Social isolation induces behavioral and neuroendocrine disturbances relevant to depression in female and male prairie voles.

Grippo AJ, Gerena D, Huang J, Kumar N, Shah M, Ughreja R, Carter CS

Psychoneuroendocrinology7 Sept 2007Cited by 271 (Europe PMC)

PMID17825994PMCIDPMC2174914DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.07.004PepBankPUB-17825994

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 study8

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

Natural levels measured8

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

01AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In female prairie voles, 4 weeks of social isolation raised the density of oxytocin-immunoreactive cells in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.
In plain wordsIn female prairie voles, isolation raised the number of the body's own oxytocin-making cells in a brain area.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseOxytocin-immunoreactive cell density in PVN, females
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
Social isolation versus paired housing
Comparator
Paired housing
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
In Experiment 1, oxytocin-immunoreactive cell density was higher in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and plasma oxytocin was elevated in isolated females, but not in males.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters, selected for their relevance to stress and depression, were measured in adult female and male prairie voles following 4 weeks of social isolation versus paired housing.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-1782599401
02AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In female prairie voles, 4 weeks of social isolation raised plasma oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn female prairie voles, isolation raised the body's own oxytocin level in blood.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreasePlasma oxytocin, females
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
Social isolation versus paired housing
Comparator
Paired housing
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
In Experiment 1, oxytocin-immunoreactive cell density was higher in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and plasma oxytocin was elevated in isolated females, but not in males.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters, selected for their relevance to stress and depression, were measured in adult female and male prairie voles following 4 weeks of social isolation versus paired housing.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-1782599402
03AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In male prairie voles, 4 weeks of social isolation did not raise the density of oxytocin-immunoreactive cells in the paraventricular nucleus.
In plain wordsIn male prairie voles, isolation did not raise the number of the body's own oxytocin-making cells in a brain area.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeOxytocin-immunoreactive cell density in PVN, males
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
Social isolation versus paired housing
Comparator
Paired housing
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
In Experiment 1, oxytocin-immunoreactive cell density was higher in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and plasma oxytocin was elevated in isolated females, but not in males.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters, selected for their relevance to stress and depression, were measured in adult female and male prairie voles following 4 weeks of social isolation versus paired housing.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-1782599403
04AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In male prairie voles, 4 weeks of social isolation did not raise plasma oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn male prairie voles, isolation did not raise the body's own oxytocin level in blood.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changePlasma oxytocin, males
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
Social isolation versus paired housing
Comparator
Paired housing
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
In Experiment 1, oxytocin-immunoreactive cell density was higher in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and plasma oxytocin was elevated in isolated females, but not in males.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters, selected for their relevance to stress and depression, were measured in adult female and male prairie voles following 4 weeks of social isolation versus paired housing.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-1782599404
05AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In isolated female prairie voles, plasma oxytocin was higher than in paired animals after the resident-intruder test.
In plain wordsIn female prairie voles, isolation was linked to higher natural oxytocin levels in blood after a social test.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreasePlasma oxytocin after resident-intruder test, females
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
Social isolation versus paired housing
Comparator
Paired housing
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
Compared to paired animals, plasma oxytocin, ACTH and corticosterone were elevated in isolated females and plasma oxytocin was elevated in isolated males, following the resident-intruder test.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters, selected for their relevance to stress and depression, were measured in adult female and male prairie voles following 4 weeks of social isolation versus paired housing.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-1782599405
06AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In isolated male prairie voles, plasma oxytocin was higher than in paired animals after the resident-intruder test.
In plain wordsIn male prairie voles, isolation was linked to higher natural oxytocin levels in blood after a social test.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreasePlasma oxytocin after resident-intruder test, males
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
Social isolation versus paired housing
Comparator
Paired housing
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
Compared to paired animals, plasma oxytocin, ACTH and corticosterone were elevated in isolated females and plasma oxytocin was elevated in isolated males, following the resident-intruder test.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters, selected for their relevance to stress and depression, were measured in adult female and male prairie voles following 4 weeks of social isolation versus paired housing.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-1782599406
07AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In isolated female prairie voles, the proportion of paraventricular cells double-labeled for c-Fos and oxytocin was higher than in paired animals after the resident-intruder test.
In plain wordsIn female prairie voles, isolation raised the share of active brain cells making the body's own oxytocin after a social test.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Increasec-Fos and oxytocin double-labeled PVN cells, females
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
Social isolation versus paired housing
Comparator
Paired housing
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
The proportion of cells double-labeled for c-Fos and oxytocin or c-Fos and CRF was elevated in isolated females, and the proportion of cells double-labeled for c-Fos and oxytocin was elevated in isolated males following this test.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters, selected for their relevance to stress and depression, were measured in adult female and male prairie voles following 4 weeks of social isolation versus paired housing.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-1782599407
08AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Other
In isolated male prairie voles, the proportion of paraventricular cells double-labeled for c-Fos and oxytocin was higher than in paired animals after the resident-intruder test.
In plain wordsIn male prairie voles, isolation raised the share of active brain cells making the body's own oxytocin after a social test.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Increasec-Fos and oxytocin double-labeled PVN cells, males
Study
prairie volen: not reported in source
Social isolation versus paired housing
Comparator
Paired housing
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
The proportion of cells double-labeled for c-Fos and oxytocin or c-Fos and CRF was elevated in isolated females, and the proportion of cells double-labeled for c-Fos and oxytocin was elevated in isolated males following this test.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Neuroendocrine and behavioral parameters, selected for their relevance to stress and depression, were measured in adult female and male prairie voles following 4 weeks of social isolation versus paired housing.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-1782599408

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.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 20:03 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:50 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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