Abstract:
Previous research has demonstrated the importance of social interactions in
typical development and growth. Recent research demonstrates oxytocin’s role in
prosocial behaviors, and oxytocin has been proposed as a pharmacological treatment for
certain social deficits. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of sub-chronic
oxytocin administration on social behaviors in male and female, juvenile mice. Mice
underwent housing and drug manipulations to test the effects of sub-chronic oxytocin
administration, isolation housing, and sex on social behaviors evaluated using a three
chamber assay developed for determining sociability and the preference for social
novelty. Results indicate sub-chronic oxytocin administration induces sex-specific
changes in social behavior with an interaction between housing condition, drug treatment,
and sex. These results suggest that there is a complex relationship existing between these variables that should be considered further in the prescription and use of oxytocin to treat social symptoms in clinical populations.
