Abstract
Endogenous oxytocin plays an important role in a wide range of human functions including birth, milk ejection during lactation, and facilitation of social interaction. There is increasing evidence that both variations in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and concentrations of oxytocin are associated with differences in these functions. The causes for the differences that have been observed in tonic and stimulated oxytocin release remain unclear. Previous reviews have suggested that across the life course, these differences may be due to individual factors, e.g., genetic variation (of the OXTR), age or sex, or be the result of early environmental influences, such as social experiences, stress, or trauma partly by inducing epigenetic changes. This review has three aims. First, we briefly discuss the endogenous oxytocin system, including physiology, development, individual differences, and function. Second, current models describing the relationship between the early life environment and the development of the oxytocin system in humans and animals are discussed. Finally, we describe research designs that can be used to investigate the effects of the early environment on the oxytocin system, identifying specific areas of research that need further attention.
Highlights
THE ENDOGENOUS OXYTOCIN SYSTEM Oxytocin, a mammalian hormone, is a naturally produced neuropeptide with nine amino acids
Oxytocin is mainly produced in magnocellular neurons in the hypothamalic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei [1]
Recent evidence has demonstrated that oxytocinergic axons ending in forebrain regions including the central amygdala and nucleus accumbens may originate exclusively in the magnocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus [2]
Summary
THE ENDOGENOUS OXYTOCIN SYSTEM Oxytocin, a mammalian hormone, is a naturally produced neuropeptide with nine amino acids. Current research highlights the link between oxytocin concentrations and a specific set of maternal bonding behaviors and attitudes in humans [18,19,20,21,22,23,24]. Oxytocin plays an important role in priming mammals to form social bonds, but in turn, the early social environment may be able to shape the development of the oxytocin system [for a review, see Ref.
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