title: Genetic Regulation of Maternal Oxytocin Response and Its Influences on Maternal Behavior.
abstract: We interrogated the genetic modulation of maternal oxytocin response and its association with maternal behavior using genetic risk scores within the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene. We identified a novel SNP, rs968389, to be significantly associated with maternal oxytocin response after a challenging mother-infant interaction task (Still Face Paradigm) and maternal separation anxiety from the infant. Performing a multiallelic analysis across OXTR by calculating a cumulative genetic risk score revealed a significant gene-by-environment (G × E) interaction, with OXTR genetic risk score interacting with adult separation anxiety to modulate levels of maternal sensitivity. Mothers with higher OXTR genetic risk score and adult separation anxiety showed significantly reduced levels of maternal sensitivity during free play with the infant. The same G × E interaction was also observed for the extended OXTR cumulative genetic risk score that included rs968389. Moreover, the extended cumulative OXTR genetic risk score itself was found to be significantly associated with maternal separation anxiety as it specifically relates to the infant. Our results suggest a complex montage of individual and synergistic genetic mediators of maternal behavior. These findings add to specific knowledge about genetic regulation of maternal oxytocin response in relation to maternal adjustment and infant bonding through the first few months of life.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Counseling, Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Divya
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7971-7255
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South West Sydney Local Health District and Ingham Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Valsamma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Eapen
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Karitane, Villawood, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kohlhoff
authors.affiliation: Sydney Child Behaviour Research Clinic, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendoza Diaz
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Bryanne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Academic Mental Health Unit and Psychiatry Research and Teaching Unit, Sydney South West Local Health District, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Derrick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silove
authors.affiliation: Sydney Child Behaviour Research Clinic, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dadds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: C569600:OXTR protein, human; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D010121:Oxytocin