Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior.

ABSTRACT: The neuropeptides vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT) and their receptors in the brain are involved in the regulation of various social behaviors and have emerged as drug targets for the treatment of social dysfunction in several sex-biased neuropsychiatric disorders. Sex differences in the VP and OT systems may therefore be implicated in sex-specific regulation of healthy as well as impaired social behaviors. We begin this review by highlighting the sex differences, or lack of sex differences, in VP and OT synthesis in the brain. We then discuss the evidence showing the presence or absence of sex differences in VP and OT receptors in rodents and humans, as well as showing new data of sexually dimorphic V1a receptor binding in the rat brain. Importantly, we find that there is lack of compre

SUBMITTER: Dumais KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4633405 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature