Vasopressin and pair bonding: from voles to man

Abstract

The brain neuropeptides arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) exert important effects on social behaviors, such as aggression, sexual behavior and pair-bonding behavior in rodents. Our current studies aim to investigate to what extent variants in genes related to vasopressin and oxytocin are associated with different aspects of social behaviors also in humans. Others have in male voles shown a strong association between a polymorphic repeat sequence in the 5’ flanking region of the gene (avpr1a) encoding one of the AVP receptor subtypes (V1aR), and proneness for monogamous behavior. We recently reported an association between one of the human AVPR1A repeat polymorphisms and traits reflecting pair-bonding behavior in men, including partner bonding and marital problems, and show that the genotype of the males also affects marital quality as perceived by their spouses. These results indicate that the well-characterized influence of AVP on pair bonding in voles may be of relevance also for humans. Results from recent studies investigating if genetic variants in the AVPR1A and OXT receptor genes influence the risk of autism as well as inter-individual differences in various aspects of human social behavior will also be presented and discussed.

 

¹University of Gothenburg, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden