Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
Subscribe

Logo for

Science 308 (5719): 245-248

Copyright © 2005 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Vasopressin and Oxytocin Excite Distinct Neuronal Populations in the Central Amygdala

Daniel Huber,1 Pierre Veinante,2 Ron Stoop1*

Abstract: Vasopressin and oxytocin strongly modulate autonomic fear responses, through mechanisms that are still unclear. We describe how these neuropeptides excite distinct neuronal populations in the central amygdala, which provides the major output of the amygdaloid complex to the autonomic nervous system. We identified these two neuronal populations as part of an inhibitory network, through which vasopressin and oxytocin modulate the integration of excitatory information from the basolateral amygdala and cerebral cortex in opposite manners. Through this network, the expression and endogenous activation of vasopressin and oxytocin receptors may regulate the autonomic expression of fear.

1 Department of Cellular Biology and Morphology and Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
2 Neurophysiologie Cellulaire et Intégrée, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7519, CNRS, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: rstoop{at}unil.ch

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Oxytocin and vasopressin: Social neuropeptides with complex neuromodulatory functions.
E. E. Benarroch (2013)
Neurology 80, 1521-1528
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A brief history of oxytocin and its role in modulating psychostimulant effects.
D. S. Carson, A. J. Guastella, E. R. Taylor, and I. S. McGregor (2013)
J Psychopharmacol 27, 231-247
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin's Fingerprint in Personality Traits and Regional Brain Volume.
E. Andari, F. C. Schneider, R. Mottolese, P. Vindras, and A. Sirigu (2012)
Cereb Cortex
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Integrative Approaches Utilizing Oxytocin to Enhance Prosocial Behavior: From Animal and Human Social Behavior to Autistic Social Dysfunction.
H. Yamasue, J. R. Yee, R. Hurlemann, J. K. Rilling, F. S. Chen, A. Meyer-Lindenberg, and H. Tost (2012)
J. Neurosci. 32, 14109-14117a
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Modulation of anxiety behavior in the elevated plus maze using peptidic oxytocin and vasopressin receptor ligands in the rat.
P. Mak, C. Broussard, K. Vacy, and J. H. Broadbear (2012)
J Psychopharmacol 26, 532-542
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Vasopressin and oxytocin excite MCH neurons, but not other lateral hypothalamic GABA neurons.
Y. Yao, L.-Y. Fu, X. Zhang, and A. N. van den Pol (2012)
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol 302, R815-R824
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Selective influences of oxytocin on the evaluative processing of social stimuli.
G. J. Norman, J. T. Cacioppo, J. S. Morris, K. Karelina, W. B. Malarkey, A. C. DeVries, and G. G. Berntson (2011)
J Psychopharmacol 25, 1313-1319
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin, Dopamine, and the Amygdala: A Neurofunctional Model of Social Cognitive Deficits in Schizophrenia.
A. J. Rosenfeld, J. A. Lieberman, and L. F. Jarskog (2011)
Schizophr Bull 37, 1077-1087
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin Selectively Gates Fear Responses Through Distinct Outputs from the Central Amygdala.
D. Viviani, A. Charlet, E. van den Burg, C. Robinet, N. Hurni, M. Abatis, F. Magara, and R. Stoop (2011)
Science 333, 104-107
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Neurobiological Basis of Parenting Disturbance.
L. K. Newman, M. Harris, and J. Allen (2011)
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 45, 109-122
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Rescue of Impaired Fear Extinction and Normalization of Cortico-Amygdala Circuit Dysfunction in a Genetic Mouse Model by Dietary Zinc Restriction.
N. Whittle, M. Hauschild, G. Lubec, A. Holmes, and N. Singewald (2010)
J. Neurosci. 30, 13586-13596
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Hormonal mechanisms of cooperative behaviour.
M. C. Soares, R. Bshary, L. Fusani, W. Goymann, M. Hau, K. Hirschenhauser, and R. F. Oliveira (2010)
Phil Trans R Soc B 365, 2737-2750
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A common allele in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) impacts prosocial temperament and human hypothalamic-limbic structure and function.
H. Tost, B. Kolachana, S. Hakimi, H. Lemaitre, B. A. Verchinski, V. S. Mattay, D. R. Weinberger, and A. Meyer-Lindenberg (2010)
PNAS 107, 13936-13941
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin and Human Social Behavior.
A. Campbell (2010)
Personality and Social Psychology Review 14, 281-295
   Abstract »    PDF »
Testosterone decreases trust in socially naive humans.
P. A. Bos, D. Terburg, and J. van Honk (2010)
PNAS 107, 9991-9995
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin Enhances Amygdala-Dependent, Socially Reinforced Learning and Emotional Empathy in Humans.
R. Hurlemann, A. Patin, O. A. Onur, M. X. Cohen, T. Baumgartner, S. Metzler, I. Dziobek, J. Gallinat, M. Wagner, W. Maier, et al. (2010)
J. Neurosci. 30, 4999-5007
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Promoting social behavior with oxytocin in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.
E. Andari, J.-R. Duhamel, T. Zalla, E. Herbrecht, M. Leboyer, and A. Sirigu (2010)
PNAS 107, 4389-4394
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Excitability Changes Related to GABAA Receptor Plasticity during Pregnancy.
J. Maguire, I. Ferando, C. Simonsen, and I. Mody (2009)
J. Neurosci. 29, 9592-9601
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin Makes a Face in Memory Familiar.
U. Rimmele, K. Hediger, M. Heinrichs, and P. Klaver (2009)
J. Neurosci. 29, 38-42
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin Selectively Facilitates Recognition of Positive Sex and Relationship Words.
C. Unkelbach, A. J. Guastella, and J. P. Forgas (2008)
Psychological Science 19, 1092-1094
   Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin Attenuates Affective Evaluations of Conditioned Faces and Amygdala Activity.
P. Petrovic, R. Kalisch, T. Singer, and R. J. Dolan (2008)
J. Neurosci. 28, 6607-6615
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Centrally released oxytocin mediates mating-induced anxiolysis in male rats.
M. Waldherr and I. D. Neumann (2007)
PNAS 104, 16681-16684
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Presynaptic {delta} Opioid Receptors Regulate Ethanol Actions in Central Amygdala.
M.-H. Kang-Park, B. L. Kieffer, A. J. Roberts, G. R. Siggins, and S. D. Moore (2007)
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 320, 917-925
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Mother-infant bonding and the evolution of mammalian social relationships.
K.D Broad, J.P Curley, and E.B Keverne (2006)
Phil Trans R Soc B 361, 2199-2214
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Maternal Oxytocin Triggers a Transient Inhibitory Switch in GABA Signaling in the Fetal Brain During Delivery.
R. Tyzio, R. Cossart, I. Khalilov, M. Minlebaev, C. A. Hubner, A. Represa, Y. Ben-Ari, and R. Khazipov (2006)
Science 314, 1788-1792
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Role of the Amygdala and Olfaction in Unconditioned Fear in Developing Rats.
S. W. C. Chen, A. Shemyakin, and C. P. Wiedenmayer (2006)
J. Neurosci. 26, 233-240
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Oxytocin Modulates Neural Circuitry for Social Cognition and Fear in Humans.
P. Kirsch, C. Esslinger, Q. Chen, D. Mier, S. Lis, S. Siddhanti, H. Gruppe, V. S. Mattay, B. Gallhofer, and A. Meyer-Lindenberg (2005)
J. Neurosci. 25, 11489-11493
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Neuroscientist Comments.
(2005)
Neuroscientist 11, 267-268
   PDF »
Brain Oxytocin Correlates with Maternal Aggression: Link to Anxiety.
O. J. Bosch, S. L. Meddle, D. I. Beiderbeck, A. J. Douglas, and I. D. Neumann (2005)
J. Neurosci. 25, 6807-6815
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »

To Advertise     Find Products

Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (online), 1945-0877 (print). Pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882