Sex differences in oxytocin receptor binding in forebrain regions: correlations with social interest in brain region- and sex-specific ways
Abstract
Social interest reflects the motivation to approach a conspecific for the assessment of social cues and is measured in rats by the amount of time spent investigating conspecifics. Virgin female rats show lower social interest towards unfamiliar juvenile conspecifics than virgin male rats. We hypothesized that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) may modulate sex differences in social interest because of the involvement of OT in pro-social behaviors. We determined whether there are sex differences in OT system parameters in the brain and whether these parameters would correlate with social interest. We also determined whether estrus phase or maternal experience would alter low social interest and whether this would correlate with changes in OT system parameters. Our results show that regardless of estrus phase, females have significantly lower OT receptor (OTR) binding densities than males in the majority of forebrain regions analyzed, including the nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, lateral septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial amygdala, and ventromedial hypothalamus. Interestingly, male social interest correlated positively with OTR binding densities in the medial amygdala, while female social interest correlated negatively with OTR binding densities in the central amygdala. Proestrus/estrus females showed similar social interest to non-estrus females despite increased OTR binding densities in several forebrain areas. Maternal experience had no immediate or long-lasting effects on social interest or OT brain parameters except for higher OTR binding in the medial amygdala in primiparous females. Together, these findings demonstrate that there are robust sex differences in OTR binding densities in multiple forebrain regions of rats and that OTR binding densities correlate with social interest in brain region- and sex-specific ways.
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AVP and OXT systems in the brain are sexually dimorphic.
“Furthermore, AVP and OXT systems in the brain are sexually dimorphic (De Vries and Panzica, 2006; Dumais et al., 2013a).”
From Sex-specific modulation of juvenile social play behavior by vasopressin and oxytocin depends on social context (2014) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013a
Adult male rats have higher OXT receptor (OTR) binding densities in various forebrain regions, including the lateral septum.
“Furthermore, adult male rats have higher OXT receptor (OTR) binding densities in various forebrain regions, including the lateral septum (Dumais et al., 2013a).”
From Sex-specific modulation of juvenile social play behavior by vasopressin and oxytocin depends on social context (2014) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013a
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis shows denser OTR binding than the lateral septum.
“an area that shows denser OTR binding than the lateral septum (Dumais et al., 2013a).”
From Sex-specific modulation of juvenile social play behavior by vasopressin and oxytocin depends on social context (2014) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013a
Some studies have shown sex differences in the duration of social investigation.
“Some studies have shown sex differences in the duration of social investigation [12–14]”
From Effects of sex and gonadectomy on social investigation and social recognition in mice (2015) · cites this paper as [14]
In Wistar rats, males had higher OTR binding densities than females in 9 out of 15 forebrain regions analyzed.
“we found that males had higher OTR binding densities than females in 9 out of 15 forebrain regions analyzed.”
From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013
Males have higher OTR binding densities than females in various brain regions implicated in social behavior, such as the olfactory bulb, LS, and MPOA.
“we found that males have higher OTR binding densities than females (Dumais et al., 2013) in various brain regions implicated in social behavior, such as the olfactory bulb, LS, and MPOA.”
From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013
In adult rats, OTR binding in the CeA of females correlated negatively with social interest.
“OTR binding in the CeA in female rats correlated negatively, while OTR binding in the MeA in male rats correlated positively with social interest (Dumais et al., 2013).”
From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013
In adult rats, OTR binding in the MeA of males correlated positively with social interest.
“OTR binding in the CeA in female rats correlated negatively, while OTR binding in the MeA in male rats correlated positively with social interest (Dumais et al., 2013).”
From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013
Sex differences in OTR binding densities in specific brain regions in adult rats have also been found in the same brain regions of juvenile rats.
“sex differences in OTR binding densities in specific brain regions in adult rats (Dumais et al., 2013) have also been found in the same brain regions of juvenile rats (Smith et al., 2014).”
From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013
Sex differences in OTR binding were found in multiple brain regions in rodent studies that used a more comprehensive analysis (deer mice: 8 out of 20 brain regions; rats: 9 out of 15 forebrain regions).
“Similar to V1aR, sex differences in OTR binding were found in multiple brain regions in those rodent studies that used a more comprehensive analysis (deer mice: 8 out of 20 brain regions; Insel et al., 1991; rats: 9 out of 15 forebrain regions; Dumais et al., 2013).”
From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Dumais et al., 2013
The insular cortex receives input from oxytocin (OT)-containing axons from the paraventricular nucleus, and OT receptor (OTR) binding is enriched in the insular cortex.
“The insular cortex also receives input from oxytocin (OT)-containing axons from the paraventricular nucleus17, and OT receptor (OTR) binding is enriched in the insular cortex18.”
From Insular cortex mediates approach and avoidance responses to social affective stimuli (2018) · cites this paper as [18]
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- Authors
- Dumais, K. M., Bredewold, R., Mayer, T. E., & Veenema, A. H.
- Affiliations
- Boston College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dumais, Kelly M.
- Venue
- Hormones and Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-09
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 693-701
- ISSN
- 0018-506X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1971328065
- Cited by
- 201
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 11
- FWCI
- 18.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Boston College
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Keywords
- oxytocin receptor, oxytocin, sex differences, social interest, forebrain, estrus phase, maternal experience, medial amygdala, central amygdala, nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen, lateral septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, ventromedial hypothalamus, prosocial behavior, virgin female rats
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Behavior, Animal, Brain Mapping, Female, Male, Motivation, Protein Binding, Sex Characteristics, Social Behavior, Prosencephalon, Rats, Wistar, Receptors, Oxytocin, Rats
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