dependent manner although the effects of AVP were approximately 100 times greater than those of OT. Injections of highly selective V1a receptor agonists but not OT receptor agonists induced flank marking, and V1a receptor antagonists but not OT receptor antagonists significantly inhibited the ability of OT to induce flank marking. Lastly, injection of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), a peptide that stimulates OT but not AVP release, significantly increased odor-induced flank marking, and these effects were blocked by a V1a receptor antagonist. These data demonstrate that OT induces flank marking by activating AVP V1a and not OT receptors, suggesting that the V1a receptor should be considered to be an OT receptor as well as an AVP receptor.
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There can be differences of around 10-100 fold in the selectivity of OTRs and AVP receptors for OT and AVP.
“Nevertheless, it appears that there can be differences of around 10–100 fold in the selectivity of OTRs and AVP receptors for OT and AVP.”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
AVP has similar affinity for OTRs, V1aRs, and V1bRs, whereas OT may have a higher affinity for OTRs than for V1aRs or V1bRs.
“AVP has a similar affinity for OTRs, V1aRs, and V1bRs while OT may have a higher affinity for OTRs than V1aRs or V1bRs [28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33].”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
A highly selective OTR agonist failed to induce flank marking, and a highly selective OTR antagonist failed to inhibit the induction of flank marking by OT.
“A highly selective OTR agonist failed to induce flank marking and a highly selective OTR antagonist failed to inhibit the induction of flank marking by OT.”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
A selective V1aR agonist induced flank marking, and a selective V1aR antagonist inhibited the ability of OT to induce flank marking.
“In contrast, not only did a selective V1aR agonist induce flank marking, a selective V1aR antagonist inhibited the ability of OT to induce flank marking.”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
ICV administration of OT induces flank marking in male hamsters.
“More recently, ICV administration of OT has also been shown to induce flank marking in male hamsters [33].”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
Both OT and AVP induce flank marking in a dose-dependent manner, although AVP is around 100-fold more potent than OT.
“Both OT and AVP induce flank marking in a dose-dependent manner, although AVP is around 100-fold more potent than OT in inducing the behavior (Figure 5).”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
ICV or hypothalamic injection of α-MSH induces flank marking behavior in hamsters, and α-MSH-induced flank marking is blocked by central administration of a selective V1a antagonist.
“Studies in hamsters have found that ICV or hypothalamic injection of α-MSH induces flank marking behavior and that α-MSH-induced flank marking is blocked by central administration of a selective V1a antagonist [33].”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [33]
Oxytocin mediates its central effects by binding with high affinity to oxytocin receptors and/or with lower affinity to vasopressin 1a receptors.
“OT mediates its central effects by binding with high affinity to OT receptors (OTRs) and/or with lower affinity to vasopressin 1a (V1aR) receptors (Schorscher-Petcu et al., 2010; Song et al., 2014).”
From Central oxytocin receptors mediate mating-induced partner preferences and enhance correlated activation across forebrain nuclei in male prairie voles (2016) · cites this paper as Song et al., 2014
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References 31 · Cited by 111
- Authors
- Song, Z., McCann, K. E., McNeill, J. K., Larkin, T. E., Huhman, K. L., & Albers, H. E.
- Affiliations
- Georgia State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Albers, H. Elliott
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-12
- Volume
- 50
- Pages
- 14-19
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4252597
- OpenAlex
- W2021214998
- Cited by
- 111
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 25.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH062044, MH 62044)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, vasopressin, V1a receptor, oxytocin receptor, receptor cross-talk, flank marking, social communication, golden hamster, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, intracerebroventricular administration
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Communication, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Cricetinae, Male, Mesocricetus, Oxytocin, Social Behavior, Receptors, Vasopressin, Receptors, Oxytocin, Receptor Cross-Talk, Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists
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