Study summary · research use only
Oxytocin and microglia in the development of social behaviour
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review discusses interactions between oxytocin and microglia in social behavior development. The abstract describes oxytocin as a regulator of social behaviour and microglia as immune cells regulating brain development, and reports that microglia appear to regulate the oxytocin system and are in turn regulated by oxytocin, which the authors describe as having anti-inflammatory effects. It states both microglia and oxytocin are regulated in sex-specific ways, and proposes oxytocin and microglia may act together during developmental-sensitive periods to shape experience-dependent circuit refinement and individual differences in social behaviour. Species not specified.
Abstract
Oxytocin is a well-established regulator of social behaviour. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, regulate brain development and maintenance in health and disease. Oxytocin and microglia interact: microglia appear to regulate the oxytocin system and are, in turn, regulated by oxytocin, which appears to have anti-inflammatory effects. Both microglia and oxytocin are regulated in sex-specific ways. Oxytocin and microglia may work together to promote experience-dependent circuit refinement through multiple developmental-sensitive periods contributing to individual differences in social behaviour. This article is part of the theme issue 'Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours'.
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