title: Salubrious effects of oxytocin on social stress-induced deficits.
abstract: Social relationships are a fundamental aspect of life, affecting social, psychological, physiological, and behavioral functions. While positive social interactions can attenuate stress and promote health, the social environment can also be a major source of stress when it includes social disruption, confrontation, isolation, or neglect. Social stress can impair the basal function and stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, impairing function of multiple biological systems and posing a risk to mental and physical health. In contrast, social support can ameliorate stress-induced physiological and immunological deficits, reducing the risk of subsequent psychological distress and improving an individual's overall well-being. For better clinical treatment of these physiological and mental pathologies, it is necessary to understand the regulatory mechanisms of stress-induced pathologies as well as determine the underlying biological mechanisms that regulate social buffering of the stress system. A number of ethologically relevant animal models of social stress and species that form strong adult social bonds have been utilized to study the etiology, treatment, and prevention of stress-related disorders. While undoubtedly a number of biological pathways contribute to the social buffering of the stress response, the convergence of evidence denotes the regulatory effects of oxytocin in facilitating social bond-promoting behaviors and their effect on the stress response. Thus, oxytocin may be perceived as a common regulatory element of the social environment, stress response, and stress-induced risks on mental and physical health. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1270, USA. asmith@neuro.fsu.edu
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Zuoxin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008603:Mental Health; D009769:Object Attachment; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin