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Neonatal oxytocin and vasopressin manipulation alter social behavior during the juvenile period in Mongolian gerbils
Author(s) -
Taylor Jack H.,
Cavanaugh Jon,
French Jeffrey A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.21533
Subject(s) - vasopressin , oxytocin , neuropeptide , juvenile , medicine , vasopressin receptor , endocrinology , weaning , antagonist , psychology , receptor , biology , genetics
Oxytocin and vasopressin are important modulators of a wide variety of social behaviors, and increasing evidence is showing that these neuropeptides are important organizational effectors of later‐life behavior as well. We treated day‐old gerbil pups with oxytocin, vasopressin, an oxytocin receptor antagonist, a vasopressin V1a receptor antagonist, or saline control, and then measured received parental responsiveness during the early postnatal period and juvenile social behavior during weaning. Neonatal vasopressin treatment enhanced sociality in males, but not females, at both developmental time points. When pups were individually placed outside the nest, parents were more responsive to male pups treated with vasopressin compared with littermates, and vasopressin treated male pups exhibited increased play with littermates as juveniles. These results show that vasopressin during very early life can enhance social interactions throughout early development.