Cited by 323Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorStress Responses and CortisolNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Oxytocin: Behavioral Associations and Potential as a Salivary Biomarker

SUE CARTER, C., POURNAJAFI‐NAZARLOO, HOSSEIN, KRAMER, KRISTIN M., ZIEGLER, TONI E., WHITE‐TRAUT, ROSEMARY, BELLO, DEBORAH, SCHWERTZ, DORIE·2007·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Abstract: Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide that is produced primarily in the hypothalamus and is best known for its role in mammalian birth and lactation. Recent evidence also implicates OT in social behaviors, including parental behavior, the formation of social bonds, and the management of stressful experiences. OT is reactive to stressors, and plays a role in the regulation of both the central and autonomic nervous system, including effects on immune and cardiovascular function. Knowledge of patterns of OT release would be of value in many fields of science and medicine. However, measurements of OT concentration in blood are infrequently performed, and previous attempts to measure OT in saliva have been unsuccessful. Using a sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and concentrated samples we were able to detect reproducible changes in salivary OT as a function of lactation and massage. These results indicate that measurements of biologically relevant changes in salivary OT are possible. These results confirm the biological relevance of changes in salivary OT with stressors and support saliva as a noninvasive source to monitor central neuroendocrine function.

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Crossref · 10.1196/annals.1384.006

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  • The oxytocin assay used a commercial ELISA kit consistent with previous research.

    “Determination of OT concentrations in plasma was performed using a commercial OT enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (Assay Design, Ann Arbor, MI) consistent with previous research (Carter et al., 2007; Feldman et al., 2007; Gordon et al., 2008).”
  • In a steady state, unbound oxytocin and vasopressin should distribute in extravascular fluids, and measurements in saliva might be useful for estimating steady-state secretion.

    “In a steady‐state, unbound oxytocin and vasopressin should distribute in extravascular fluids, and measurements in saliva might be useful for estimating steady‐state secretion 119, 130, 131.”
  • The oxytocin enzyme immunoassay used had greater specificity than the earlier RIA, responding only to the fraction eluted at the location of oxytocin, with less than 0.3% reactivity with arginine vasopressin.

    “A direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Assay Designs, Ann Arbor, MI) has been shown to have greater specificity than the earlier RIA, responding only to the fraction eluded at the location of oxytocin (Carter et al., 2007). EIA reactivity with arginine vasopressin was less than 0.3%.”
  • Salivary OT measured by immunoassay is a reliable biomarker, is stable over time, and correlates with plasma OT and OT-related processes such as breastfeeding.

    “recent studies across several labs have shown that salivary OT measured by immunoassay is a reliable biomarker, is stable over time, and correlates with plasma OT and OT-related processes, such as breastfeeding (10,30,(45)(46)(47).”

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Authors
SUE CARTER, C., POURNAJAFI‐NAZARLOO, H., KRAMER, K. M., ZIEGLER, T. E., WHITE‐TRAUT, R., BELLO, D., & SCHWERTZ, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Illinois Chicago (US)
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Venue
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-03
Volume
1098
Issue
1
Pages
312-322
ISSN
  • 0077-8923 (ISSN-L)
  • 1749-6632
OpenAlex
W2047771772
Cited by
323
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 27
FWCI
14.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH073022, MH073022, MH 072935, R01MH072935)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR 000167, P51RR000167)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P01 HD48390)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
oxytocin, salivary oxytocin, lactation, massage, stress, non-invasive biomarkers, neuroendocrine function, enzyme immunoassay, hypothalamus, social behavior
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Humans, Oxytocin, Saliva, Biomarkers

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