Oxytocin signaling regulates maternally directed behavior during early life

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Zelmanoff, Daniel D.; Bornstein, Rebecca; Kaufman, Menachem; Dine, Julien; Wietek, Jonas; Litvin, Anna; Abraham, Shaked; Cohen, Savanna; Atzmon, Ayelet; Porat, Ido; Yizhar, Ofer
• 署名单位: Weizmann Institute of Science; Weizmann Institute of Science; Boehringer Ingelheim; Free University of Berlin; Humboldt University of Berlin; Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin; Free University of Berlin; Humboldt University of Berlin
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-12357
• DOI: 10.1126/science.ado5609
• 发表日期: 2025-09-11
• 关键词: central-nervous-system; ultrasonic vocalizations; social deficits; sex-differences; c-fos; neurons; vasopressin; receptor; brain; rats

摘要

Oxytocin is essential in shaping social behavior across the lifespan. Although the role of oxytocin signaling in parental care has been widely investigated, little is known about its function in social behavior during early life. We studied the role of oxytocin in mouse pup social behavior during acute separation from the mother as well as upon reunion. The activity of oxytocin neurons was increased by acute maternal separation. Behaviorally, maternally separated pups emitted more ultrasonic vocalizations upon reunion, which were further modulated by nipple attachment behavior. These effects were attenuated by blocking the oxytocin receptor during maternal separation. Optogenetic silencing of oxytocin neurons during maternal separation disrupted vocal behavior during separation and reunion. Our findings reveal an important role of oxytocin in context-dependent vocal communication in mouse pups.