Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Measurement of Fronto-limbic Activity Using an Emotional Oddball Task in Children with Familial High Risk for Schizophrenia
Published on: December 2, 2015
No association between oxytocin or prolactin gene variants and childhood-onset mood disorders
John S Strauss1, Natalie L Freeman, Sajid A Shaikh
1Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. john_strauss@camh.net
Background:
Oxytocin (OXT) and prolactin (PRL) are neuropeptide hormones that interact with the serotonin system and are involved in the stress response and social affiliation. In human studies, serum OXT and PRL levels have been associated with depression and related phenotypes. Our purpose was to determine if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the loci for OXT, PRL and their receptors, OXTR and PRLR, were associated with childhood-onset mood disorders (COMD).
Methods:
Using 678 families in a family-based association design, we genotyped 16 SNPs at OXT, PRL, OXTR and PRLR to test for association with COMD.
Results:
No significant associations were found for SNPs in the OXTR, PRL, or PRLR genes. Two of three SNPs 3' of the OXT gene were associated with COMD (p≤0.02), significant after spectral decomposition, but were not significant after additionally correcting for the number of genes tested. Supplementary analyses of parent-of-origin and proband sex effects for OXT SNPs by Fisher's Exact test were not significant after Bonferroni correction.
Conclusions:
We have examined 16 OXT and PRL system gene variants, with no evidence of statistically significant association after correction for multiple tests.
More Related Videos
11:31Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
Published on: November 30, 2015
09:12Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding
Published on: November 14, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Bipolar Disorder
Neurotransmitters
Sex Linked Disorders
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia