Intranasal oxytocin drives coordinated social approach

Abstract

Coordinated responses to challenge are essential to survival for bonded monogamous animals and may depend on behavioral compatibility. Oxytocin (OT) context-dependently regulates social affiliation and vocal communication, but its role in pair members’ decision to jointly respond to challenge is unclear. To test for OT effects, California mouse females received an intranasal dose of OT (IN-OT) or saline after bonding with males either matched or mismatched in their approach response to an aggressive vocal challenge. Pair mates were re-tested jointly for approach response, time spent together, and vocalizations. Females and males converged in their approach after pairing, but mismatched pairs with females given a single dose of IN-OT displayed a greater convergence that resulted from behavioral changes by both pair members. Unpaired females given IN-OT did not change their approach, indicating a social partner was necessary for effects to emerge. Moreover, IN-OT increased time spent approaching together, suggesting behavioral coordination beyond a further increase in bonding. This OT-induced increase in joint approach was associated with a decrease in the proportion of sustained vocalizations, a type of vocalization that can be associated with intra-pair conflict. Our results expand OT’s effects on behavioral coordination and underscore the importance of emergent social context.

Testosterone pulses paired with a location induce a place preference to the nest of a monogamous mouse under field conditions

“…Females are territorial and aggressive and also actively approach intruders or playbacks of intruders of both sexes (e.g. Davis and Marler, 2003 ; Davis and Marler, 2004 ; Rieger and Marler, 2018 ; Rieger et al, 2019 ; Rieger et al, 2021 ; Monari et al, 2021 ). Another selection pressure for T-induced paternal behavior may be increased protectiveness of pups to prevent the high levels of conspecific infanticide found in rodents ( Agrell et al, 1998 ).…”

Intranasal oxytocin enhances social preference for parents over peers in male but not female peri-adolescent California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

“…Female and male mice were infused intranasally with 17.5 uL of either sterile saline, OXT (0.5 IU/kg), or AVP (0.5 IU/kg) (Bachem, Torrance, California) (as used in Guoynes & Marler, 2021, 2022; Monari et al, 2021). The 0.5 IU/kg dose is relatively low and acts like an acute pulse or bolus release of neuropeptide (Guoynes & Marler, 2021).…”

“…To test the hypothesis that OXT influences offspring-parent attachment during peri-adolescence, we use California mice ( Peromyscus californicus ), a monogamous, biparental rodent species whose social behavior can be modulated by OXT manipulations (Duque-Wilckens et al, 2018; Perea-Rodriguez et al, 2015; Guoynes & Marler, 2021; Monari et al, 2021; Guoynes & Marler, 2022; Gubernick et al, 1995; Williams et al, 2020; Steinman et al, 2019; Yohn et al, 2018). Like other species, the young mature and migrate from their natal territory.…”

Individual differences in social attachment: A multi‐disciplinary perspective

“… 83 , 110 , 111 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 OT administration is shown to stimulate maternal responsiveness in rodents, sheep and primates, 118 , 119 , 120 and circulating peripheral levels of OT are positively correlated with alloparenting behavior in common marmosets. 121 Moreover, both OT and AVP systems are thought to facilitate affiliative behaviors critical for pair‐bond development in socially monogamous taxa, including new world primates, 122 , 123 , 124 prairie voles 125 and California mice, 126 songbirds, 127 and cichlid fish. 128 …”