Cited by 41Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorOlfactory and Sensory Function StudiesSexual Differentiation and Disorders

Neuroendocrine underpinning of social recognition in males and females

Aspesi, Dario, Choleris, Elena·2022·Journal of Neuroendocrinology

Abstract

Social recognition is an essential skill for the expression of appropriate behaviors towards conspecifics in most social species. Several studies point to oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) as key mediators of social recognition in males and females. However, sex differences in social cognitive behaviors highlight an important interplay between OT, AVP and the sex steroids. Estrogens facilitate social recognition by regulating OT action in the hypothalamus and that of OT receptor in the medial amygdala. The role of OT in these brain regions appears to be essential for social recognition in both males and females. Conversely, social recognition in male rats and mice is more dependent on AVP release in the lateral septum than in females. The AVP system comprises a series of highly sexually dimorphic brain nuclei, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the amygdala and the lateral septum. Various studies suggest that testosterone and its metabolites, including estradiol, influence social recognition in males by modulating the activity of the AVP at V1a receptor. Intriguingly, both estrogens and androgens can affect social recognition very rapidly, through non-genomic mechanisms. In addition, the androgen metabolites, namely 3α-diol and 3β-diol, may also have an impact on social behaviors either by interacting with the estrogen receptors or through other mechanisms. Overall, the regulation of OT and AVP by sex steroids fine tunes social recognition and the behaviors that depend upon it (e.g., social bond, hierarchical organization, aggression) in a sex-dependent manner. Elucidating the sex-dependent interaction between sex steroids and neuroendocrine systems is essential for understanding sex differences in the normal and abnormal expression of social behaviors.

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Crossref · 10.1111/jne.13070

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Authors
Aspesi, D., & Choleris, E.
Affiliations
University of Guelph (CA)
Corresponding author
Choleris, Elena
Venue
Journal of Neuroendocrinology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2021-12-19
Volume
34
Issue
2
Pages
e13070-e13070
ISSN
  • 0953-8194 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2826
OpenAlex
W3215868893
Cited by
41
References
180
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 5
FWCI
1.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (400212)
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 › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
Keywords
social recognition, oxytocin, vasopressin, sex differences, sex steroids, testosterone, estradiol, non-genomic steroid action, V1a receptor, lateral septum, medial amygdala, hypothalamus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, social behavior, social bonding, aggression, social hierarchy
MeSH terms
Androgens, Animals, Arginine Vasopressin, Estrogens, Female, Male, Neurosecretory Systems, Oxytocin, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Social Behavior, Steroids, Receptors, Oxytocin, Mice, Rats

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