Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior

Human endogenous oxytocin and its neural correlates show adaptive responses to social touch based on recent social context

The paper shows that human endogenous oxytocin responses to social touch adapt based on recent social context, influencing both hormonal and neural activity.

Activity of estrogen receptor beta expressing neurons in the medial amygdala regulates preference towards receptive females in male mice.

This study identifies that MeApd-ERβ+ neurons regulate receptivity-based preference in male mice but not sex-based preference.

Validation of a Commercial Radioimmunoassay for Measurement of Human Peripheral Oxytocin

This paper validates a commercial radioimmunoassay for measuring intact oxytocin in human urine, serum, and saliva, showing it is specific, sensitive, and reproducible.

Dopamine neurons govern olfactory-gated infant begging behavior

The paper identifies dopamine neurons as regulators of olfactory-guided begging behavior in tadpoles, showing their role in caregiver recognition and motor displays.

Antagonistic Neural Circuits Drive Opposing Behaviors towards the Young in Females

The paper identifies neural circuits in female mice that drive opposing pup-directed behaviors, showing reciprocal inhibition between BNSTprEsr1 and MPOAEsr1 neurons during reproductive state changes.

Prolonged partner separation erodes nucleus accumbens transcriptional signatures of pair bonding in male prairie voles

The paper shows that prolonged partner separation reduces transcriptional signatures of pair bonding in male prairie voles, despite persistent behavioral traits.

Amygdala AVPR1A mediates susceptibility to chronic social isolation in females

The paper shows that AVPR1A in the amygdala mediates female susceptibility to chronic social isolation stress, with sex-specific effects mediated by AVP and estrogen receptor alpha.

Attachment Stimuli Trigger Widespread Synchrony across Multiple Brains

The paper examines if attachment-related cues trigger cross-brain synchrony in mothers, finding widespread neural concordance in both the parenting network and across the neuroaxis, especially in social contexts.

Adolescent stress impairs postpartum social behavior via anterior insula-prelimbic pathway

This study identifies a cortico-cortical pathway linking adolescent stress to postpartum social behavior deficits in mice.

Compartmental Neuropeptide Release Measured Using a New Oxytocin Sensor

The paper develops a new oxytocin sensor to study compartmental OT release in neurons and finds distinct calcium channel roles and fusion machinery differences in axons and somatodendritic regions.

Mouse helpers ensure maternal-infant survival

The paper shows that experienced female mice can improve maternal-infant survival by assisting in caregiving and parturition, particularly for mice lacking the oxytocin receptor.

Oxytocin enhances the triangular association among behavioral performance, resting state, and task-state functional connectivity

This study investigates how oxytocin affects the relationship between behavioral performance, resting-state, and task-state functional connectivity using connectome-based predictive models.

Neuron- and microglia-specific immunoexpression in steroid-independent male sexual behaviour in castrated B6D2F1 male mice

The paper investigates cell-specific immunoexpression differences in steroid-independent male sexual behavior in castrated mice, finding upregulated neuronal and microglial markers in those displaying the behavior.

Cross-Species BAC Transgenesis Reveals Long-Range Regulation Drives Variation in Brain Oxytocin Receptor Expression and Social Behaviors

The paper generates transgenic mice with prairie vole Oxtr locus to study how long-range genomic regulation affects brain OXT receptor expression and social behaviors.

DREADD activation of the lateral septum alters prosocial and antisocial behaviors, but not partner preferences in male prairie voles

This study investigates how activating the lateral septum in male prairie voles affects prosocial and antisocial behaviors, finding it increases affiliative behaviors and reduces selective aggression without altering partner preferences.

Analysis of the hypothalamic oxytocin system and oxytocin receptor-expressing astrocytes in a mouse model of Prader-Willi syndrome

This study examines the oxytocin system and OTR-expressing astrocytes in a mouse model of PWS, finding reduced oxytocin cells and OTR-expressing astrocytes in specific brain regions with sex-specific differences.

Optopharmacological tools for precise spatiotemporal control of oxytocin signaling in the central nervous system and periphery

This paper develops and validates caged oxytocin analogs that can be activated with light to precisely control oxytocin signaling in the brain and peripheral tissues.

Environmental luminance impairs socio-sexual recognition memory through a succinct retina to supraoptic nucleus circuit

The paper shows that light exposure impairs socio-sexual recognition memory in male mice via a specific retinal circuit involving ipRGCs, pSON GABA neurons, and SON OT neurons.

Prolactin action is necessary for parental behavior in male mice

This study shows that prolactin is necessary for paternal behavior in male mice, acting through CaMKII-expressing neurons, similar to its role in maternal behavior.

A fluorescent sensor for the real-time measurement of extracellular oxytocin dynamics in the brain

This paper introduces a fluorescent sensor for real-time measurement of extracellular oxytocin dynamics in the brain and identifies rhythmic changes in OT levels.

Nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (NLOT): a hub linking water homeostasis-associated SON-AVP circuit and neocortical regions to promote social behavior under osmotic challenge

The paper identifies a neural circuit involving the NLOT that links the SON-AVP system to neocortical regions, promoting social behavior under osmotic stress.

A thalamo-preoptic pathway promoting social touch

The paper identifies a thalamo-preoptic pathway that controls social touch by bypassing the cerebral cortex, involving PTH2-expressing neurons and a conserved circuit across species.

Oxytocin modulates social brain network correlations in resting and task state

This study examines how oxytocin modulates social brain network correlations during resting and task states using fMRI, finding that OT increases predictive power of resting state networks for task-evoked activity and reduces individual variation.

Recording and Manipulation of the Maternal Oxytocin Neural Activities in Mice

The paper records and manipulates maternal oxytocin (OT) neural activities in mice using fiber photometry and identifies plasticity and modulatory circuits.

TPH2 knockout male rats are aggressive, show less anxiety, and exhibit an altered oxytocin system

This study examines TPH2 knockout male rats, finding reduced anxiety, increased aggression, and altered oxytocin system function.

Oxytocin via oxytocin receptor excites neurons in the endopiriform nucleus of juvenile mice

This study shows that oxytocin excites glutamatergic neurons in the endopiriform nucleus of juvenile mice through OXTR signaling.

Oxytocinergic modulation of stress-associated amygdala-hippocampus pathways in humans is mediated by serotonergic mechanisms

This study shows that oxytocin's effect on stress-related brain pathways in humans is reduced when serotonin signaling is decreased, suggesting a mediating role for serotonin.

Multiomic deep delve of synthesis and secretion processes in a model peptidergic system

The paper investigates proteome and phosphoproteome dynamics in hypothalamic neurons and identifies differences in response between cell bodies and axonal terminals.

Oxytocin activity in the Paraventricular and Supramammillary Nuclei of the Hypothalamus is Essential for Social Recognition Memory in Rats

This study identifies the supramammillary nucleus as a target of PVH oxytocin neurons and shows its necessity for social recognition memory in rats.

Wiring diagram of the oxytocin system in the mouse brain

This study maps the whole-brain connectivity of oxytocin neurons in mice, revealing distinct roles of paraventricular and supraoptic OT neurons in circuit-specific functions.