Species and individual differences in juvenile female alloparental care are associated with oxytocin receptor density in the striatum and the lateral septum.

Olazábal DE, Young LJ

Hormones and behavior25 Jan 2006Cited by 162 (Europe PMC)

PMID16442534DOI10.1016/j.yhbeh.2005.12.010PepBankPUB-16442534

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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 study6

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone6

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.

01AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In juvenile rodents, oxytocin receptor density in the nucleus accumbens was highest in prairie voles, intermediate in rats, and lowest in mice and meadow voles.
In plain wordsIn young rodents, the brain's oxytocin receptors in one region were most dense in prairie voles and least dense in mice and meadow voles.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableOxytocin receptor density in nucleus accumbens across species
Study
prairie vole, rat, mouse, meadow volen: not reported in source
brain receptor autoradiography
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
We found that OTR density in the nucleus accumbens (NA) is highest in juvenile prairie voles, intermediate in juvenile rats, and lowest in juvenile mice and meadow voles.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here, we tested the hypothesis that species differences in pup responsiveness in juvenile rodents are associated with oxytocin receptor (OTR) density in specific brain regions.
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.
Report a problemFND-1644253401
02AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In juvenile rodents, oxytocin receptor binding in the caudate putamen was highest in prairie voles, intermediate in rats and meadow voles, and lowest in mice.
In plain wordsIn young rodents, oxytocin receptor binding in one brain region was highest in prairie voles and lowest in mice.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableOxytocin receptor binding in caudate putamen across species
Study
prairie vole, rat, mouse, meadow volen: not reported in source
brain receptor autoradiography
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
In the caudate putamen (CP), OTR binding was highest in prairie voles, intermediate in rats and meadow voles, and lowest in mice.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here, we tested the hypothesis that species differences in pup responsiveness in juvenile rodents are associated with oxytocin receptor (OTR) density in specific brain regions.
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.
Report a problemFND-1644253402
03AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In juvenile rodents, oxytocin receptor binding in the lateral septum was high in mice and meadow voles and low in prairie voles and rats.
In plain wordsIn young rodents, oxytocin receptor binding in the lateral septum was high in mice and meadow voles and low in prairie voles and rats.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableOxytocin receptor binding in lateral septum across species
Study
prairie vole, rat, mouse, meadow volen: not reported in source
brain receptor autoradiography
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
In contrast, the lateral septum (LS) shows an opposite pattern, with OTR binding being high in mice and meadow voles and low in prairie voles and rats.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here, we tested the hypothesis that species differences in pup responsiveness in juvenile rodents are associated with oxytocin receptor (OTR) density in specific brain regions.
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.
Report a problemFND-1644253403
04AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In juvenile female prairie voles, time spent crouching over pups was positively correlated with oxytocin receptor density in the nucleus accumbens.
In plain wordsIn young female prairie voles, more caring posture time was linked to more oxytocin receptors in the nucleus accumbens.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseCrouching time versus oxytocin receptor density in nucleus accumbens
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
brain receptor autoradiography
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Measurements
correlation coefficient r
0.47 r
nucleus accumbens
Source sentences
Summary
The time spent adopting crouching postures, the most distinctive component of alloparental behavior in juveniles, was positively correlated with OTR density in the NA (r = 0.47) and CP (r = 0.45) and negatively correlated with OTR density in the lateral septum (r = -0.53).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We then investigated whether a similar receptor-behavior relationship exists among juvenile female prairie voles by correlating individual variation in alloparental behavior with variation in OTR density.
Summary · context
Here, we tested the hypothesis that species differences in pup responsiveness in juvenile rodents are associated with oxytocin receptor (OTR) density in specific brain regions.
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.
Report a problemFND-1644253404
05AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In juvenile female prairie voles, time spent crouching over pups was positively correlated with oxytocin receptor density in the caudate putamen.
In plain wordsIn young female prairie voles, more caring posture time was linked to more oxytocin receptors in the caudate putamen.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseCrouching time versus oxytocin receptor density in caudate putamen
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
brain receptor autoradiography
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Measurements
correlation coefficient r
0.45 r
caudate putamen
Source sentences
Summary
The time spent adopting crouching postures, the most distinctive component of alloparental behavior in juveniles, was positively correlated with OTR density in the NA (r = 0.47) and CP (r = 0.45) and negatively correlated with OTR density in the lateral septum (r = -0.53).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We then investigated whether a similar receptor-behavior relationship exists among juvenile female prairie voles by correlating individual variation in alloparental behavior with variation in OTR density.
Summary · context
Here, we tested the hypothesis that species differences in pup responsiveness in juvenile rodents are associated with oxytocin receptor (OTR) density in specific brain regions.
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.
Report a problemFND-1644253405
06AnimalNot a test of Oxytocin aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In juvenile female prairie voles, time spent crouching over pups was negatively correlated with oxytocin receptor density in the lateral septum.
In plain wordsIn young female prairie voles, more caring posture time was linked to fewer oxytocin receptors in the lateral septum.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseCrouching time versus oxytocin receptor density in lateral septum
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
brain receptor autoradiography
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Measurements
correlation coefficient r
−0.53 r
lateral septum
Source sentences
Summary
The time spent adopting crouching postures, the most distinctive component of alloparental behavior in juveniles, was positively correlated with OTR density in the NA (r = 0.47) and CP (r = 0.45) and negatively correlated with OTR density in the lateral septum (r = -0.53).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We then investigated whether a similar receptor-behavior relationship exists among juvenile female prairie voles by correlating individual variation in alloparental behavior with variation in OTR density.
Summary · context
Here, we tested the hypothesis that species differences in pup responsiveness in juvenile rodents are associated with oxytocin receptor (OTR) density in specific brain regions.
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.
Report a problemFND-1644253406

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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.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 20:03 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:51 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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