Background
Research in mammals has demonstrated the involvement of oxytocin (OT) in social bond
formation; yet, its role in human bonding remains unclear. Plasma OT has been used
as a proxy for central activity and studies indicate its association with human affiliative
behaviors. Molecular genetic studies also reveal a role for OT neuropathways in shaping
the social brain. However, the links between peripheral OT, genetic markers, and their
combined contribution to human parenting are unknown.
Methods
Participants included 352 individuals: 272 mothers and fathers and their 4- to 6-month-old-infants
and 80 nonparents. Plasma OT was assayed from adults who were genotyped for oxytocin
receptor (OXTR) and CD38 risk alleles associated with social dysfunctions. CD38 is an ectoenzyme that mediates the release of brain OT. Parent-infant interactions
were microcoded for parental touch and gaze synchrony and participants reported on
parental care in childhood.
Results
OXTR (rs2254298 and rs1042778) and CD38 (rs3796863) risk alleles were each associated with lower plasma OT. Reduced plasma
OT and both OXTR and CD38 risk alleles were related to less parental touch. The interaction of high plasma
OT and low-risk CD38 alleles predicted longer durations of parent-infant gaze synchrony. Parents reporting
greater parental care showed higher plasma OT, low-risk CD38 alleles, and more touch toward their infants.
Conclusions
Results indicate that peripheral and genetic markers of the extended OT pathway are
interrelated and underpin core behaviors associated with human parenting and social
engagement. These findings may have important implications for understanding neuropsychiatric
disorders marked by early social dysfunctions.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 16, 2012
Accepted:
December 20,
2011
Received in revised form:
December 1,
2011
Received:
July 22,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- CD38 and Behavior: Moving from Correlation to Causality?Biological PsychiatryVol. 72Issue 3
- PreviewIn this issue, Feldman et al. (1) demonstrate associations between plasma oxytocin (OT) levels and genetic variability in the OT pathway, implying that OT is responsible for parent/infant interactions and confirming its role in bond formation in humans. Further evidence of early social influences on the system is that parental care received during infancy is paralleled by higher levels of plasma OT in adulthood. Neurogenetics suggests that these events are associated with polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and CD38 genes (1).
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