Neuroendocrinology of social information processing in rats and mice

We reviewed oxytocin (OT), arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and gonadal hormone involvement in various modes of social information processing in mice and rats. Gonadal hormones regulate OT and AVP mediation of social recognition and social learning. Estrogens foster OT-mediated social recognition and the recognition and avoidance of parasitized conspecifics via estrogen receptor (ER) alpha (ER alpha) and ER beta. Testosterone and its metabolites, including estrogens, regulate social recognition in males predominantly via the AVP Via receptor. Both OT and AVP are involved in the social transmission of food preferences and ER alpha has inhibitory, while ER beta has enhancing, roles. OT also enhances mate copying by females. ER alpha mediates the sexual, and ER beta the recognition, aspects of the risk-taking enhancing effects of females on males. Thus, androgens and estrogens control social information processing by regulating OT and AVP. This control is finely tuned for different forms of social information processing. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.