Transcriptional diversity of the oxytocin receptor in prairie voles: mechanistic implications for behavioral neuroscience and maternal physiology.

ABSTRACT: The neurohormone oxytocin regulates many aspects of physiology primarily by binding to its receptor, the oxytocin receptor. The oxytocin receptor gene (Oxtr) has been shown to have alternative transcripts in the mouse brain which may each have different biological functions or be used in specific contexts. A popular animal model for studying oxytocin-dependent social behaviors is the prairie vole, a biparental and monogamous rodent. Alternative transcriptional capacity of Oxtr in prairie voles is unknown. We used 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends to identify alternative Oxtr transcription start sites in prairie vole brain tissue and uterine tissue. We then validated expression of specific transcripts in fetal brains and assessed the impact of exogenous oxytocin admin

SUBMITTER: Danoff JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10495980 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature