Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan;Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan; and
Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Jun 24;111(25):9085-90. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1322868111. Epub 2014 Jun 9.
Recent evidence suggests that enduring social bonds have fitness benefits. However, very little is known about the neural circuitry and neurochemistry underlying the formation and maintenance of stable social bonds outside reproductive contexts. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide synthetized by the hypothalamus in mammals, regulates many complex forms of social behavior and cognition in both human and nonhuman animals. Animal research, however, has concentrated on monogamous mammals, and it remains unknown whether OT also modulates social bonds in nonreproductive contexts. In this study we provide behavioral evidence that exogenous OT promotes positive social behaviors in the domestic dog toward not only conspecifics but also human partners. Specifically, when sprayed with OT, dogs showed higher social orientation and affiliation toward their owners and higher affiliation and approach behaviors toward dog partners than when sprayed with placebo. Additionally, the exchange of socio-positive behaviors with dog partners triggered the release of endogenous OT, highlighting the involvement of OT in the development of social relationships in the domestic dog. These data provide new insight into the mechanisms that facilitate the maintenance of close social bonds beyond immediate reproductive interest or genetic ties and complement a growing body of evidence that identifies OT as one of the neurochemical foundations of sociality in mammalian species.
最近的证据表明，持久的社会关系具有适应益处。然而，对于生殖背景之外形成和维持稳定社会关系的神经回路和神经化学知之甚少。催产素（OT）是哺乳动物下丘脑合成的一种神经肽，它调节人类和非人类动物的许多复杂形式的社会行为和认知。然而，动物研究集中在一夫一妻制的哺乳动物上，目前还不清楚 OT 是否也调节非生殖背景下的社会关系。在这项研究中，我们提供了行为证据，表明外源性 OT 促进了家养犬对同种个体甚至人类伴侣的积极社会行为。具体来说，当给狗喷洒 OT 时，它们对主人的社交倾向和依恋程度以及对狗伙伴的依恋和接近行为都高于喷洒安慰剂时。此外，与狗伙伴进行的社会积极行为的交换引发了内源性 OT 的释放，这突出了 OT 参与了家养犬社会关系的发展。这些数据为促进超越直接生殖利益或遗传联系的亲密社会关系提供了新的见解，并补充了越来越多的证据，这些证据将 OT 确定为哺乳动物物种社会性的神经化学基础之一。
