Social creatures: Model animal systems for studying the neuroendocrine mechanisms of social behaviour

Robinson, Kelly J.; Bosch, Oliver J.; Levkowitz, Gil; Busch, Karl Emanuel; Jarman, Andrew P.; Ludwig, Mike

doi:10.1111/jne.12807

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 138 publications

(167 reference statements)

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“…2 ). For most of these species, there is a full suite of genomic and molecular tools available that have allowed them to serve as model systems in social neuroscience [ 123 , 124 ]. Employing these species in studies on the effects of air pollutants on social behavior can serve as a bridge between reductionist laboratory experiments and field-based ecotoxicology assays [ 125 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of air pollution exposure on social behavior: a synthesis and call for research

Weitekamp

Hofmann

2021

Environ Health

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Background There is a growing literature from both epidemiologic and experimental animal studies suggesting that exposure to air pollution can lead to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we suggest that effects of air pollutant exposure on the brain may be even broader, with the potential to affect social decision-making in general. Methods We discuss how the neurobiological substrates of social behavior are vulnerable to air pollution, then briefly present studies that examine the effects of air pollutant exposure on social behavior-related outcomes. Results Few experimental studies have investigated the effects of air pollution on social behavior and those that have focus on standard laboratory tests in rodent model systems. Nonetheless, there is sufficient evidence to support a critical need for more research. Conclusion For future research, we suggest a comparative approach that utilizes diverse model systems to probe the effects of air pollution on a wider range of social behaviors, brain regions, and neurochemical pathways.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of air pollution exposure on social behavior: a synthesis and call for research

Weitekamp

Hofmann

2021

Environ Health

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“…Empathy‐related behaviours are assumed to be evolutionally originated from maternal care, and the involvement of oxytocin has been suggested 14,51‐53 . Postpartum females show caregiving behaviours toward their young, including pup retrieval, crouching, lactating and licking, 54 and it has been demonstrated that deficiency in the oxytocin receptor results in deficits in maternal behaviours, 29 suggesting the involvement of oxytocin in parental behaviours.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indispensable role of the oxytocin receptor for allogrooming toward socially distressed cage mates in female mice

Matsumoto

Yoshida

Jayathilake

et al. 2021

J Neuroendocrinology

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Social contact reduces stress responses in social animals. Mice have been shown to show allogrooming behaviour toward distressed conspecifics. However, the precise neuronal mechanisms underlying allogrooming behaviour remain unclear. In the present study, we examined whether mice show allogrooming behaviour towards distressed conspecifics in a social defeat model and we also determined whether oxytocin receptor‐expressing neurons were activated during allogrooming by examining the expression of c‐Fos protein, a marker of neurone activation. Mice showed allogrooming behaviour toward socially defeated conspecifics. After allogrooming behaviour, the percentages of oxytocin receptor‐expressing neurones expressing c‐Fos protein were significantly increased in the anterior olfactory nucleus, cingulate cortex, insular cortex, lateral septum and medial amygdala of female mice, suggesting that oxytocin receptor‐expressing neurones in these areas were activated during allogrooming behaviour toward distressed conspecifics. The duration of allogrooming was correlated with the percentages of oxytocin receptor‐expressing neurones expressing c‐Fos protein in the anterior olfactory nucleus, insular cortex, lateral septum and medial amygdala. In oxytocin receptor‐deficient mice, allogrooming behaviour toward socially defeated cage mates was markedly reduced in female mice but not in male mice, indicating the importance of the oxytocin receptor for allogrooming behaviour in female mice toward distressed conspecifics. The results suggest that the oxytocin receptor, possibly in the anterior olfactory nucleus, insular cortex, lateral septum and/or medial amygdala, facilitates allogrooming behaviour toward socially distressed familiar conspecifics in female mice.

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“…OT and the closely related peptide hormone vasopression (VP) are among the oldest mammalian hormones and are considered to have been central to human evolution ( Robinson et al, 2019 ). Here, the description is restricted to OT (see, e.g., Carter, 2017 for a description of OT and VP dynamics).…”

Section: General Aspects Of Otmentioning

confidence: 99%

Delivering Clinically on Our Knowledge of Oxytocin and Sensory Stimulation: The Potential of Infant Carrying in Primary Prevention

Norholt¹

2021

Front. Psychol.

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Oxytocin (OT) is one of the most intensively researched neuropeptides during the three past decades. In benign social contexts, OT exerts a range of desirable socioemotional, stress-reducing, and immunoregulatory effects in mammals and humans and influences mammalian parenting. Consequentially, research in potential pharmacological applications of OT toward human social deficits/disorders and physical illness has increased substantially. Regrettably, the results from the administration of exogenous OT are still relatively inconclusive. Research in rodent maternal developmental programming has demonstrated the susceptibility of offspring endogenous OT systems to maternal somatosensory stimulation, with consequences for behavioral, epigenetic, cognitive, and neurological outcomes. A translation of this animal research into practically feasible human parenting recommendations has yet to happen, despite the significant prevention potential implied by the maternal developmental programming research. Extended physical contact with full-term healthy infants in the months following birth (infant carrying) might constitute the human equivalent of those specific rodent maternal behaviors, found to positively influence emerging OT systems. Findings from both OT and maternal programming research parallel those found for infants exposed to such extended parental physical contact, whether through skin-to-skin contact or infant carrying. Clinical support of parents to engage in extended physical contact represents a feasible intervention to create optimum conditions for the development of infant OT systems, with potential beneficial long-term health effects.

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Social creatures: Model animal systems for studying the neuroendocrine mechanisms of social behaviour

Cited by 29 publications

References 138 publications

Effects of air pollution exposure on social behavior: a synthesis and call for research

Effects of air pollution exposure on social behavior: a synthesis and call for research

Indispensable role of the oxytocin receptor for allogrooming toward socially distressed cage mates in female mice

Delivering Clinically on Our Knowledge of Oxytocin and Sensory Stimulation: The Potential of Infant Carrying in Primary Prevention

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