# Epigenetic regulation of oxytocin pathways in the maternal brain

> **NIH NIH F32** · TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $70,430

## Abstract

Project Summary: Postpartum depression (PPD) is highly prevalent in new mothers, with incidence rates
estimated to be as high as 1 in 5 mothers, yet we know little about its underlying biology. Several risk factors
have been identified, including maternal stress and poor social support in the time around birth. More recently,
the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has also been implicated in PPD. Variation in circulating levels of OT has been
associated with development of PPD and epigenetic modification of the OT receptor gene, OXTR, has been
implicated as a risk factor. The proposed experiments seek to model several characteristics of PPD using the
prairie vole, including epigenetic regulation of Oxtr, the role of social support before birth and in the postnatal
period, and maternal care and anxiety-like behaviors, all in an effort to understand the role OT pathways play
in regulating various characteristics associated with PPD. Oxtr DNA methylation and gene expression will be
measured at multiple time points across gestation in pregnant females and immediately following birth in new
mothers and non-pregnant sister controls to examine the shift in epigenetic regulation of Oxtr across
pregnancy. At these same time points, levels of plasma OT will also be examined across pregnancy or soon
after birth to characterize changes in the OT peptide in response to pregnancy and birth of offspring. The
combination of data on the peptide and epigenetic regulation of its receptor will provide a broad understanding
of how the birth experience impacts OT pathways. The persistence of these epigenetic markers will be
examined in additional mothers and non-pregnant sister controls either one week after birth or one week after
weaning of offspring, after the mother has stopped lactating. This will provide insight into whether these
markers on Oxtr are long lasting and if they are dependent on the mother nursing offspring. A lack of social
support in the time around childbirth is a known risk factor for PPD in women. Therefore, additional mothers
will give birth and rear offspring with or without a social partner present to determine the impact of social
support on epigenetic regulation of Oxtr, maternal care of offspring, and maternal anxiety-like and depressive
behaviors. The proposed experiments seek to develop a more complete animal model of PPD, one that
incorporates both environmental (social support) and genetic (Oxtr epigenetic regulation) components, to gain
a better understanding of the development of PPD. This model has the potential to provide valuable
information on how pregnancy, birth, and lactation effect functioning of OT pathways to shape the maternal
brain.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985147
- **Project number:** 5F32HD092051-03
- **Recipient organization:** TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Allison M. Perkeybile
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $70,430
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985147

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985147, Epigenetic regulation of oxytocin pathways in the maternal brain (5F32HD092051-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985147. Licensed CC0.

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