Natural variation in oxytocin receptor signaling causes widespread changes in brain transcription: a link to the natural killer gene complex

Abstract

Oxytocin (OXT) is a highly conserved neuropeptide that modulates social cognition, and genetic variation in its receptor gene (Oxtr) is linked to divergent social phenotypes. However, the molecular mechanisms connecting Oxtr genotype to behavioral outcomes remain obscure. Here, we leverage naturally occurring Oxtr polymorphisms in the prairie vole that associate with striatal-specific OXTR density to investigate how OXTR signaling influences brain function. Specifically, we identify OXTR-dependent transcriptomic changes in the natural killer gene complex (NKC) - a genomic region classically associated with peripheral immune function. Centrally, OXTR-regulated NKC genes are positioned to influence microglia-neuron interactions. Consistent with a role for these genes in shaping neuronal connectivity, we show that genetic reduction of OXTR levels leads to increased dendritic spine density on striatal Oxtr-expressing neurons. In addition, we provide support for a similar relation between variation in OXTR mRNA levels and NKC transcription in humans. Together, our findings suggest a role for OXTR signaling in the shaping of neural circuits through transcriptional control of the NKC, outlining a mechanism via which variation in OXTR signaling may influence circuit connectivity to generate diversity in social behaviors.