The Experts below are selected from a list of 243 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Larry J Young - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Oxytocin and the neural mechanisms regulating social cognition and affiliative behavior
Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 2009Co-Authors: Heather E Ross, Larry J YoungAbstract:Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus and released into the circulation through the neurohypophyseal system. Peripherally released Oxytocin facilitates parturition and milk ejection during nursing. Centrally released Oxytocin coordinates the onset of maternal nurturing behavior at parturition and plays a role in mother-infant bonding. More recent studies have revealed a more general role for Oxytocin in modulating affiliative behavior in both sexes. Oxytocin regulates alloparental care and pair bonding in female monogamous prairie voles. Social recognition in male and female mice is also modulated by Oxytocin. In humans, Oxytocin increases gaze to the eye region of human faces and enhances interpersonal trust and the ability to infer the emotions of others from facial cues. While the neurohypopheseal Oxytocin system has been well characterized, less is known regarding the nature of Oxytocin release within the brain. Here we review the role of Oxytocin in the regulation of prosocial interactions, and discuss the neuroanatomy of the central Oxytocin system.
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evidence that Oxytocin exerts anxiolytic effects via Oxytocin receptor expressed in serotonergic neurons in mice
The Journal of Neuroscience, 2009Co-Authors: Masahide Yoshida, Larry J Young, Yuki Takayanagi, Kiyoshi Inoue, Tadashi Kimura, Tatsushi Onaka, Katsuhiko NishimoriAbstract:The Oxytocin receptor has been implicated in the regulation of reproductive physiology as well as social and emotional behaviors. The neurochemical mechanisms by which Oxytocin receptor modulates social and emotional behavior remains elusive, in part because of a lack of sensitive and selective antibodies for cellular localization. To more precisely characterize Oxytocin receptor-expressing neurons within the brain, we generated an Oxytocin receptor-reporter mouse in which part of the Oxytocin receptor gene was replaced with Venus cDNA (a variant of yellow fluorescent protein). Examination of the Venus expression revealed that, in the raphe nuclei, about one-half of tryptophan hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons were positive for Venus, suggesting a potential role for Oxytocin in the modulation of serotonin release. Oxytocin infusion facilitated serotonin release within the median raphe nucleus and reduced anxiety-related behavior. Infusion of a 5-HT 2A/2C receptor antagonist blocked the anxiolytic effect of Oxytocin, suggesting that Oxytocin receptor activation in serotonergic neurons mediates the anxiolytic effects of Oxytocin. This is the first demonstration that Oxytocin may regulate serotonin release and exert anxiolytic effects via direct activation of Oxytocin receptor expressed in serotonergic neurons of the raphe nuclei. These results also have important implications for psychiatric disorders such as autism and depression in which both the Oxytocin and serotonin systems have been implicated.
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Oxytocin: who needs it?
Progress in Brain Research, 2004Co-Authors: Thomas R Insel, Brenden Gingrich, Larry J YoungAbstract:The neuropeptide Oxytocin has been implicated in the initiation of maternal behavior, based on studies in rats and sheep. Females in both of these species naturally avoid infants until parturition when they begin to show an intense interest in maternal care. Oxytocin pathways in the brain appear to be important for this transition from avoidance to approach of the young. Recent studies in mice with a null mutation of the Oxytocin gene suggest a different scenario. These mice, which completely lack Oxytocin, exhibit full maternal and reproductive behavior, except for a deficit in milk ejection. Apparently, Oxytocin is not essential for maternal behavior in this species. Consistent with the role of Oxytocin for the transition from avoidance to approach in rats and sheep, nulliparous mice show full maternal behavior and therefore do not require the peptide for the initiation of maternal care. The species differences in the behavioral effects of Oxytocin are associated with profound species differences in the location of Oxytocin receptors in the brain. Recent transgenic studies suggest that these species differences in the neuroanatomical distribution of Oxytocin receptors may be a function of inter-species variation in the flanking region of the Oxytocin receptor gene. So, who needs Oxytocin? For maternal care, not mice and (possibly) other species, like primates, with promiscuous parental care. Most important, in considering the behavioral or cognitive functions of Oxytocin, one cannot accurately extrapolate across species unless one knows the species have the same neuroanatomical location of Oxytocin receptors.
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Oxytocin is required for nursing but is not essential for parturition or reproductive behavior
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1996Co-Authors: Katsuhiko Nishimori, Larry J Young, Zuoxin Wang, Thomas R Insel, Martin M MatzukAbstract:Abstract Oxytocin, a neurohypophyseal hormone, has been traditionally considered essential for mammalian reproduction. In addition to uterine contractions during labor and milk ejection during nursing, Oxytocin has been implicated in anterior pituitary function, paracrine effects in the testis and ovary and the neural control of maternal and sexual behaviors. To determine the essential role(s) of Oxytocin in mammalian reproductive function, mice deficient in Oxytocin have been generated using embryonic stem cell technology. A deletion of exon 1 encoding the Oxytocin peptide was generated in embryonic stem cells at a high frequency and was successfully transmitted in the germ line. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA from homozygote offspring and in situ hybridization with an exonic probe 3' of the deletion failed to detect any Oxytocin or neurophysin sequences, respectively, confirming that the mutation was a null mutation. Mice lacking Oxytocin are both viable and fertile. Males do not have any reproductive behavioral or functional defects in the absence of Oxytocin. Similarly, females lacking Oxytocin have no obvious deficits in fertility or reproduction, including gestation and parturition. However, although Oxytocin-deficient females demonstrate normal maternal behavior, all offspring die shortly after birth because of the dam's inability to nurse. Postpartum injections of Oxytocin to the Oxytocin deficient mothers restore milk ejection and rescue the offspring. Thus, despite the multiple reproductive activities that have been attributed to Oxytocin, Oxytocin plays an essential role only in milk ejection in the mouse.
Marian J Bakermanskranenburg - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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emotional maltreatment is associated with atypical responding to stimulation of endogenous Oxytocin release through mechanically delivered massage in males
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2017Co-Authors: Karen M Grewen, Madelon M E Riem, Marielle Linting, Pietro De Carli, Marinus H. Van Ijzendoorn, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Karen M Grewen, Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:The neuropeptide Oxytocin plays an important role in social behavior, parenting, and affectionate touch and there is some evidence that Oxytocin release can be stimulated by massage or affectionate touch. We examined the effects of massage applied by a massage seat cover on salivary Oxytocin levels in two exploratory studies using within-subject designs. In Study 1 massage effects on Oxytocin levels were examined in a sample of N = 20 healthy female participants. Effects of a 15-min massage session were compared to a control condition during which participants sat on a comfortable chair without a massage seat cover. Salivary Oxytocin levels were measured at baseline and up to three hours after the session. We found that massage attenuated Oxytocin decreases over time, indicating that massage stimulates Oxytocin release. In Study 2, we examined whether effects of massage in N = 46 healthy male participants depend on experiences of emotional maltreatment. In addition, we examined whether enhanced Oxytocin levels after massage affect the use of excessive handgrip force in response to infant crying and laughter as measured with a handgrip dynamometer. Our findings show that massage results in elevated Oxytocin levels compared to a control condition, but that the effects of massage are dependent on experiences of emotional maltreatment. Men with experiences of emotional maltreatment showed lower Oxytocin levels, which did not increase after massage. Furthermore, we found that high Oxytocin levels after massage were related to reduced handgrip force during exposure to infant crying and laughter, indicating that massage stimulates a sensitive response to infant signals by stimulating Oxytocin release. Although massage did not affect Oxytocin levels in individuals with experiences of maltreatment, it reduced the use of handgrip force in response to infant crying and laughter in these individuals. Our findings indicate that emotional maltreatment is associated with atypical responding to stimulation of endogenous Oxytocin release.
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elevated salivary levels of Oxytocin persist more than 7 h after intranasal administration
Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2012Co-Authors: Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Ritu Bhandari, Rixt Van Der Veen, Karen M Grewen, Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:We addressed the question how long salivary Oxytocin levels remain elevated after intranasal administration, and whether it makes a difference when 16 IU or 24 IU of Oxytocin administration is used. Oxytocin levels were measured in saliva samples collected from 46 female participants right before intranasal administration (at 9:30 AM) of 16 IU (n = 18) or 24 IU (n = 10) of Oxytocin, or a placebo (n = 18), and each hour after administration, for 7h in total. Oxytocin levels did not differ among conditions before use of the nasal spray. Salivary Oxytocin levels in the placebo group showed high stability across the day. After Oxytocin administration Oxytocin levels markedly increased, they peaked around 1h after administration, and were still significantly elevated 7h after administration. The amount of Oxytocin (16 IU or 24 IU) did not make a difference for Oxytocin levels. The increase of Oxytocin levels for at least 7h shows how effective intranasal administration of Oxytocin is. Our findings may raise ethical questions about potentially persisting behavioral effects after participants have left the lab setting. More research into the long-term neurological and behavioral effects of sniffs of Oxytocin is urgently needed.
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salivary levels of Oxytocin remain elevated for more than two hours after intranasal Oxytocin administration
Neuroendocrinology Letters, 2012Co-Authors: Renske Huffmeijer, Karen M Grewen, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Lenneke R A Alink, Mattie Tops, Kathleen C Light, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:METHODS: Oxytocin levels were measured in saliva samples collected from 57 female participants right before (T0), approximately 1¼ h (T1), and approximately 2¼ h (T2) after intranasal administration of 16 IU of Oxytocin or a placebo, using a double-blind, within-subjects design. RESULTS: Average levels of Oxytocin did not differ between conditions before use of the nasal spray, markedly increased only after Oxytocin administration, and were still elevated after 2¼ h. CONCLUSION: Salivary levels of Oxytocin remained persistently elevated over the course of our experiment, i.e. for more than two hours after intranasal Oxytocin administration and over a time-period in which neurobehavioral effects of Oxytocin are commonly observed. This suggests that salivary concentrations may be a valuable biomarker for Oxytocin, and may help to explain its effects on brain activity, information processing, and behavior. OBJECTIVE: This is the first study investigating whether levels of Oxytocin in saliva remained elevated after intranasal Oxytocin administration for the duration of an experiment (in which neurobehavioral effects of Oxytocin were observed) taking more than two hours.
Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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emotional maltreatment is associated with atypical responding to stimulation of endogenous Oxytocin release through mechanically delivered massage in males
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2017Co-Authors: Karen M Grewen, Madelon M E Riem, Marielle Linting, Pietro De Carli, Marinus H. Van Ijzendoorn, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Karen M Grewen, Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:The neuropeptide Oxytocin plays an important role in social behavior, parenting, and affectionate touch and there is some evidence that Oxytocin release can be stimulated by massage or affectionate touch. We examined the effects of massage applied by a massage seat cover on salivary Oxytocin levels in two exploratory studies using within-subject designs. In Study 1 massage effects on Oxytocin levels were examined in a sample of N = 20 healthy female participants. Effects of a 15-min massage session were compared to a control condition during which participants sat on a comfortable chair without a massage seat cover. Salivary Oxytocin levels were measured at baseline and up to three hours after the session. We found that massage attenuated Oxytocin decreases over time, indicating that massage stimulates Oxytocin release. In Study 2, we examined whether effects of massage in N = 46 healthy male participants depend on experiences of emotional maltreatment. In addition, we examined whether enhanced Oxytocin levels after massage affect the use of excessive handgrip force in response to infant crying and laughter as measured with a handgrip dynamometer. Our findings show that massage results in elevated Oxytocin levels compared to a control condition, but that the effects of massage are dependent on experiences of emotional maltreatment. Men with experiences of emotional maltreatment showed lower Oxytocin levels, which did not increase after massage. Furthermore, we found that high Oxytocin levels after massage were related to reduced handgrip force during exposure to infant crying and laughter, indicating that massage stimulates a sensitive response to infant signals by stimulating Oxytocin release. Although massage did not affect Oxytocin levels in individuals with experiences of maltreatment, it reduced the use of handgrip force in response to infant crying and laughter in these individuals. Our findings indicate that emotional maltreatment is associated with atypical responding to stimulation of endogenous Oxytocin release.
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elevated salivary levels of Oxytocin persist more than 7 h after intranasal administration
Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2012Co-Authors: Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Ritu Bhandari, Rixt Van Der Veen, Karen M Grewen, Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:We addressed the question how long salivary Oxytocin levels remain elevated after intranasal administration, and whether it makes a difference when 16 IU or 24 IU of Oxytocin administration is used. Oxytocin levels were measured in saliva samples collected from 46 female participants right before intranasal administration (at 9:30 AM) of 16 IU (n = 18) or 24 IU (n = 10) of Oxytocin, or a placebo (n = 18), and each hour after administration, for 7h in total. Oxytocin levels did not differ among conditions before use of the nasal spray. Salivary Oxytocin levels in the placebo group showed high stability across the day. After Oxytocin administration Oxytocin levels markedly increased, they peaked around 1h after administration, and were still significantly elevated 7h after administration. The amount of Oxytocin (16 IU or 24 IU) did not make a difference for Oxytocin levels. The increase of Oxytocin levels for at least 7h shows how effective intranasal administration of Oxytocin is. Our findings may raise ethical questions about potentially persisting behavioral effects after participants have left the lab setting. More research into the long-term neurological and behavioral effects of sniffs of Oxytocin is urgently needed.
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salivary levels of Oxytocin remain elevated for more than two hours after intranasal Oxytocin administration
Neuroendocrinology Letters, 2012Co-Authors: Renske Huffmeijer, Karen M Grewen, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Lenneke R A Alink, Mattie Tops, Kathleen C Light, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:METHODS: Oxytocin levels were measured in saliva samples collected from 57 female participants right before (T0), approximately 1¼ h (T1), and approximately 2¼ h (T2) after intranasal administration of 16 IU of Oxytocin or a placebo, using a double-blind, within-subjects design. RESULTS: Average levels of Oxytocin did not differ between conditions before use of the nasal spray, markedly increased only after Oxytocin administration, and were still elevated after 2¼ h. CONCLUSION: Salivary levels of Oxytocin remained persistently elevated over the course of our experiment, i.e. for more than two hours after intranasal Oxytocin administration and over a time-period in which neurobehavioral effects of Oxytocin are commonly observed. This suggests that salivary concentrations may be a valuable biomarker for Oxytocin, and may help to explain its effects on brain activity, information processing, and behavior. OBJECTIVE: This is the first study investigating whether levels of Oxytocin in saliva remained elevated after intranasal Oxytocin administration for the duration of an experiment (in which neurobehavioral effects of Oxytocin were observed) taking more than two hours.
Govindan Dayanithi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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neurosteroid regulation of Oxytocin and vasopressin release from the rat supraoptic nucleus
The Journal of Physiology, 2003Co-Authors: Helene Widmer, Frederic Bancel, Gareth Leng, Mike Ludwig, Govindan DayanithiAbstract:In adult rats somato-dendritic release of Oxytocin and vasopressin from magnocellular neurones in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus has important autoregulatory actions on the neuronal electrical activity, and in neonatal rats it plays a role in the development of dendritic arborisation. In the adult, Oxytocin effects are modulated by allopregnanolone via an interaction with inhibitory GABAA receptors. This study examined the effects of allopregnanolone, progesterone and 17β-oestradiol on Oxytocin and vasopressin release from intact isolated supraoptic nuclei and from the neurophypophyses in rats of differing ages. In supraoptic nuclei from rats of 3–4 weeks old or less, all three neurosteroids induced Oxytocin release from the isolated supraoptic nucleus, but only allopregnanolone induced significant release of vasopressin. Surprisingly, in these very young rats, allopregnanolone-induced Oxytocin release was inhibited by GABAA receptor antagonists as well as by an Oxytocin receptor antagonist. By contrast, in supraoptic nuclei from adult rats allopregnanolone-induced Oxytocin release was much smaller, and was enhanced in the presence of bicuculline. The GABAA receptor agonist muscimol also induced Oxytocin release from supraoptic nuclei in young rats, but had no effect in adult rats. Oxytocin cells isolated from young rats showed an increase in [Ca2+]i in response to both allopregnanolone and muscimol. Allopregnanolone had no effect on [Ca2+]i or on the release of Oxytocin or vasopressin from neurohypophysial axon terminals in either young or old rats. We conclude that, in very young rats, (i) neurosteroids induce Oxytocin release from the supraoptic nucleus by a mechanism that partly depends on the presence of GABA, which in young rats is depolarising to Oxytocin cells, and which also partly depends upon endogenous Oxytocin, and (ii) the effect of allopregnanolone upon Oxytocin release changes with age, as the functional activity of GABAA receptors changes from excitation to inhibition of Oxytocin cells.
Karen M Grewen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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emotional maltreatment is associated with atypical responding to stimulation of endogenous Oxytocin release through mechanically delivered massage in males
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2017Co-Authors: Karen M Grewen, Madelon M E Riem, Marielle Linting, Pietro De Carli, Marinus H. Van Ijzendoorn, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Karen M Grewen, Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:The neuropeptide Oxytocin plays an important role in social behavior, parenting, and affectionate touch and there is some evidence that Oxytocin release can be stimulated by massage or affectionate touch. We examined the effects of massage applied by a massage seat cover on salivary Oxytocin levels in two exploratory studies using within-subject designs. In Study 1 massage effects on Oxytocin levels were examined in a sample of N = 20 healthy female participants. Effects of a 15-min massage session were compared to a control condition during which participants sat on a comfortable chair without a massage seat cover. Salivary Oxytocin levels were measured at baseline and up to three hours after the session. We found that massage attenuated Oxytocin decreases over time, indicating that massage stimulates Oxytocin release. In Study 2, we examined whether effects of massage in N = 46 healthy male participants depend on experiences of emotional maltreatment. In addition, we examined whether enhanced Oxytocin levels after massage affect the use of excessive handgrip force in response to infant crying and laughter as measured with a handgrip dynamometer. Our findings show that massage results in elevated Oxytocin levels compared to a control condition, but that the effects of massage are dependent on experiences of emotional maltreatment. Men with experiences of emotional maltreatment showed lower Oxytocin levels, which did not increase after massage. Furthermore, we found that high Oxytocin levels after massage were related to reduced handgrip force during exposure to infant crying and laughter, indicating that massage stimulates a sensitive response to infant signals by stimulating Oxytocin release. Although massage did not affect Oxytocin levels in individuals with experiences of maltreatment, it reduced the use of handgrip force in response to infant crying and laughter in these individuals. Our findings indicate that emotional maltreatment is associated with atypical responding to stimulation of endogenous Oxytocin release.
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elevated salivary levels of Oxytocin persist more than 7 h after intranasal administration
Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2012Co-Authors: Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Ritu Bhandari, Rixt Van Der Veen, Karen M Grewen, Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:We addressed the question how long salivary Oxytocin levels remain elevated after intranasal administration, and whether it makes a difference when 16 IU or 24 IU of Oxytocin administration is used. Oxytocin levels were measured in saliva samples collected from 46 female participants right before intranasal administration (at 9:30 AM) of 16 IU (n = 18) or 24 IU (n = 10) of Oxytocin, or a placebo (n = 18), and each hour after administration, for 7h in total. Oxytocin levels did not differ among conditions before use of the nasal spray. Salivary Oxytocin levels in the placebo group showed high stability across the day. After Oxytocin administration Oxytocin levels markedly increased, they peaked around 1h after administration, and were still significantly elevated 7h after administration. The amount of Oxytocin (16 IU or 24 IU) did not make a difference for Oxytocin levels. The increase of Oxytocin levels for at least 7h shows how effective intranasal administration of Oxytocin is. Our findings may raise ethical questions about potentially persisting behavioral effects after participants have left the lab setting. More research into the long-term neurological and behavioral effects of sniffs of Oxytocin is urgently needed.
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salivary levels of Oxytocin remain elevated for more than two hours after intranasal Oxytocin administration
Neuroendocrinology Letters, 2012Co-Authors: Renske Huffmeijer, Karen M Grewen, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Lenneke R A Alink, Mattie Tops, Kathleen C Light, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:METHODS: Oxytocin levels were measured in saliva samples collected from 57 female participants right before (T0), approximately 1¼ h (T1), and approximately 2¼ h (T2) after intranasal administration of 16 IU of Oxytocin or a placebo, using a double-blind, within-subjects design. RESULTS: Average levels of Oxytocin did not differ between conditions before use of the nasal spray, markedly increased only after Oxytocin administration, and were still elevated after 2¼ h. CONCLUSION: Salivary levels of Oxytocin remained persistently elevated over the course of our experiment, i.e. for more than two hours after intranasal Oxytocin administration and over a time-period in which neurobehavioral effects of Oxytocin are commonly observed. This suggests that salivary concentrations may be a valuable biomarker for Oxytocin, and may help to explain its effects on brain activity, information processing, and behavior. OBJECTIVE: This is the first study investigating whether levels of Oxytocin in saliva remained elevated after intranasal Oxytocin administration for the duration of an experiment (in which neurobehavioral effects of Oxytocin were observed) taking more than two hours.
