Cited by 439Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeuropeptides and Animal PhysiologyStress Responses and Cortisol

Brain Oxytocin Correlates with Maternal Aggression: link to Anxiety

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Bosch, Oliver J., Meddle, Simone L., Beiderbeck, Daniela I., Douglas, Alison J., Neumann, Inga D.·2005·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

The oxytocinergic system is critically involved in the regulation of maternal behavior, which includes maternal aggression. Because aggression has been linked to anxiety, we investigated the maternal aggression and the role of brain oxytocin in lactating Wistar rats selectively bred for high anxiety-related behavior (HAB) or low anxiety-related behavior (LAB) during the 10 min maternal defense test. HAB dams displayed more maternal aggression against a virgin intruder compared with LAB dams, resulting in more defensive behavior and higher anxiety of HAB-defeated virgins. The different levels of aggression were accompanied by opposite oxytocin release patterns within the paraventricular nucleus (PVN; HAB, increase; LAB, decrease). Furthermore, oxytocin release was higher within the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) of HAB dams compared with LABs. A direct correlation between the offensive behavior displayed during the maternal defense test and local oxytocin release was found in both the PVN and CeA. Using retrodialysis, blockade of endogenous oxytocin action by infusion of an oxytocin receptor antagonist (des-Gly-NH2,d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4]OVT) into the PVN or CeA reduced maternal aggression of HAB dams, whereas infusion of synthetic oxytocin into the PVN tended to increase aggression toward the intruder in LAB dams. There were no significant differences in oxytocin receptor mRNA expression or oxytocin receptor binding between lactating HAB and LAB dams. Therefore, differences in intracerebral release patterns of oxytocin, rather than differences at the level of oxytocin receptors, are critical for the regulation of maternal aggressive behavior.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.1342-05.2005

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  • Chronic ICV administration of oxytocin receptor antagonists can reduce maternal aggression in strains of rats exhibiting high anxiety and higher levels of defensive aggression.

    “Chronic ICV administration of oxytocin receptor antagonists can reduce maternal aggression in strains of rats exhibiting high anxiety and higher levels of defensive aggression (Bosch et al., 2005 but see Lubin et al., 2003).”

    From Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine (2014) · cites this paper as Bosch et al., 2005

  • Animal studies show OT's role in triggering maternal aggression toward intruders or toward potential dangers to offspring.

    “This is also congruent with animal studies showing OT’s role in triggering maternal aggression toward intruders or toward potential dangers to offspring (Bosch, 2005; Bosch and Neumann, 2012).”

    From Oxytocin promotes altruistic punishment (2017) · cites this paper as Bosch, 2005

  • Findings from preclinical and human studies suggest that the effects of oxytocin may be mediated by baseline levels of anxiety and other individual differences, such as attachment difficulties.

    “Findings from preclinical and human studies also suggest that the effects of oxytocin may be mediated by baseline levels of anxiety and other individual differences, such as attachment difficulties (Bartz et al., 2011;Bosch et al., 2005;Olff et al., 2013;Zik and Roberts, 2015).”
  • Factors such as anxiety, attachment style, and alexithymia have been found to influence the effects of oxytocin on a number of different tasks.

    “Factors such as anxiety, attachment style, and alexithymia have been found to influence the effects of oxytocin on a number of different tasks (Bartz et al., 2011;Bosch et al., 2005;Olff et al., 2013;Zik and Roberts, 2015).”

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Authors
Bosch, O. J., Meddle, S. L., Beiderbeck, D. I., Douglas, A. J., & Neumann, I. D.
Affiliations
  • University of Regensburg (DE)
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
Corresponding author
Neumann, Inga D.
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2005-07-20
Volume
25
Issue
29
Pages
6807-6815
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2144813261
Cited by
439
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 26
FWCI
24.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • ERA (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/C516428/1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
oxytocin, maternal aggression, anxiety-like behavior, paraventricular nucleus, central amygdala, oxytocin receptor antagonist, synthetic oxytocin, lactating rats, selective breeding
MeSH terms
Aggression, Amygdala, Animals, Anxiety, Breeding, Female, Lactation, Male, Maternal Behavior, Oxytocin, Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus, Pregnancy, RNA, Messenger, Stress, Physiological, Rats, Wistar, Microdialysis, Receptors, Oxytocin, Animals, Outbred Strains, Rats

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