Department of Psychology and the Gonda Brain Sciences Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Biol Psychiatry. 2012 Aug 1;72(3):175-81. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.12.025. Epub 2012 Feb 14.
Research in mammals has demonstrated the involvement of oxytocin (OT) in social bond formation; yet, its role in human bonding remains unclear. Plasma OT has been used as a proxy for central activity and studies indicate its association with human affiliative behaviors. Molecular genetic studies also reveal a role for OT neuropathways in shaping the social brain. However, the links between peripheral OT, genetic markers, and their combined contribution to human parenting are unknown.
Participants included 352 individuals: 272 mothers and fathers and their 4- to 6-month-old-infants and 80 nonparents. Plasma OT was assayed from adults who were genotyped for oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and CD38 risk alleles associated with social dysfunctions. CD38 is an ectoenzyme that mediates the release of brain OT. Parent-infant interactions were microcoded for parental touch and gaze synchrony and participants reported on parental care in childhood.
OXTR (rs2254298 and rs1042778) and CD38 (rs3796863) risk alleles were each associated with lower plasma OT. Reduced plasma OT and both OXTR and CD38 risk alleles were related to less parental touch. The interaction of high plasma OT and low-risk CD38 alleles predicted longer durations of parent-infant gaze synchrony. Parents reporting greater parental care showed higher plasma OT, low-risk CD38 alleles, and more touch toward their infants.
Results indicate that peripheral and genetic markers of the extended OT pathway are interrelated and underpin core behaviors associated with human parenting and social engagement. These findings may have important implications for understanding neuropsychiatric disorders marked by early social dysfunctions.
在哺乳动物中的研究表明，催产素（OT）参与了社交纽带的形成；然而，其在人类社交中的作用仍不清楚。血浆 OT 一直被用作中枢活动的替代物，研究表明其与人类亲和行为有关。分子遗传学研究也揭示了 OT 神经通路在塑造社交大脑方面的作用。然而，外周 OT、遗传标记及其对人类养育的综合贡献之间的联系尚不清楚。
参与者包括 352 人：272 名母亲和父亲及其 4-6 个月大的婴儿和 80 名非父母。对催产素受体（OXTR）和与社交功能障碍相关的 CD38 风险等位基因进行基因分型的成年人进行了血浆 OT 测定。CD38 是一种外切酶，可介导大脑 OT 的释放。对父母与婴儿的互动进行了微观编码，以测量父母的触摸和注视同步性，参与者报告了他们在童年时期的养育情况。
OXTR（rs2254298 和 rs1042778）和 CD38（rs3796863）风险等位基因均与较低的血浆 OT 相关。较低的血浆 OT 和 OXTR 和 CD38 风险等位基因均与较少的父母触摸有关。高血浆 OT 和低风险 CD38 等位基因的相互作用预测了父母与婴儿注视同步的持续时间更长。报告更多养育的父母表现出更高的血浆 OT、低风险 CD38 等位基因和对婴儿更多的触摸。
研究结果表明，扩展 OT 通路的外周和遗传标记相互关联，并为与人类养育和社交参与相关的核心行为提供了基础。这些发现对于理解以早期社交功能障碍为特征的神经精神障碍可能具有重要意义。
