Bales Karen L, van Westerhuyzen Julie A, Lewis-Reese Antoniah D, Grotte Nathaniel D, Lanter Jalene A, Carter C Sue
Department of Psychology, One Shields Ave., University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Horm Behav. 2007 Aug;52(2):274-9. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.05.004. Epub 2007 May 10.
The present study examines the developmental consequences of neonatal exposure to oxytocin on adult social behaviors in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Female neonates were injected within 24 h of birth with isotonic saline or one of four dosages of oxytocin (OT). As adults, females were tested in an elevated plus-maze paradigm (a measure of anxiety and exploratory behavior), and for alloparental behavior and partner preferences. At 2 mg/kg OT, females took longer to approach pups, but were the only group to form a statistically significant within-group partner preference. At 4 mg/kg OT, females retrieved pups significantly more frequently but no longer displayed a partner preference; while females treated developmentally with 8 mg/kg spent significantly more time in side-to-side contact with a male stranger than any other treatment group. OT may have broad developmental consequences, but these effects are not linear and may both increase and decrease the propensity to display behaviors such as pair-bonding.
本研究考察了新生雌性草原田鼠(Microtus ochrogaster)出生时接触催产素对其成年后社会行为的发育影响。雌性新生田鼠在出生后24小时内被注射等渗盐水或四种剂量催产素(OT)之一。成年后,对雌性田鼠进行高架十字迷宫实验(一种焦虑和探索行为的测量方法),并测试其异亲行为和伴侣偏好。在2mg/kg催产素剂量下,雌性田鼠接近幼崽的时间更长,但却是唯一在组内形成具有统计学意义的伴侣偏好的组。在4mg/kg催产素剂量下,雌性田鼠找回幼崽的频率显著更高,但不再表现出伴侣偏好;而在发育过程中接受8mg/kg催产素处理的雌性田鼠与陌生雄性并排接触的时间比其他任何处理组都显著更长。催产素可能具有广泛的发育影响,但这些影响并非呈线性,可能会增加或降低表现出如配对结合等行为的倾向。