25 Oxytocin and Vasopressin: Genetics and Behavioral Implications

Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) can profoundly affect animal physiology and behavior. Over the past 20 years, the genes that encode OT and VP, as well as their respective receptors, have been identified and intensively studied leading to a greater understanding of the hormones’ functions. The use of transgenic animals, including knockout mice, and viral vectors have opened new vistas of research on the behavioral roles of OTand VP. In this chapter, we briefly review the history and the evolutionary origins of OTand VP, as well as their structures, regulation, and neuroanatomy. Finally, we highlight recently explored roles for OT and VP in physiology and behavior. List of Abbreviations: ACTH, adrenocorticotropic hormone; AH, anterior hypothalamus; AP‐2, activator protein‐2; ATF‐2, activating transcription factor‐2; AVT, arginine vasotocin; BNST, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; CeM, central amygdala; CNS, central nervous system; CRF, corticotropin releasing factor; DAG, diacylglycerol; ERE, estrogen response element; GRE, glucocorticoid response element; ICV, intracerebroventricularly; IGR, intergenic region; IP3, 1,4,5 inositol triphosphate; LS, lateral septum; MeA, medial amygdala; MPOA, medial preoptic area; MPOA‐AH, medial preoptic area‐anterior hypothalamus; OT, oxytocin; OTKO, oxytocin knockout; OTR, oxytocin receptor; PIP2, phosphatidylinositol 4,5‐bisphosphate; PLC, phospholipase C; PVN, paraventricular nucleus; SCN, suprachiasmatic nucleus; SON, supraoptic nucleus; V1aR, vasopressin 1a receptor; V1aRKO, vasopressin 1a receptor knockout; V1bR, vasopressin 1b receptor; V1bRKO, vasopressin 1b receptor knockout; VACM‐1, vasopressin‐activated calcium‐mobilizing receptor; VLH, ventrolateral hypothalamus; VMH, ventromedial hypothalamus; VP, vasopressin; VP‐ir, vasopressin immunoreactivity