Oxytocin promotes functional coupling between paraventricular nucleus and both sympathetic and parasympathetic cardioregulatory nuclei

Abstract

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) facilitates prosocial behavior and selective sociality. In the context of stress, OXT also can down-regulate hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, leading to consideration of OXT as a potential treatment for many socioaffective disorders. However, the mechanisms through which administration of exogenous OXT modulates social behavior in stressful environmental contexts are not fully understood. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that autonomic pathways are components of the mechanisms through which OXT aids the recruitment of social resources in stressful contexts that may elicit mobilized behavioral responses. Female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) underwent a stressor (walking in shallow water) following pretreatment with intraperitoneal OXT (0.25 mg/kg) or OXT antagonist (OXT-A, 20 mg/kg), and were allowed to recover with or without their sibling cagemate. Administration of OXT resulted in elevated OXT concentrations in plasma, but did not dampen the HPA axis response to a stressor. However, OXT, but not OXT-A, pretreatment prevented the functional coupling, usually seen in the absence of OXT, between paraventricular nucleus (PVN) activity as measured by c-Fos immunoreactivity and HPA output (i.e. corticosterone release). Furthermore, OXT pretreatment resulted in functional coupling between PVN activity and brain regions regulating both sympathetic (i.e. rostral ventrolateral medulla) and parasympathetic (i.e. dorsal vagal complex and nucleus ambiguous) branches of the autonomic nervous system. These findings suggest that OXT increases central neural control of autonomic activity, rather than strictly dampening HPA axis activity, and provides a potential mechanism through which OXT may facilitate adaptive and context-dependent behavioral and physiological responses to stressors.

Salivary Oxytocin Concentration Changes during a Group Drumming Intervention for Maltreated School Children

“…To perform in a recital is stressful, particularly for children with disturbed social function, and is likely to reduce vagal activity and cohesiveness. Increases in OT concentrations correspond to increased vagal activity and vice versa, resulting from the brain mechanism as described in prairie voles [ 53 ]. In line with this, a study by Harmat and Theorell [ 54 ] showed dramatically reduced vagal activity during a concert compared with during a rehearsal, and particularly among those musicians who reported nervousness in recital.…”

Oxytocin treatment in children with Prader–Willi syndrome: A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study

“…Oxytocin is also involved in regulating stress response and studied extensively because of its unique role in influencing social and repetitive behaviors (Yee et al, 2016). There is potential to generate animal models with behavioral deficits that may relate to autism.…”

“…There is potential to generate animal models with behavioral deficits that may relate to autism. In animal models, oxytocin has been shown to play a critical role in social processing, recognition, and bonding, and also to influence stereotyped behaviors such as exaggerated grooming (Yee et al, 2016). In mammals, OTRs are expressed at higher levels in early development.…”

The Role of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Attachment

“…The effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on brain-body connections help to explain the profound health-related effects of relationships or their absence. Oxytocin and vasopressin interact to regulate the auto-nomic nervous system, especially in the face of stress (Porges, 2011;Yee, Kenkel, & Frijling, 2016). Autonomic actions of oxytocin and vasopressin play a role in the capacity for and expression of social bonds that arise in the face of challenge or adversity.…”