HORMONE LEVELS PREDICT RELATIONSHIP QUALITY

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 目的：评估通常被认为在亲子关系中起重要作用的催乳素和催产素在成年伴侣关系中是否也很重要。 催乳素是哺乳动物成功哺乳所必需的，也是调节母体行为的物质。在一些鸟类和哺乳动物的双亲物种中，父亲的催乳素水平较高，有一些证据表明，催乳素可能对高质量的男性照顾婴儿很重要。因此，催乳素通常被认为是一种“双亲”荷尔蒙。催产素也参与母体护理，但最近被认为与一夫一妻制啮齿动物的配对关系有关。有没有其他情况下，催乳素和催产素升高可能是重要的？这些“育儿”荷尔蒙在其他社会关系中可能很重要。我们发现雄性和雌性棉顶罗望子鱼的催乳素和催产素水平与附属行为(抱抱、新郎)和性行为都存在显著的正相关。与伴侣进行更积极的社交活动的伴侣的荷尔蒙水平更高。我们复制了15对交配对的从属关系变异数据，同时记录了催产素水平。我们发现，伴随行为的数量有五倍的变化，基线催产素水平也有五倍的变化。男性和女性的催产素水平相同，配对内的催产素水平高度相关，催产素水平与附属行为呈正相关。男性催产素水平的差异可以用性活动的差异来解释，而女性催产素水平的差异可以用接触和触摸的差异来解释。亲子关系和荷尔蒙水平的种内差异很大，两性与从属关系相关的催产素水平相等的事实，以及每个性别不同的行为差异来源，都是新奇和令人兴奋的。这项工作依赖于WNPRC分析服务和图书馆和信息服务。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Objective: To assess whether prolactin and oxytocin, commonly thought to be important in parent-offspring relationships is also important in adult relationships between mates. Prolactin is necessary for successful nursing in mammals, and also regulates maternal behavior. In some biparental species of birds and mammals prolactin levels are elevated in fathers, and there is some evidence that prolactin may be important for quality male care of infants. Prolactin, thus, is often thought of as a "parental" hormone. Oxytocin is also involved in maternal care but has recently been implicated in pair bonding in monogamous rodents. Are there other conditions where elevated prolactin and oxytocin might be important? These "parenting" hormones might be important in other social relationships. We have found significant positive correlations between prolactin and oxytocin levels and affiliative behavior (huddle, groom), and sexual behavior in both male and female cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus). Mates that engaged in more positive social interactions with their mates had higher hormone levels. We have replicated data on variation in affiliative relationships in 15 mated pairs where we simultaneously recorded oxytocin levels. We found a five-fold variation in the amount of affiliative behavior shown, and a five-fold variation in baseline oxytocin levels. Both males and females showed equal levels of oxytocin and levels within pairs were highly correlated and oxytocin levels correlated positively with affiliative behavior. Variance in male oxytocin levels was best explained by variance in sexual activity whereas variance in female oxytocin levels was best explained by variation in contact and touching. The high within-species variation in affiliation and hormone level, the fact that both sexes have equal levels of oxytocin correlated with affiliation and the different behavioral sources of variation for each sex are each novel and exciting. This work relied on the WNPRC Assay Services and Library and Information Services.