Despite increasing number of human studies focused on oxytocin effects, mechanisms of oxytocin influence on social behavior and on underlying brain structures in development are unknown. Study of these mechanisms have ethical and practical limitations, thus it is useful to elucidate neurobiological character of oxytocin action in animal models and using in vitro setup.

Molecular basis of oxytocin/vasopressin receptor activation in relation to brain development and social behavior is not kown.

Central aim of the department is to search for effects of oxytocin via oxytocin and/or vasopressin receptor activation in the brain and in specific neuronal cels during development. Central hypothesis represents assumption that oxytocin influences development of the brain, neural plasticity and underlies ontogenetical basis of behavior. Structurally the most similar endocrine factor to oxytocin is vasopressin, therefore project is aimed to compare effects of oxytocin and vasopressin.

Project is aimed to evaluate oxytocin effects in early stages of development, to measure synthesis and expression of growth factors and synaptic proteins. The project is also aimed to  examine the proliferative effects of oxytocin in vitro on neuronal cell cultures Functional effects of oxytocin will be evaluated by correlation of biochemical parameters with  behavioral parameters. Possibility to recognize effects of oxytocin/vasopressin on formation of central nervous system might be important milestone in research of brain development and associated disorders.