Walum Hasse, Westberg Lars, Henningsson Susanne, Neiderhiser Jenae M, Reiss David, Igl Wilmar, Ganiban Jody M, Spotts Erica L, Pedersen Nancy L, Eriksson Elias, Lichtenstein Paul
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Box 281, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Sep 16;105(37):14153-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0803081105. Epub 2008 Sep 2.
Pair-bonding has been suggested to be a critical factor in the evolutionary development of the social brain. The brain neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) exerts an important influence on pair-bonding behavior in voles. There is a strong association between a polymorphic repeat sequence in the 5' flanking region of the gene (avpr1a) encoding one of the AVP receptor subtypes (V1aR), and proneness for monogamous behavior in males of this species. It is not yet known whether similar mechanisms are important also for human pair-bonding. Here, we report an association between one of the human AVPR1A repeat polymorphisms (RS3) and traits reflecting pair-bonding behavior in men, including partner bonding, perceived marital problems, and marital status, and show that the RS3 genotype of the males also affects marital quality as perceived by their spouses. These results suggest an association between a single gene and pair-bonding behavior in humans, and indicate that the well characterized influence of AVP on pair-bonding in voles may be of relevance also for humans.
伴侣关系被认为是社会大脑进化发展的关键因素。大脑神经肽精氨酸加压素(AVP)对田鼠的伴侣关系行为有重要影响。在编码一种AVP受体亚型(V1aR)的基因(avpr1a)的5'侧翼区域中的多态性重复序列与该物种雄性的一夫一妻制行为倾向之间存在强烈关联。目前尚不清楚类似机制对人类伴侣关系是否也很重要。在此,我们报告了人类AVPR1A重复多态性之一(RS3)与反映男性伴侣关系行为的特征之间的关联,包括伴侣关系、感知到的婚姻问题和婚姻状况,并表明男性的RS3基因型也会影响其配偶所感知到的婚姻质量。这些结果表明单个基因与人类伴侣关系行为之间存在关联,并表明AVP对田鼠伴侣关系的明确影响可能对人类也具有相关性。