Behavioral and epigenetic consequences of oxytocin treatment at birth.
Sci Adv
; 5(5): eaav2244, 2019 05.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31049395
ABSTRACT
Oxytocin is used in approximately half of all births in the United States during labor induction and/or augmentation. However, the effects of maternal oxytocin administration on offspring development have not been fully characterized. Here, we used the socially monogamous prairie vole to examine the hypothesis that oxytocin exposure at birth can have long-term developmental consequences. Maternally administered oxytocin increased methylation of the oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) in the fetal brain. As adults, oxytocin-exposed voles were more gregarious, with increased alloparental caregiving toward pups and increased close social contact with other adults. Cross-fostering indicated that these effects were the result of direct action on the offspring, rather than indirect effects via postnatal changes in maternal behavior. Male oxytocin-exposed offspring had increased oxytocin receptor density and expression in the brain as adults. These results show that long-term effects of perinatal oxytocin may be mediated by an epigenetic mechanism.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Oxytocics
/
Behavior, Animal
/
Oxytocin
/
Arvicolinae
/
Parturition
/
Epigenesis, Genetic
Limits:
Animals
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Journal:
Sci Adv
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States