Abstract

This proposal addresses central oxytocinergic mechanisms underlying the interactions of affective behaviors, neuroendocrine function, and autonomic activity by investigating the effects of social isolation in female prairie voles. This research is directly relevant to health issues such as social behavior, depression, anxiety, and heart disease. Study 1 employs radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, and immunocytochemistry to investigate the time course of hormone changes in plasma and hypothalamic brain tissue following social isolation in voles (Aim 1). Study 2 examines depression- and anxiety-like behaviors and endocrine function, and uses radiotelemetry to measure autonomic parameters, in response to social isolation (Aim 2). Study 3 investigates specific oxytocinergic mechanisms that might underlie stressor-induced changes by examining central (intracerebroventricular) administration of oxytocin and/or an oxytocin antagonist to alter the behavioral, neuroendocrine, and autonomic responses to social isolation (Aim 3). The present research will enhance our understanding of how the social environment impacts behavior, physiology, and brain function, and can aid in developing new treatments for patients with affective disorders and cardiovascular disease. ? ?

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32MH073233-02
Application #
6965510
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BBBP-G (21))
Program Officer
Curvey, Mary F
Project Start
2004-09-30
Project End
2007-09-29
Budget Start
2005-09-30
Budget End
2006-09-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$48,296
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612

  Publications

Kenkel, William M; Paredes, Jamespaul; Lewis, Gregory F et al. (2013) Autonomic substrates of the response to pups in male prairie voles. PLoS One 8:e69965
Grippo, Angela J; Moffitt, Julia A; Sgoifo, Andrea et al. (2012) The integration of depressive behaviors and cardiac dysfunction during an operational measure of depression: investigating the role of negative social experiences in an animal model. Psychosom Med 74:612-9
Grippo, Angela J; Pournajafi-Nazarloo, Hossein; Sanzenbacher, Lisa et al. (2012) Peripheral oxytocin administration buffers autonomic but not behavioral responses to environmental stressors in isolated prairie voles. Stress 15:149-61
Grippo, Angela J (2011) The Utility of Animal Models in Understanding Links between Psychosocial Processes and Cardiovascular Health. Soc Personal Psychol Compass 5:164-179
Grippo, Angela J; Carter, C Sue; McNeal, Neal et al. (2011) 24-hour autonomic dysfunction and depressive behaviors in an animal model of social isolation: implications for the study of depression and cardiovascular disease. Psychosom Med 73:59-66
Williamson, John B; Lewis, Greg; Grippo, Angela J et al. (2010) Autonomic predictors of recovery following surgery: a comparative study. Auton Neurosci 156:60-6
Grippo, Angela J (2009) Mechanisms underlying altered mood and cardiovascular dysfunction: the value of neurobiological and behavioral research with animal models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 33:171-80
Grippo, Angela J; Trahanas, Diane M; Zimmerman 2nd, Robert R et al. (2009) Oxytocin protects against negative behavioral and autonomic consequences of long-term social isolation. Psychoneuroendocrinology 34:1542-53
Grippo, Angela J; Johnson, Alan Kim (2009) Stress, depression and cardiovascular dysregulation: a review of neurobiological mechanisms and the integration of research from preclinical disease models. Stress 12:1-21
Carter, C Sue; Grippo, Angela J; Pournajafi-Nazarloo, Hossein et al. (2008) Oxytocin, vasopressin and sociality. Prog Brain Res 170:331-6

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