NEUROBIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF SOCIAL BONDING IN A MONOGAMOUS PRIMATE

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金， 因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为 研究中心，而研究中心不一定是研究者所在的机构。 这项研究的主要目标是利用一种独特的非人类灵长类动物模型，进一步了解社会联系的神经生物学基础。社会联系功能障碍是许多发育和精神障碍的基础，并对身心健康产生长期影响。在这个更广泛的背景下，我们建议研究一个物种，显示高水平的选择性社会纽带，一夫一妻制的titi猴（Callicebus cupreus）。该物种表现出一种成对的纽带，或雄性和雌性之间的选择性依恋，以及后代对父亲的依恋。非人类灵长类动物模型是啮齿动物模型的一个有价值的补充，因为在神经解剖学上更接近人类。在许多情况下，它们也比直接研究人类更可取，因为它们可以更好地控制个人经验和实验条件。精氨酸加压素（AVP）和催产素（OT）是已知参与啮齿动物社会联系的神经肽激素。虽然也有证据表明它们在灵长类动物的社会联系中发挥作用，但这一过程的方向性尚不清楚。我们建议区分AVP、OT和社会纽带之间关系的三种模式：a）成熟--一夫一妻制物种中社会纽带的形成是不可逆的、与年龄相关的成熟过程的结果，其中AVP和OT系统的变化（合成增加，受体结合变化）建立形成成对键的倾向; B）情境-AVP和OT系统的变化完全是环境的，是成对键或父母依恋形成的直接结果。在这个模型中，这些变化是可逆的依恋数字的损失后，和c）组合-虽然AVP和/或OT的不可逆的成熟变化设置了成人依恋的形成阶段，配对键的形成，然后诱导进一步的变化和依恋数字的损失可以“重置”的过程。我们以前对这个物种的研究显示了两种成熟变化的证据（性腺激素，Valeggia等人，1999）和情境变化（肾上腺皮质对依恋键形成和破坏的反应，门多萨等人，2000年）。我们目前的研究的总体假设是，这两个过程相结合的神经肽调节对键合-所提出的“组合”模型。

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. The primary goal of this research is to further our understanding of the neurobiological basis of social bonding, using a unique non-human primate model. Dysfunctions in social bonding underlie a number of developmental and psychiatric disorders, as well as having long-term consequences for physical and psychological health. In this broader context, we propose to study a species which displays high levels of selective social bonding, the monogamous titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus). This species displays a pair-bond, or selective attachment between males and females, as well as attachment by offspring to their father. Non-human primate models are a valuable addition to rodent models, in being neuroanatomically much closer to humans. In many cases they are also preferable to studying humans directly, because of the greater control possible over individual experience and experimental conditions. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) are neuropeptide hormones known to be involved in social bonding in rodents. Although there is also evidence for their role in primate social bonding, the directionality of the process is unclear. We propose to distinguish between three models of the relationship between AVP, OT and social bonding: a) Maturational - the formation of social bonds in a monogamous species are the results of irreversible, age-related maturational processes in which changes in the AVP and OT systems (increases in synthesis, changes in receptor binding) set up a predisposition to form a pair-bond; b) Situational - changes in the AVP and OT systems are completely environmental and the direct result of the formation of a pair-bond or parental attachment. In this model, these changes are reversible upon the loss of the attachment figure, and c) Combination - while irreversible maturational changes in AVP and/or OT set the stage for formation of an adult attachment, the formation of a pair-bond then induces further changes and the loss of an attachment figure can "reset" the process. Our previous research in this species shows evidence for both maturational changes (gonadal hormones, Valeggia et al., 1999) and situational changes (adrenocortical response to formation and disruption of attachment bonds, Mendoza et al., 2000). Our overarching hypothesis for the current research is that both processes are combined with respect to neuropeptide regulation of pair-bonding - the proposed "combination" model.