Effects of oxytocin during the neonatal period on the development of the neural basis of social behavior

为了研究催产素系统在特定时间或地点的抑制对社会行为的影响，我们在催产素启动子的控制下产生了表达人类白喉毒素受体的转基因大鼠。我们筛选了该基因的种系传播，并建立了6株在催产素合成神经元中表达人白喉毒素受体的转基因大鼠。另一方面，为了研究新生期催产素受体的激活对成年期社会行为的影响，我们在小鼠出生后的前五天给它们注射了催产素。与我们的预期相反，注射催产素的小鼠成年后的社交、情绪和抑郁相关行为与对照组小鼠没有显著差异。

To examine effects of time-or site-specific inhibition of oxytocin system upon social behaviors, we generated transgenic rats expressing human diphtheria toxin receptor under the control of the oxytocin promoter. We screened for germ-line transmission of the transgene and established six lines of transgenic rats expressing human diphtheria toxin receptor in oxytocin-synthesizing neurons.On the other hand, to examine effects of the activation of oxytocin receptor during the neonatal period upon social behaviors in adulthood, we injected mice with oxytocin over the first five postnatal days. Contrary to our expectations, social, emotional and depression-related behaviors in adulthood of oxytocin-injected mice were not significantly different from control mice.