Repeated intranasal oxytocin administration in early life dysregulates the HPA axis and alters social behavior

Rault, Jean‐Loup; Carter, C. Sue; Garner, Joseph P.; Marchant‐Forde, Jeremy N.; Richert, B. T.; Lay, D. C.

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.02.007

Cited by 87 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…It is possible that oxytocin reduced anxiety, resulting in an increased propensity to socially engage with the caregiver. Several studies have shown that oxytocin has stress-buffering effects that are manifested behaviorally in terms of reduced anxiety and increased affiliative motivation (42,64) and physiologically in terms of reduced activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis (41,65). The present finding of decreased salivary cortisol following oxytocin administration is consistent with these results, as well as reports that oxytocin locally affects several hypothalamic nuclei, e.g., through dendritic release (66).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Inhaled oxytocin increases positive social behaviors in newborn macaques

Simpson

Sclafani

Paukner

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Early caregiver-infant interactions are critical for infants' socioemotional and cognitive development. Several hormones and neuromodulators, including oxytocin, affect these interactions. Exogenous oxytocin promotes social behaviors in several species, including human and nonhuman primates. Although exogenous oxytocin increases social function in adults-including expression recognition and affiliation-it is unknown whether oxytocin can increase social interactions in infants. We hypothesized that nebulized oxytocin would increase affiliative social behaviors and such effects would be modulated by infants' social skills, measured earlier in development. We also hypothesized that oxytocin's effects on social behaviors may be due to its anxiolytic effects. We tested these hypotheses in a blind study by nebulizing 7-to 14-d-old macaques (n = 28) with oxytocin or saline. Following oxytocin administration, infants' facial gesturing at a human caregiver increased, and infants' salivary oxytocin was positively correlated with the time spent in close proximity to a caregiver. Infants' imitative skill (measured earlier in development: 1-7 d of age) predicted oxytocin-associated increases in affiliative behaviors-lip smacking, visual attention to a caregiver, and time in close proximity to a caregiver-suggesting that infants with higher propensities for positive social interactions are more sensitive to exogenous oxytocin. Oxytocin also decreased salivary cortisol, but not stressrelated behaviors (e.g., scratching), suggesting the possibility of some anxiolytic effects. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence that oxytocin increases positive social behaviors in newborns. This information is of critical importance for potential interventions aimed at ameliorating inadequate social behaviors in infants with higher likelihood of developing neurodevelopmental disorder.imitation recognition | neonatal imitation | individual differences

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Inhaled oxytocin increases positive social behaviors in newborn macaques

Simpson

Sclafani

Paukner

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Thus, the objective of the present experiment was to study the effects of providing piglets with the opportunity to associate humans with suckling on the first day of life on the behavioural and physiological responses of piglets to tail docking, ear tagging and oral and intramuscular vaccinations on the second day of life. Considering that situations of presumed positive emotional valence in mammals include gustatory pleasure during and after feeding [26] and knowing that the piglet's early life experiences may influence their subsequent stress response to humans or other social stimuli [22,27], we also hypothesized that the presence of humans during suckling bouts is an effective method of positively conditioning piglets to humans, that is, reducing their fear of humans. The experiment was conducted in a large commercial farm located in New South Wales, Australia.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive human contact on the first day of life alters the piglet's behavioural response to humans and husbandry practices

Muns

Rault

Hemsworth

2015

Physiology & Behavior

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“…For example, work in piglets revealed that exposure to intranasal oxytocin in early life produced atypical, nonreciprocal social behavior and an altered capacity to respond to stressful experiences in later life. 57 Several studies in rodents similarly support the hypothesis that exposure to synthetic oxytocin, especially at high levels, during the perinatal period can have effects on the offspring. 4 Studies of the long-term consequences of perinatal oxytocin exposure for children are less common.…”

Section: Consequences For the Offspringmentioning

confidence: 87%

Beyond Labor: The Role of Natural and Synthetic Oxytocin in the Transition to Motherhood (2014/023)

2014

J Midwife Womens Health

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Endogenous oxytocin is a key component in the transition to motherhood affecting molecular pathways that buffer stress reactivity, support positive mood, and regulate healthy mothering behaviors (including lactation). Synthetic oxytocin is widely used throughout labor and postpartum care in modern obstetrics. Yet research on the implications beyond labor of maternal exposure to perinatal synthetic oxytocin is rare. In this article, we review oxytocin-related biological pathways and behaviors associated with the transition to motherhood, and evidence supporting the need for further research on potential effects of intrapartum oxytocin beyond labor. We include a primer on oxytocin at the molecular level.

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Repeated intranasal oxytocin administration in early life dysregulates the HPA axis and alters social behavior

Cited by 87 publications

References 77 publications

Inhaled oxytocin increases positive social behaviors in newborn macaques

Inhaled oxytocin increases positive social behaviors in newborn macaques

Positive human contact on the first day of life alters the piglet's behavioural response to humans and husbandry practices

Beyond Labor: The Role of Natural and Synthetic Oxytocin in the Transition to Motherhood (2014/023)

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