A distributed network for social cognition enriched for oxytocin receptors

Mariela Mitre, Bianca J. Marlin, Jennifer K. Schiavo, Egzona Morina, Samantha E. Norden, Troy A. Hackett, Chiye J. Aoki, Moses V. Chao, Robert C. Froemke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide important for social behaviors such as maternal care and parent–infant bonding. It is believed that oxytocin receptor signaling in the brain is critical for these behaviors, but it is unknown precisely when and where oxytocin receptors are expressed or which neural circuits are directly sensitive to oxytocin. To overcome this challenge, we generated specific antibodies to the mouse oxytocin receptor and examined receptor expression throughout the brain. We identified a distributed network of female mouse brain regions for maternal behaviors that are especially enriched for oxytocin receptors, including the piriform cortex, the left auditory cortex, and CA2 of the hippocampus. Electron microscopic analysis of the cerebral cortex revealed that oxytocin receptors were mainly expressed at synapses, as well as on axons and glial processes. Functionally, oxytocin transiently reduced synaptic inhibition in multiple brain regions and enabled long-term synaptic plasticity in the auditory cortex. Thus modulation of inhibition may be a general mechanism by which oxytocin can act throughout the brain to regulate parental behaviors and social cognition.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2517-2535
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume36
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 24 2016

Keywords

  • Antibody
  • Auditory cortex
  • Development
  • Inhibition
  • Oxytocin
  • Synaptic plasticity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A distributed network for social cognition enriched for oxytocin receptors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this