The DOI matches its Crossref record; 47 of the 48 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Increasing oxytocin receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens of pre-pubertal female prairie voles enhances alloparental responsiveness and partner preference formation as adults
Open accessAbstract
Oxytocin receptors (OXTR) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) promote alloparental behavior and partner preference formation in female prairie voles. Within the NAcc there is significant individual variation in OXTR binding and virgin juvenile and adult females with a high density of OXTR in the NAcc display an elevated propensity to engage in alloparental behavior toward novel pups. Over-expression of OXTR in the NAcc of adult female prairie voles using viral vector gene transfer facilitates partner preference formation, but has no effect on alloparental behavior, even though OXTR antagonists infused into the NAcc blocks both behaviors. We therefore hypothesized that long-term increases in OXTR signaling during development may underlie the relationship between adult OXTR density in the NAcc and alloparental behavior. To test this hypothesis, we used viral vector gene transfer to increase OXTR density in the NAcc of prepubertal, 21day old female prairie voles and tested for both alloparental behavior and partner preference formation as adults. Consistent with a developmental impact of OXTR signaling, adults over-expressing OXTR from weaning display both increased alloparental behavior and partner preference formation. Thus, the relatively acute impact of elevated OXTR signaling in the NAcc on partner preference formation previously reported appears to be dissociable from the effects of longer term, developmentally relevant OXTR signaling necessary for modulating alloparental behavior. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that oxytocin can have both long-term "organizational" effects as well as acute "activational" effects on affiliative behaviors.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Additionally, viral knockdown of OXTRs within the NAc of voles disrupts partner preference formation and alloparental behavior; however, pair bonding and maternal care are facilitated when OXTR expression in the NAc is increased, suggesting a direct role of NAc OXTRs in driving affiliative behavior [15,140].”
From The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives (2023) · cites this paper as [140]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
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 Keebaugh & Young 2011
In the citing paper
“Increasing OXTR density in the NAcc using viral-vector mediated gene transfer facilitates partner preference formation, while decreasing OXTR density in the same region using RNA interference inhibits such bonding (37–39).”
From Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Predicts Brain Region–Specific Expression and Social Attachment (2016) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“Increasing OXTR density in the NAcc using viral-vector mediated gene transfer facilitates partner preference formation, while decreasing OXTR density in the same region using RNA interference inhibits such bonding (37–39).”
From Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Predicts Brain Region–Specific Expression and Social Attachment (2016) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“and OXTR variation mediates individual differences in pair bonding behaviors (37–39).”
From Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Predicts Brain Region–Specific Expression and Social Attachment (2016) · cites this paper as [37]
In the citing paper
“Additionally, in prairie voles, the expression of spontaneous maternal behavior in virgin females is organized by developmental (and not adult) levels of OTR in the NAC shell, and is prevented by OTR antagonist injected into this region (Olazabal and Young 2006a; Ross et al 2009b; Keebaugh and Young 2011).”
From The behavioral, anatomical and pharmacological parallels between social attachment, love and addiction (2012) · cites this paper as Keebaugh and Young 2011
In the citing paper
“several studies have characterized the role of intra-NAc OR activation in facilitating partner preference formation in female, but not male, prairie voles”
From Oxytocin and Social Relationships: From Attachment to Bond Disruption (2017) · cites this paper as Keebaugh and Young 2011
In the citing paper
“Viral-mediated small interfering RNA knockdown of OXTR in NAcc of prairie voles inhibits partner preference (138), while overexpressing NAcc OXTR enhances partner preference formation (139).”
From Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior: From Neural Circuits to Clinical Opportunities (2022) · cites this paper as [139]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, OXTR signaling in the NAc plays a critical role for the formation of a preference for an individual, and the density of NAc OXTR correlates with such preferences 27–29.”
From Social experience alters oxytocinergic modulation in the nucleus accumbens of female prairie voles (2022) · cites this paper as [29]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, OXTR signaling in the NAc plays a critical role for the formation of a preference for an individual, and the density of NAc OXTR correlates with such preferences 27–29.”
From Social experience alters oxytocinergic modulation in the nucleus accumbens of female prairie voles (2022) · cites this paper as [29]
In the citing paper
“experimentally increasing9 or decreasing10 OXTR expression in the prairie vole nucleus accumbens modulated partner preference behavior”
From Oxytocin pathway gene networks in the human brain (2019) · cites this paper as [9]
In the citing paper
“animal models demonstrating that OXTR expression levels directly modulate social behavior9,10”
From Oxytocin pathway gene networks in the human brain (2019) · cites this paper as [9]
In the citing paper
“and that increased OXTR gene expression is associated with increased oxytocin binding”
From Oxytocin pathway gene networks in the human brain (2019) · cites this paper as [9]
In the citing paper
“By injecting an adeno-associated viral vector into the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) shell of female prairie voles at PND21 they were able to facilitate alloparental care, as measured by reductions in approach times and increases in time spent licking and grooming pups compared to controls (57).”
From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [57]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Oxytocin increases trust in humans
Kosfeld, M., Heinrichs, M., Zak, P. J., Fischbacher, U., & Fehr, E. (2005) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature03701 · Cited by 3,690
PHOENIX, C. H., GOY, R. W., GERALL, A. A., & YOUNG, W. C. (1959) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/endo-65-3-369 · Cited by 1,934
The neurobiology of pair bonding.
Young, L. J., & Wang, Z. (2004) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1327 · Cited by 1,523 · cited 1×
“In contrast to traditional laboratory models like mouse and rat, prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are genetically diverse microtine rodents that possess a rich repertoire of social behaviors, including pair bonding between mates and biparental care (Carter et al., 1995; Young and Wang, 2004).”
ResultOxytocin improves “mind-reading” in humans
Domes, G., Heinrichs, M., Michel, A., Berger, C., & Herpertz, S. C. (2007) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.07.015 · Cited by 1,298
Intranasal oxytocin improves emotion recognition for youth with autism spectrum disorders.
Guastella, A. J., Einfeld, S. L., Gray, K. M., Rinehart, N. J., Tonge, B. J., Lambert, T. J., & Hickie, I. B. (2010) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.09.020 · Cited by 962
Promoting social behavior with oxytocin in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.
Andari, E., Duhamel, J.-R., Zalla, T., Herbrecht, E., Leboyer, M., & Sirigu, A. (2010) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0910249107 · Cited by 941
Pedersen, C. A., & Prange, A. J. (1979) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.76.12.6661 · Cited by 841
Oxytocin receptor distribution reflects social organization in monogamous and polygamous voles
Insel, T. R., & Shapiro, L. E. (1992) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.89.13.5981 · Cited by 833
Ditzen, B., Schaer, M., Gabriel, B., Bodenmann, G., Ehlert, U., & Heinrichs, M. (2009) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.10.011 · Cited by 805 · cited 1×
“In humans, OT has been shown to modulate social behavior, including interpersonal trust, eye gaze, facial memory, and emotion perception (Ditzen et al., 2009; Domes et al., 2007; Guastella et al., 2008; Kosfeld et al., 2005).”
BackgroundOxytocin increases gaze to the eye region of human faces
Guastella, A. J., Mitchell, P. B., & Dadds, M. R. (2008) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.06.026 · Cited by 798
Flagged first, then by citations
1 of the 48 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–153 of 153
PVN–NAc Shell–VP Circuit OT and OTR Neurons Regulate Pair Bonding via D2R and D1R
Zhang, L., Qu, Y., Li, L., Sun, Y., Qian, W., Xiao, J., Huang, K., Han, X., Niu, H., Li, L., et al. (2025) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2061-24.2025 · Cited by 4
Wu, R., Xu, Z., Song, Z., & Tai, F. (2023) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105366 · Cited by 4
Social neuroscience: Staying bonded over oxytocin and endocannabinoids
Nair, A. R., & Chang, S. W. C. (2022) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.02.009 · Cited by 4
Boender, A. J., Johnson, Z. V., Green, K. K., Gruenhagen, G. W., Hegarty, B. E., Horie, K., Inoue, K., Schmidt, E. R. E., Streelman, J. T., Walum, H., et al. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.10.26.564214 · Cited by 5
Johnson, M., Zweig, J. A., Zhang, Y., Nunez, L., Ryabinina, O. P., Hibert, M., & Ryabinin, A. E. (2024) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-024-02993-x · Cited by 3
Romero‐Morales, L., García‐Saucedo, B., Carmona, A., Cervantes, F. A., & Luis, J. (2024) · Frontiers in Ethology · doi:10.3389/fetho.2024.1475119 · Cited by 4
Rokicki, J., Quintana, D. S., & Westlye, L. T. (2021) · Methods in molecular biology · doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1759-5_8 · Cited by 3
Oxytocin Neurons Are Essential in the Social Transmission of Maternal Behavior
Fang, X., Wang, Y., & Huang, Z. (2022) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2022.847396 · Cited by 3
Group-specific social dynamics affect urinary oxytocin levels in Taï male chimpanzees
Anna, P., Liran, S., Tobias, D., Catherine, C., & Roman, W. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108674218.022 · Cited by 3
Pair-Bonding, Mating Systems and Hormones
Goymann, W. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809633-8.01065-7 · Cited by 3
Witchey, S. K., & Caldwell, H. K. (2020) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2020.11.20.392027 · Cited by 3
Rigney, N., Horie, K., Guo, J., Blumenthal, S. A., Johnson, Z. V., & Young, L. J. (2025) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2025.105726 · Cited by 2
Sil, M., Nawn, D., Hassan, S. S., Chakraborty, S., Goswami, A., Basu, P., Roopesh, L., Wu, E., Lundstrom, K. H., & Uversky, V. N. (2025) · Next research. · doi:10.1016/j.nexres.2025.100247 · Cited by 2
Flibanserin-Stimulated Partner Grooming Reflects Brain Metabolism Changes in Female Marmosets
Converse, A. K., Aubert, Y., Allers, K. A., Sommer, B., & Abbott, D. H. (2015) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · doi:10.1111/jsm.13068 · Cited by 2
Group specific social dynamics affect urinary ocytocin levels in Tai male chimpanzees
Preis, A., Samuni, L., Deschner, T., Crockford, C., & Wittig, R. M. (2019) · MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) · Cited by 2
Joseph, S. K., Wagman, E. K., Diab, N., Ryu, N., Lee, M., Haas, R., Rilling, J. K., Aldenderfer, M. S., & Lindo, J. (2024) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/gbb.12877 · Cited by 2
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0008 · Cited by 2
Hormonal Control of Maternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0003 · Cited by 2
Morris, J. F. (2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-385095-9.00129-9 · Cited by 2
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0002 · Cited by 1
Castro, A. E., López-Quiroz, M. A., Ávila‐González, D., Camacho, F., Paredes, R. G., Díaz, N. F., & Portillo, W. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0335626 · Cited by 1
Bowden, S., Becker, K. D., Luxhoj, A., Grinevich, V., Lee, J. D. A., & Veenema, A. H. (2026) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2026.105949 · Cited by 1
Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Sex Differences in Social Behavior. It’s Complicated!
Veney, S. L., & Caldwell, H. K. (2024) · Masterclass in neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-51112-7_5 · Cited by 1
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0001 · Cited by 1
Central Neural Circuits Regulating Maternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0005 · Cited by 1
Alloparental Behavior and Paternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0007 · Cited by 1
Oxytocin Receptors and Neurobehavior
Kumsta, R., Zang, J. C. S., & Moser, D. (2016) · Epigenetics and human health · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-29901-3_10
Epigenetics and the Evolution of Human Social Cognition
Ragsdale, G., & Foley, R. (2018) · Interdisciplinary evolution research · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93776-2_11
Evolutionary Perspectives on the Parental Brain
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0011
Anxiety Reduction and Maternal Aggression in Postpartum Nonhuman Mammals
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0006
Development of the Parental Brain in Nonhuman Mammals
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0009
Development of the Parental Brain in Humans
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0010
Brain Mechanisms Regulating Maternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.003.0004
Pharmacological Characterisation of Novel Oxytocin and Vasopressin Receptor Ligands
Gulliver, D. W. (2021) · The Sydney eScholarship Repository (The University of Sydney)
Génétique des soins parentaux de « caregiving »
Costa, R. A. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-2-294-77731-8.00008-4
The Neuroendocrine and Cardiovascular Responses to a Pup in Male Prairie Voles (M. ochrogaster)
Kenkel, W. M. (2013) · Figshare
Sweatt, J. D., & Day, J. J. (2013) · Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature · doi:10.3410/f.718018322.793478215
(2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-416040-8.16001-8
Rokicki, J., Quintana, D. S., & Westlye, L. T. (2020) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/hz96u
‘Mind-blowing’ study upends conventional wisdom on oxytocin
Askham, A. V. (2023) · The Transmitter · doi:10.53053/lece6116
Biology of Coital Behavior: Looking Through the Lens of Mathematical GenomicsPreprint
Sil, M., Nawn, D., Hassan, S. S., Chakraborty, S., Goswami, A., Basu, P., Roopesh, L., Wu, E., Lundstrom, K. H., & Uversky, V. N. (2023) · doi:10.22541/au.168132735.57848131/v1
Biology of Coital Behavior: Looking Through the Lens of Mathematical GenomicsPreprint
Sil, M., Nawn, D., Hassan, S. S., Chakraborty, S., Goswami, A., Basu, P., Roopesh, L., Wu, E., Lundstrom, K. H., & Uversky, V. N. (2023) · doi:10.22541/au.168140939.97225898/v1
Biology of Coital Behavior: Looking Through the Lens of Mathematical GenomicsPreprint
Sil, M., Nawn, D., Hassan, S. S., Chakraborty, S., Goswami, A., Basu, P., Roopesh, L., Wu, E., Lundstrom, K. H., & Uversky, V. N. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.04.12.536521
The neurohormonal basis of social attachment: oxytocin in regulating pair and maternal bonds
Wu, A. (2023) · Journal of Student Research · doi:10.47611/jsrhs.v12i2.4203
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.002.0006
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.002.0003
Abbreviations Used for Major Brain Regions
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.002.0007
Numan, M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190848675.002.0004
Kelly, A. M. (2025) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2025.105763
Wang, Y., Yu, J., Ma, R., Chen, Y., Lu, S., & Fang, J. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-14076-y
Evolutionarily conserved role of oxytocin in zebrafish social reward encoding
Kareklas, K., Herrera-Castillo, L., Levkowitz, G., & Oliveira, R. F. (2025) · Biology Letters · doi:10.1098/rsbl.2025.0628 · Cited by 1
Pair bonding sex-specifically improves object recognition memory in monogamous prairie vole
Iwai, H., Otsuki, C., Kobayashi, Y., Okano, S., Sugimura, N., Kamura, E., Totsuka, A., Noguchi, R., Young, L. J., & Mitsui, S. (2026) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2026.115333
Parental rearing shapes brain functional networks and socio-sexual behaviours in the prairie vole
López-Gutiérrez, M. F., Gracia-Tabuenca, Z., Ortíz-Retana, J. J., Camacho, F. J., Paredes, R. G., Díaz, N. F., Alcauter, S., & Portillo, W. (2026) · Open Biology · doi:10.1098/rsob.250177
Metadata
- Authors
- Keebaugh, A. C., & Young, L. J.
- Affiliations
- Emory University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Keebaugh, Alaine C.
- ORCID
- Young, Larry J.
- Venue
- Hormones and Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-11
- Volume
- 60
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 498-504
- ISSN
- 0018-506X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3210320
- OpenAlex
- W1969779840
- Cited by
- 154
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 10.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- NIH (MH064692, RR00165)
- 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 › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Keywords
- oxytocin receptor, nucleus accumbens, Microtus ochrogaster, mate preferences, prepubertal development, oxytocin, organizational effects, activational effects, affiliative behavior, female social behavior, gene overexpression
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arvicolinae, Female, Nucleus Accumbens, Pair Bond, Receptors, Oxytocin
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
