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Study · Animal study (in vivo) · prairie vole · 1995

5 results

Oxytocin and the molecular basis of monogamy.

Insel TR, Winslow JT, Wang ZX, Young L, Hulihan TJ

Advances in experimental medicine and biology1 Jan 1995Cited by 45 (Europe PMC)

PMID8713971 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-08713971
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In prairie voles, central infusion of oxytocin, but not vasopressin, facilitated pair bonding in the absence of mating.

    In plain wordsIn prairie voles, oxytocin infused into the brain helped pair bonds form without mating; vasopressin did not.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreasePair bond formation without mating after central OT infusion
    Study

    prairie volen: not reported in source

    Prairie vole
    Comparator
    Vasopressin
    Outcome group
    Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · central infusionAs given in this study (prairie vole).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Moreover, central infusion of OT (but not vasopressin, AVP) facilitates pair bonding n the absence of mating.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To study male-female pair bonds, our laboratory has focused on a microtine rodent, the prairie vole, which is monogamous and highly affiliative.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone4

In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

  1. 02AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In prairie voles, central administration of an oxytocin antagonist, but not a V1 antagonist, prevented pair bonding without interfering with mating behavior.

    In plain wordsIn prairie voles, a drug that blocks oxytocin receptors in the brain stopped pair bonds forming, but did not stop mating.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicablePair bonding after central administration of an OT antagonist
    Study

    prairie volen: not reported in source

    Prairie vole
    Outcome group
    Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Central administration of an OT antagonist (but not a V1 antagonist) prevents pair bonding without interfering with the mating behavior.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To study male-female pair bonds, our laboratory has focused on a microtine rodent, the prairie vole, which is monogamous and highly affiliative.

    In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

  2. 03AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    In male prairie voles, vasopressin, not oxytocin, appears necessary for pair bond formation.

    In plain wordsIn male prairie voles, vasopressin, and not oxytocin, seems to be needed for pair bonds to form.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableRole of OT versus AVP in male pair bond formation
    Study

    prairie volen: not reported in source

    Prairie vole
    Outcome group
    Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In males, it is AVP (not OT) that appears necessary for pair bond formation.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To study male-female pair bonds, our laboratory has focused on a microtine rodent, the prairie vole, which is monogamous and highly affiliative.

    In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

  3. 04AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    The pattern of oxytocin and vasopressin receptor distribution in the prairie vole brain was entirely distinct from that in the non-monogamous montane vole.

    In plain wordsIn voles, the brain pattern of oxytocin receptors in the monogamous prairie vole differed from that in the montane vole.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableOT and AVP receptor distribution in prairie versus montane vole brain
    Study

    prairie volen: not reported in source

    Prairie vole
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The pattern of OT (and AVP) receptor distribution in the prairie vole brain is entirely distinct from the pattern observed in the closely related non-monogamous montane vole.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To study male-female pair bonds, our laboratory has focused on a microtine rodent, the prairie vole, which is monogamous and highly affiliative.

    In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

  4. 05AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism

    Oxytocin receptors of the prairie and montane voles showed virtually identical kinetics, specificities and cDNA sequences.

    In plain wordsIn voles, oxytocin receptors of the two species behaved almost the same in kinetics, specificity and sequence.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableOT receptor kinetics, specificity and cDNA sequence in two vole species
    Study

    prairie volen: not reported in source

    Prairie vole
    Outcome group
    Receptor activity and mechanism · Pharmacology

    Source sentences

    Summary
    OT receptors (OTR) in these two species show virtually identical kinetics, specificities, and cDNA sequences (RNA from parturient uterus).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To study male-female pair bonds, our laboratory has focused on a microtine rodent, the prairie vole, which is monogamous and highly affiliative.

    In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 20:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:53 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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