Cited by 155Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorOlfactory and Sensory Function StudiesHuman-Animal Interaction Studies

Developmental exposure to oxytocin facilitates partner preferences in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

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Bales, Karen L., Carter, C. Sue·2003·Behavioral Neuroscience

Abstract

The authors investigated the effects of postnatal manipulations of oxytocin (OT) on the subsequent tendency to form a partner preference in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Neonatally, males received either an injection of OT, an oxytocin antagonist (OTA), 0.9% saline vehicle, or handling without injection. As adults, males were tested for partner preference following 1 hr of cohabitation with a nonestrous female. In a 3-hr preference test, males neonatally exposed to exogenous OT exhibited a significant partner preference, not seen in males receiving OTA or saline. Both OT and OTA voles had significantly higher levels of social contact than saline controls. A single neonatal injection of OT increased both total and selective social behaviors in male prairie voles.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0735-7044.117.4.854

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65 of 65 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • After single developmental manipulations of the oxytocin system, male prairie voles appear more responsive to lower doses of oxytocin, which induce changes in partner preference, sexual behavior and reproductive potential, responses to infants, and AVP receptors.

    “Single developmental manipulations of the OT system males appear to be more responsive to lower doses of OT which induce changes in partner preference (20,35), sexual behavior and reproductive potential (36), responses to infants (37), and AVP receptors (38).”
  • Studies in numerous species provide converging evidence that oxytocin during development can have permanent effects on the brain and behavior.

    “Yet, in the last 12 years, there has been a resurgence of research in this area, with studies in numerous species providing converging evidence that Oxt during development can have permanent effects on the brain and behavior (3, 13–29) (see Table 1).”
  • In male prairie voles, injection of oxytocin at low (1 mg/kg) and high (4 mg/kg) doses on postnatal day 0 increases partner preference and social contact in adults compared to controls.

    “In male prairie voles, an injection of Oxt at both low (1 mg/kg) and high (4 mg/kg) doses on PND0 increases partner preference and social contact in adults compared to controls (19, 36);”

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Authors
Bales, K. L., & Carter, C. S.
Venue
Behavioral Neuroscience
Published
2003
Volume
117
Issue
4
Pages
854-859
ISSN
  • 0735-7044 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-0084
OpenAlex
W1986962934
Cited by
155
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 11
FWCI
8.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
  • Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P01 HD 38490, P01HD038490, F32 HD08702, F32HD008702)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Keywords
oxytocin, mate preferences, Microtus ochrogaster, neonatal exposure, oxytocin antagonist, social behavior, social contact, monogamy
MeSH terms
Animals, Animals, Newborn, Arvicolinae, Female, Male, Oxytocin, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Social Behavior

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