Prairie voles lacking oxytocin receptors bonded with mates and cared for pups.
Prairie voles are known for their strong commitment to family, which has been attributed to the oxytocin system.The humble prairie vole has long been revered for its unusual commitment to family. Pair-bonded couples huddle together, raise pups together and mate exclusively together — at least most of the time. Drop another couple’s pups into a cage with pair-bonded prairie voles and the adults will often foster those young as their own — highly unusual behaviour for a rodent.
Drugs that block oxytocin receptor abolish monogamy and other pair-bonding behaviours in prairie voles. And in mice, pups born to mothers that lack oxytocin die of starvation soon after birth because their mothers were unable to let down milk in response to the pups’ suckling. Working independently, social neuroscientist Larry Young at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and his colleagues have conducted the same experiment with similar but as-yet unpublished results. That came as a shock to Young, who has long studied the link between oxytocin and prairie vole behaviour. “I said, ‘Oh no, what’s wrong here?’” he says. “I didn’t believe it.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Family of Grand Prairie worker killed while checking burst pipes sues apartment, shooterThe family of a maintenance worker at a Grand Prairie apartment complex who was shot and killed while checking for burst water lines on Christmas Eve has sued...
Read more »
Parents Adore This Best-Selling Book Set With Over 90% 5-Star Reviews to Help Children 'Manage Their Emotions in a Healthy Way'Explain emotions in a simple, fun way your kids will love (thanks to this affordable set!)
Read more »
My Dress-Up Darling Director Explains Why Fans Love MarinMarin Kitagawa really took over the anime world when Shinichi Fukuda's My Dress-Up Darling made [...]
Read more »
10 Valentine's Day Gifts On Sale At Amazon Right Now That We LoveThere's nothing more helpful and convenient for gift-giving than Amazon, especially if it's on sale.
Read more »
The best flip phones in 2023: 7 picks we think you'll love | Digital TrendsFlipphones have always been the go-to for talk and text — but today's flips have games, apps, and web surfing. We rounded up the best that you can buy in 2023.
Read more »