title: Oxytocin and vasopressin receptor polymorphisms interact with circulating neuropeptides to predict human emotional reactions to stress.
abstract: Oxytocin (OT) and a polymorphism (rs53576) in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) have been independently associated with stress reactivity, whereas oxytocin's sister peptide, arginine vasopressin (AVP) and polymorphisms in the vasopressin receptor gene (AVPR1A) have been independently associated with aggressive behavior. In this study, 68 men and 98 women were genotyped for the OXTR rs53576 polymorphism and the AVPR1A RS1 polymorphism. Baseline and poststressor levels of plasma OT, plasma AVP, positive affect, and anger were assessed. Women, but not men, with high levels of poststressor OT and the GG genotype of rs53576 felt the most positive affect after the stressor. Men, but not women, with high levels of poststressor AVP and the 320 allele of the RS1 polymorphism reported more poststressor anger than noncarriers. These data constitute the first evidence that oxytocin and vasopressin receptor genes interact with levels of OT and AVP to predict sex-specific emotional stress responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: Wesley G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Moons
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Baldwin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Way
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Shelley E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000483:Alleles; D000786:Anger / Q000502:physiology; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin