Vasopressin 1A (V1A) Receptor Antagonists Reduce Anxiety in Marmosets

Abstract

The arginine-vasopressin (AVP) neuropeptide system is involved in complex social behaviors and emotional states across species. Within the brain, the vasopressin 1A receptor (V1AR) is the predominant subtype localized in circuits underlying emotion (e.g., anxiety, aggression) and social behaviors (e.g., pair bonding) with particularly high expression in the limbic system, hypothalamus, and brainstem. Given that social emotional processing deficits are present in many neurobehavioral disorders, modulation of the AVP system through the V1AR provides a tractable approach for the treatment of these disorders.