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Immunoreactivity of central vasopressin and oxytocin pathways in microtine rodents: A quantitative comparative study
Author(s) -
Wang Zuoxin,
Zhou Lei,
Hulihan Terrence J.,
Insel Thomas R.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19960318)366:4<726::aid-cne11>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - vasopressin , biology , oxytocin , vasopressin receptor , oxytocin receptor , prairie vole , vole , microtus , pair bond , endocrinology , arvicolinae , neuropeptide , hypothalamus , zoology , medicine , receptor , neuroscience , genetics , population , antagonist , demography , sociology
The genus Microtus includes several closely related species of voles with diverse patterns of social organization. Comparative studies of these species have previously tested hypotheses related to the evolution of monogamy and affiliation. In earlier studies, monogamous voles have been reported to differ from closely related nonmonogamous voles in the neural distribution of oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. These receptors have also been implicated in the behavioral differences relevant to monogamy, as oxytocin and vasopressin influence pair‐bond formation in the monogamous species. In the current study, two monogamous and two nonmonogamous vole species were compared for the distribution of oxytocin and vasopressin immunoreactivity. Contrary to our predictions, gender dimorphisms in vasopressin immunoreactivity were as evident in the monogamous as in the nonmonogamous species. Also, species differences in oxytocin and vasopressin staining were subtle relative to the profound species differences previously reported for receptor binding. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that neuroendocrine systems may evolve by changes in receptor distribution rather than by restructuring the presynaptic pathway. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.