The DOI matches its Crossref record; 22 of the 22 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Oxytocin Induces Maternal Behavior in Virgin Female Rats
Abstract
Intracerebroventricular administration of oxytocin to virgin female rats that had been ovariectomized and primed with estrogen 48 hours previously induced a rapid onset of full maternal behavior. The maternal behavior persisted and its incidence was dose-related. Tocinoic acid, the ring structure of oxytocin, also rapidly induced the onset of persistent, full maternal behavior. Arginine vasopressin induced persistent maternal behavior, but this behavior had a later onset. Prostaglandin F2 alpha induced strong partial maternal behavior, which showed early onset but did not persist. Many other peptides, ovarian steroids, and prostaglandin E2 were no more effective than saline. These findings suggest that the release of oxytocin and prostaglandin F2 alpha during labor may promote maternal behavior in rats.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
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?
In the citing paper
“Pedersen et al. (1982) showed that oxytocin injection into the lateral cerebral ventricles of nulliparous/virgin rats rapidly induced maternal behaviors.”
From Oxytocin, Neural Plasticity, and Social Behavior (2021) · cites this paper as Pedersen et al. 1982
In the citing paper
“In lactating rats, suckling evokes bursts of action potentials in oxytocin cells that result in pulsatile oxytocin secretion, and this bursting is facilitated by 1-2ng oxytocin i.c.v.(26).Effects on maternal behavior in the rat need much higher doses (~400ng) (4).Partner preference effects in voles require infusions of oxytocin at 10-100ng/h (5), and, to stimulate maternal behavior in sheep, it”
From Intranasal Oxytocin: Myths and Delusions (2016) · cites this paper as [4]
In the citing paper
“the OT system undergoes dramatic changes during pregnancy and lactation to facilitate maternal behaviors (Jirikowski, Caldwell, Pilgrim, Stumpf, & Pendersen, 1989; Meddle, Bishop, Gkoumassi, van Leeuwen, & Douglas, 2007; Pedersen, Ascher, Monroe, & Prange, 1982; Theodosis, Montagnese, Rodriguez, Vincent, & Poulain, 1986)”
From Quantitative mapping reveals age and sex differences in vasopressin, but not oxytocin, immunoreactivity in the rat social behavior neural network (2017) · cites this paper as Pedersen et al., 1982
In the citing paper
“However, the seminal paper demonstrating the effect of OXT on maternal behavior also showed that AVP stimulates maternal behavior, but with a longer latency of action (132).”
From Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior: From Neural Circuits to Clinical Opportunities (2022) · cites this paper as [132]
In the citing paper
“Maternal behavior can be elicited through administration of oxytocin in virgin rats (Pedersen et al., 1982);”
From Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine (2014) · cites this paper as Pedersen et al., 1982
In the citing paper
“For instance, in rodents, virgin rats’ behavior towards pups can switch from aggressive or apathetic to affiliative through oxytocin administration (Pedersen et al., 1982).”
From Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine (2014) · cites this paper as Pedersen et al., 1982
In the citing paper
“The importance of the oxytocin system in mammalian social behaviors including social memory, recognition and attachment has been established using a variety of animal models since 1980s.”
In the citing paper
“In highly social animals, these ancestral functions of OT have been co-opted to serve social functions, such as promoting maternal behavior (Champagne et al., 2001; Pedersen et al., 1982), fostering pair-bonding and affiliative behaviors (Cushing and Carter, 2000; Smith et al., 2010; Snowdon et al., 2010; Young and Wang, 2004), encouraging in-group bias (Dreu et al., 2010), reducing social vigil”
From Oxytocin and social cognition in rhesus macaques: Implications for understanding and treating human psychopathology (2014) · cites this paper as Pedersen et al., 1982
Citations
Cites
Pedersen, C. A., & Prange, A. J. (1979) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.76.12.6661 · Cited by 841
Self-citationIntra- and extrahypothalamic vasopressin and oxytocin pathways in the rat
Buijs, R. M. (1978) · Cell and Tissue Research · doi:10.1007/bf00212323 · Cited by 830
A MODIFICATION OF THE METHOD OF DALE AND LAIDLAW FOR STANDARDIZATION OF POSTERIOR PITUITARY EXTRACT
Holton, P. (1948) · British Journal of Pharmacology and Chemotherapy · doi:10.1111/j.1476-5381.1948.tb00396.x · Cited by 242
BOHUS, B., URBAN, I., VANWIMERSMAGREIDANUS, T., & DEWIED, D. (1978) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/0028-3908(78)90107-7 · Cited by 231
Pituitary Oxytocin and Vasopressin Content of Pregnant Rats Before, During, and After Parturition
Fuchs, A., & Saito, S. (1971) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/endo-88-3-574 · Cited by 78
AXONAL TRANSPORT OF PROTEINS IN THE HYPOTHALAMO‐NEUROHYPOPHYSIAL SYSTEM OF THE RAT
Norströ, A., & Sjöstrand, J. (1971) · Journal of Neurochemistry · doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.1971.tb00164.x · Cited by 70
Folley, S. J., & Knaggs, G. S. (1966) · Journal of Endocrinology · doi:10.1677/joe.0.0340197 · Cited by 68
Neurohypophyseal hormone release in the human
Cobo, E., Bernal, M. M. D., Quintero, C., & Cuadrado, E. (1968) · American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · doi:10.1016/0002-9378(68)90556-5 · Cited by 61
The release of vasopressin without oxytocin in response to haemorrhage
Beleslin, D. B., Bisset, G. W., Haldar, J., & Polak, R. L. (1967) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.1967.0006 · Cited by 56
Neurohypophyseal hormone release in the human
Cobo, E., Bernal, M. M. D., Gaitán, E., & Quintero, C. (1967) · American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · doi:10.1016/0002-9378(67)90566-2 · Cited by 45
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- BISSET, G.W., PEPTIDE HORMONES: 145 (1976).
- UNGER, H, NEUROSECRETION NEURO: 305 (1978).
- VALTIN, H, HDB PHYSL 4: 131 (1974).
- VANDYKE, J.B., RECENT PROGRESS IN HORMONE RESEARCH 9: 1 (1955).
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 701–767 of 767
Role of Rodent Vocalizations in Cocaine-Induced Maternal Neglect
Jarrett, T. M. (2019) · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · doi:10.17615/nm4n-7v96
Young, L. J., & Zingg, H. H. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-803592-4.00056-0
Caquineau, C., & Leng, G. (2011) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-92271-3_20
Featherstone, R. E. (1997) · Library and Archives Canada (Government of Canada)
Assessing parental experience in a socially monogamous songbird
Bell, B. A. (2017) · doi:10.7282/t3sq936t
Alvos tonais: unidades fonético-fonológicas da entoação
Martins, M. V. M. (2018) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/t.8.2018.tde-15052018-104642
Empathic Concern, Moral Epistemology, and Moral Progress
Lerner, A. J. (2018)
Mapping a Pup-responsive Pathway from the Medial Preoptic Area to the Ventral Tegmental Area.
Andina, M. (2021) · Scholarworks (University of Massachusetts Amherst) · doi:10.7275/12746653
Sassano, M. F. (2019) · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · doi:10.17615/wwr3-7m34
Comparative study of genetic variation in relation to social structures of animals
Lukas, D. (2008) · MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society)
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0007
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0006
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0001
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0009
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
The Sins of Our Kin: From Genomic Imprinting to Ancient Signaling Systems
Mainieri, A. (2020) · Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University)
Dynamical modulation of Optical lattices studied by a numerical investigation on response theory
Xu, Z., Su, S.-Q., Sheehy, D. E., Chiesa, S., Yang, S., Moreno, J., Jarrell, M., & Scalettar, R. T. (2010) · Bulletin of the American Physical Society
Young, L. J., & Zingg, H. H. (2009) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-008088783-8.00048-6
Scharrer, B. (1983) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-521480-3.50008-1
Differential expression of the oxytocin receptor, OXTR, in cancers of the breast.Preprint
Mamoor, S. (2020) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/wc7kb
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0002
Central and peripheral oxytocin profiles during milking in ewes
Felício, L. F., Alvisi, R., Negrão, J. A., Engelberg-Cook, E., & Felício, L. F. (2014) · Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science · doi:10.11606/issn.2318-3659.v51i1p68-77
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0004
Bothwell, M. (2019) · Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature · doi:10.3410/f.733954343.793564946
(2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-416040-8.16001-8
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0003
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.003.0010
Ocytocine : une nouvelle cible de neuroprotection ?
Baud, O., Knoop, M. S., Jacquens, A., & Possovre, M.-L. (2022) · Biologie Aujourd hui · doi:10.1051/jbio/2022012
IDENTITY AND THE BRAIN: THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF OUR SELF
Newberg, A. B. (2023) · Zygon® · doi:10.1111/zygo.12873
Tomihara, K. (2023) · Japanese Journal of Animal Psychology · doi:10.2502/janip.73.2.7
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.002.0007
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.002.0004
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.002.0015
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.002.0008
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.002.0003
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
Weissmark, M. S. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190686345.002.0005
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
Хрущова, А. М., Vasilieva, N. Y., & Rogovin, K. A. (2024) · Журнал общей биологии · doi:10.31857/s0044459624050014
Faraji, M., Viera-Resto, O. A., Berrios, B. J., Bizon, J. L., & Setlow, B. (2025) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037/bne0000621
Genetic sex of enteric neurons enables ovarian relaxin to gate maternal gut plasticityPreprint
Silva, B., Tsakani, E., Kontopoulos, A., De, J., Gaspar, P., Hiridjee, A., Rosselli, C., de Juan‐Sanz, J., Campusano, J. M., Treiber, C. D., et al. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.01.09.698651
Kroll, C., Leibold, N. K., Vingerhoets, C., Kenis, G., van den Hove, D., Riedl, A. M., Schruers, K. R. J., & Hernaus, D. (2026) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2026.107815
The oxytocinergic descending control of pain and its modulation by neonatal maternal separation
Melchior, M. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/368c73c0ze731z4b57zb52cz8f31049fb33c
Circuits neuronaux sous-tendant la régulation émotionnelle par le système ocytocinergique
Goyon, S. (2018) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/c8c9bec0z7b79z4826z862az93b128e1ada6
Royer, J. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/9561320dz3197z4755zbb24zf51613d38d02
Effets de l’exposition aux phtalates sur les comportements de reproduction de la souris femelle
Adam, N. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f8535eb9z782dz40b8zb1d0z583132d3fd1b
New regulators in oxytocin and vasopressin release : role of the endolysosomal two-pore channels
Martucci, L. L. (2021) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/027d1ae2zd2ebz4677za019ze6ccd94cafe9
Oxytocin and social neuroscience - sexually dimorphic OXTR neurons in mouse preoptic area
Teruyama, R., & Govar, A. A. (2026) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2026.102930
Gao, Z., Sun, M., Xun, G., Li, Z., Pan, Z., Li, Y., Kendrick, K. M., Li, N., Xu, X., Becker, B., et al. (2026) · Science China Chemistry · doi:10.1007/s11426-025-3338-6
Vasotocin influences mother–offspring associations in a facultatively family-living lizard
Lake, J., While, G. M., Ophir, A. G., Rubenstein, D. R., Witczak, L. R., & Whiting, M. J. (2026) · Behavioral Ecology · doi:10.1093/beheco/arag082
Lateral hypothalamic area: A central node for maternal behavior modulation
dos Anjos-Monteiro, A., dos Santos-Affonso, V. H., Helou, A. Y., & Bittencourt, J. C. (2026) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2026.101283
Inada, K. (2026) · Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1016/j.neures.2026.105109
Is the oxytocin system a keystone in human wellbeing?
Carter, C. S., & Nazarloo, H. P. (2026) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2026.1989082
Psychodynamics and Development
Hojat, M. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-27625-0_4
BEHAVIOURAL AND NEUROBIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF MATERNAL SENSITIVITY IN HEALTHY NEW MOTHERS
Elmadih, A. (2013) · Research Explorer (The University of Manchester)
Distribution of mRNAs encoding CRF receptors in brain and pituitary of rat and mouse
Van Pett, K., Viau, V., Bittencourt, J. C., Chan, R. K. W., Li, H.-Y., Arias, C., Prins, G. S., Perrin, M., Vale, W., & Sawchenko, P. E. (2000) · The Journal of Comparative Neurology · doi:10.1002/1096-9861(20001211)428:2
Metadata
- Authors
- Pedersen, C. A., Ascher, J. A., Monroe, Y. L., & Prange, A. J.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- ORCID
- Pedersen, Cort A.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1982-05-07
- Volume
- 216
- Issue
- 4546
- Pages
- 648-650
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2027523671
- Cited by
- 770
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 28 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 27.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- oxytocin, maternal behavior, virgin female rats, intracerebroventricular administration, estrogen priming, ovariectomy, vasopressin, prostaglandin F2alpha, prostaglandin E2, ovarian steroids, labor, dose-response relationship
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arginine Vasopressin, Brain, Female, Injections, Intraventricular, Maternal Behavior, Oxytocin, Structure-Activity Relationship, Rats
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
