Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review

Abstract

The neuropeptide, oxytocin, receives increasing attention due to its role in stress regulation and promoting affiliative social behavior. Research across mammals points to a complex pattern whereby social context and individual differences moderate the central release of oxytocin as well as moderate the effects that exogenous administration of oxytocin has on social behavior. In addition, it is becoming evident that measuring endogenous peripheral oxytocin levels is an informative tool. This is particularly so when oxytocin can be measured from non-invasively collected samples, such as in urine. Although it is still debated as to whether peripheral measures of oxytocin relate to central measures of oxytocin, anatomical and functional evidence indicate a link between the two. We argue that non-invasive measures of peripheral oxytocin hold several research and potential therapeutic advantages. Principally, study subjects can be sampled repeatedly in different social contexts where social history between interaction partners can be taken into account. Several hormones can be measured simultaneously allowing examination of the influence of oxytocin interactions with other hormones on motivational states. Valence of relationships as well as changes in relationship quality over time can be measured through endocrine responses. Also, the approach of identifying natural social contexts that are associated with endogenous oxytocin release offers the potential of behavioral therapy as an addition or alternative to chemical therapy in the field of mental health.

Oxytocin is associated with infant-care behavior and motivation in cooperatively breeding marmoset monkeys

“…It may be particularly difficult to engage in affiliation with a specific partner since the probability is even smaller that both partners of a specific dyad are available. This is relevant in the face of recent findings that in chimpanzees (Crockford et al, 2013) and marmosets (Finkenwirth et al, 2015), urinary OT responses to adult-adult affiliation are dyadspecific and predominantly occur in strong bond dyads. Furthermore, individuals with high levels of adult-adult affiliation are more likely to engage in infant-care (Finkenwirth and Burkart, in preparation).…”

“…This result is surprising given that OT typically shows a positive rather than negative association with affiliative behaviors (Crockford et al, 2013;Insel, 2010;Snowdon et al, 2010; but see Bartz et al, 2011;De Dreu, 2012;Mustoe et al, 2015).…”

“…Crockford et al (2014) review and discuss the relevance of peripheral OT measures for studying the dynamics of social interactions and relationships with particular emphasis on urinary OT. Besides its effects in social bonding and affiliation in mammals (Lim and Young, 2006), peripheral OT is involved in female reproduction (labor and milk letdown: Blanks and Thornton, 2003;Uvnäs-Moberg et al, 2001) and anxiety reduction (Olff et al, 2013).…”

“…In primates, urinary OT levels have been found to be related to affiliative (Crockford et al, 2013;Finkenwirth et al, 2015; and socio-sexual interactions (Moscovice and Ziegler, 2012;Snowdon et al, 2010) among group-living individuals. Accordingly, Crockford et al (2014) suggested that peripheral OT measurements are indeed useful to capture central OT excretion or a coordinated release between central and…”

Inhaled oxytocin increases positive social behaviors in newborn macaques

“…Further research on endogenous oxytocin levels in infants is another promising direction, as it may be possible to gain similar benefits to that of exogenous oxytocin through social interactions, including gentle touch and face-to-face interactions (for a review, see ref. 76). A more thorough understanding of oxytocin and its behavioral consequences may help in designing potential therapeutic tools to prevent the detrimental risks of disrupted early caregiver-infant interactions (e.g., institutionalized infants, infants whose mothers suffer from depression), or to ameliorate skills in young populations whose social behaviors are impaired due to biological preconditions (e.g., infants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder).…”