Då vårdhundar är en relativt ny företeelse i Sverige har vi genom en mikro-etnografisk fallstudie studerat Ludvika kommuns Projekt vårdhund och haft som syftet att undersöka vad en vårdhund kan ha för arbetsuppgifter och vilka eventuella effekter dessa arbetsuppgifter kan ha för brukarna. Frågeställningarna som studien hade var: Vad kan syftet med en vårdhund vara? Vilken evidens använder sig projektet av i praktiken? Hur ser interaktionen mellan vårdhundsteamet och brukarna ut? Studien utfördes genom intervjuer med teamet och observationer. En vårdhund kan användas i rehabiliterande syfte, fungera som både en social och motiverande faktor och öka det psykiska välbefinnandet. Evidensen som projektet förlitar sig på är oxytocinets verkan och effekter som har en dokumenterad effekt när det gäller att minska oro, aggressivitet och öka det psykiska välbefinnandet. Vi fick se interaktionen mellan teamet och brukare där vi såg hur brukarna blev glada och motiverade att röra på sig när Alfred kom på besök. Vi ser att arbetet med vårdhundar kan föra med sig ett salutogent synsätt. Mer forskning kring sambandet mellan oxytocin och relationen mellan djur och människa behövs enligt oss då det i dagens läge inte finns någon forskning som definitivt kopplar ihop dessa. Vi har märkt att replikering kring detta område kan vara svårt då förutsättningar skiftar och att alla hundar och människor är olika.

Empathy, oxytocin, and depression are three subjects that are widely researched. Empathy means experiencing or understanding the emotions of an individual who is being observed. Oxytocin has frequently been shown to have a connection to lactation and labor. Depression is a common sickness that results in malfunctioning, suffering, and a shorter life. The mutual relationship and connection of all three has received limited research. The aim of this essay is to explore how they all relate to one another, to see what neural areas of involvement they have in common, and finally to see if there is a potential to administer oxytocin in order to alter empathy and/or depression. The sources used are published literature on the topics, found in for example Google Scholar and Worldcat. What was found was that both emotional and cognitive empathy have a positive relationship with oxytocin. Emotional empathy has in most research a positive relationship with depression while cognitive empathy seems to have a negative relationship with depression.Depression has a negative correlation with oxytocin. The neural areas of common involvement were amygdala, hippocampus, and cingulate cortex. Future research should look at how empathy, oxytocin, and depression affect each other, and why this happens. It is also important to look at the possibilities of affecting a neural area involved in empathy, oxytocin, and/or depression in order to make an impact on any of these factors.

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Syntetiskt oxytocin är en vanlig behandling under förlossning. Oxytocin används som induktionsmetod och för att behandla värksvaghet. För att diagnostisera värksvaghet behöver kvinnan vara i aktiv fas, men varken för diagnosen värksvaghet eller för begreppet aktiv fas råder konsensus. Konsensus saknas även för längden på en normal förlossning och det råder individuell variation. Idag administreras oxytocin utan hänsyn till Body Mass Index. Syftet med litteraturöversikten var att belysa om och i så fall hur dosen av syntetiskt oxytocin påverkas av kvinnans Body Mass Index under förlossning. Metoden var en litteraturöversikt med systematisk ansats. Databassökningen utfördes i CINAHL och PubMed. Artiklarna kvalitetsgranskades och 15 kvantitativa artiklar inkluderades. Artiklarna analyserades med integrerad analys med en induktiv ansats. Dataanalysen resulterade i fyra huvudkategorier: exponering av syntetiskt oxytocin, oxytocindos, infusionslängd/duration av oxytocininfusion och varierande förlossningsutfall. Tre subkategorier påträffades under huvudkategorin oxytocindos: genomsnittlig medelhastighet, administrerad totaldos och högsta infusionshastighet. Resultatet visade att dosen av oxytocin under förlossning delvis påverkas av kvinnans Body Mass Index. Det sågs att ett högre Body Mass Index ökar sannolikheten att exponeras med oxytocin under förlossning. Ingen entydighet gällande oxytocindos i relation till Body Mass Index sågs för övriga kategorier. Det sågs en viss antydan att kvinnor som induceras behöveren högre högsta infusionshastighet och totaldos i relation till ett högre Body Mass Index. Slutsatsen var att sannolikt påverkas oxytocinadministreringen av fler faktorer än kvinnans Body Mass Index. Då oxytocin är en vanlig förlossningsintervention behövs fortsatt forskning på hur oxytocin kan doseras på ett mer individanpassat sätt. / Synthetic oxytocin is a common treatment during labor. Oxytocin is used as a method for induction and for augmentation of labor. To diagnose dystocia the woman needs to be in active stage, however there is no common definition either for the diagnose dystocia or concept of active stage. There is no agreement about the length of a normal labor and individual variety occurs. Today oxytocin is administrated without consideration for Body Mass Index. The aim of the literature review was to illustrate if and is so how the dose of synthetic oxytocin is affected by maternal Body Mass Index during labor. The method was a literature review with a systematic approach. The search was conducted in CINAHL and PubMed. The quality of the studies was assessed and 15 quantitative studies were included. The studies were analyzed through integrated analysis with an inductive approach. The data analysis resulted in four main categories: exposure of synthetic oxytocin, oxytocin dose, duration of oxytocin and varying labor outcomes. Three subcategories were found in the main category oxytocin dose: average rate, total dose and peak infusion rate. The result was that the oxytocin dose used during labor was partly affected by maternal Body Mass Index. A higher Body Mass Index was seen to increase probability for oxytocin exposure during labor. No unambiguity was seen regarding oxytocin dose in relation to Body Mass Index for the other categories. A trend towards the need of a higher peak infusion rate and total dose regarding a higher Body Mass Index was shown for women who underwent induction. In conclusion the administration of oxytocin is plausibly affected by other factors than maternal Body Mass Index. Since oxytocin is a common intervention during labor further research is needed to explore how administration of oxytocin could occur in a more individualized manner.

Att föda barn är för var kvinna en unik händelse och upplevelsen kan påverka henne lång tid därefter. Förlossningsupplevelsen påverkas av flertalet faktorer såsom kvinnans inställning, smärtupplevelse, förväntningar, känsla av delaktighet, önskemål samt stöd. Hypnobirthing är en metod vilken ser på födande som friskt och normalt och som fokuserar på det kraftfulla samarbetet mellan sinne och kropp. Genom kunskap om det fysiologiska förloppet såväl som de psykologiska och sociala aspekterna erbjuder metoden tekniker för att motverka rädsla och smärta under födsel för att uppnå en positiv förlossningsupplevelse. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka kvinnors självrapporterade erfarenheter av att föda med hjälp av hypnobirthing. En netnografisk studie genomfördes med kvalitativ, induktiv ansats. Data från 16 offentligt publicerade förlossningsberättelser där hypnobirthing utövats analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet mynnade ut i ett övergripande tema ”en inre resa” med fem tillhörande kategorier. Det framkom att hypnobirthing genom mental träning underlättade för hantering av det oförutsedda, att metoden underlättade för värk- och smärthantering samt att metoden bidrog till kunskap vilken kvinnorna lyckades implementera under födseln. Vidare framkom en förundran över hur fin och enkel en födsel kunde vara samt att gott stöd underlättade för kvinnorna att utföra sina hypnobirthing-tekniker. Det beskrevs en förvåning och stolthet över sin egen förmåga att föda lugnt och kontrollerat. Sammanfattningsvis beskrevs att hypnobirthing stärkte självförtroendet och gav en positiv erfarenhet. / Giving birth is a unique event for each woman and the experience can affect her for a long time afterwards. The birth experience is affected by several factors such as the woman's attitude, pain experience, expectations, feeling of participation, wishes and support. Hypnobirthing is a method which views childbirth as healthy and normal, and which focuses on the powerful cooperation between mind and body. Through knowledge of the physiological process as well as the psychological and social aspects, the method offers techniques to counteract fear and pain during childbirth in order to achieve a positive birth experience. The aim of this research was to investigate women's self-reported experiences of giving birth using hypnobirthing. A netnographic study was conducted with a qualitative, inductive approach. Data from 16 publicly published birth stories in which hypnobirthing was practiced were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. The result showed an overall theme "an inner journey" with five related categories. The results showed that women's experiences of giving birth with hypnobirthing were overall positive. It emerged that hypnobirthing through mental training facilitated the management of the unforeseen, that the method facilitated pain and pain management and that the method contributed to knowledge which the women managed to implement during childbirth. Furthermore, an appreciation emerged for how uncomplicated a birth could be, and that good support made it easier for women to perform their hypnobirthing techniques. Women described a surprise and pride in their own ability to give birth in a calm and controlled manner. In summary, the conclusion showed that hypnobirthing strengthened women ́s self-confidence and gave them a positive experience.

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Oxytocin has established roles in parturition and lactation, but can also be released in response to non-reproductive stimuli, such as hyperosmolarity and stress. As a majority of appetite regulating peptides activate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal stress axis, and oxytocin is also a stress hormone in the rat, it was hypothesized that the oxytocin system in the neurohypophysial axis could be a target for appetite-regulating peptides of central and peripheral origin. The effects of central administration of neuropeptide Y (NPY; a central orexigenic peptide and a central and peripheral neurotransmitter co-released with noradrenaline; n=5 rats) and systemic administration of secretin (a peripheral gut peptide belonging to the family of brain-gut peptides; n=26) and leptin (a peripheral anorexigenic peptide from adipose tissue; n=23) on the electrical activity of SON oxytocin neurones in vivo were studied in urethane-anaesthetized female rats with extracellular recording. Effects were compared with the excitatory responses to cholecystokinin (CCK; a peripheral anorexigenic gut peptide; n=45). Influences of fasting and pregnancy and effects of these peptides on the activity of SON vasopressin neurones were also studied. Results: (1) All the central and peripheral appetite peptides tested increased the electrical activity of SON oxytocin neurones. (a) NPY: Basal firing rate of 3.5 ± 1.05 (mean ± s.e.m) spikes/s was increased by 1 ± 0.45 spikes/s 1min after NPY (basal vs 0-10min post-NPY: P=0.03, paired t-test; n=5). (b) Secretin: Basal rate of 4.1 ± 0.4 spikes/s was increased by 1.7 ± 0.2 spikes/s 2.5min after secretin (basal vs 0-10min post-secretin: P<0.001, paired t-test; n=26). (c) Leptin: Basal rate of 3.4 ± 0.4 spikes/s was increased by 0.4 ± 0.08 spikes/s 1.5min after leptin (basal vs 0-10min post-leptin: P=0.01, paired t-test; n=23). (d) CCK: Basal rate of 3.6 ± 0.3 spikes/s was increased by 1.1 ± 0.15 spikes/s 1min after CCK (basal vs 0-10min post- CCK: P<0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test; n=45). (2) Secretin induced excitatory responses were greater than to other peptides (P<0.001, Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA on ranks). (3) Secretin dose-dependently increased SON oxytocin neurone electrical activity and peripheral oxytocin release in anaesthetized rats. (4) Intracerebroventricular infusion and microdialysis studies with benoxathian (α1 adrenergic antagonist) revealed that secretininduced excitation of SON oxytocin and vasopressin neurones involves central excitatory noradrenergic pathways. (5) Fasting for 18h did not alter the excitation of SON oxytocin neurones induced by secretin, CCK and leptin. (6) The pathway leading to excitation of oxytocin neurones by CCK was not influenced by prior leptin administration. (7) SON oxytocin neurones were responsive to leptin during late pregnancy. (8) NPY-induced excitation of oxytocin neurones was intact in anaesthetised late pregnant rats, contrasting with attenuated oxytocin secretory responses observed previously in conscious rats. (9) Systemic NPY excited SON oxytocin neurones. (10) Systemic CCK administration either inhibited (77%) or did not affect (23%) SON vasopressin neurones, while leptin had no significant effect, and responses to secretin were predominantly excitatory (67%). Systemic NPY inhibited vasopressin neurones, but central NPY was ineffective. Conclusion: Appetite peptides target SON oxytocin neurones. Postprandially released secretin and leptin might, like CCK, induce peripheral oxytocin release, so as to regulate water and electrolyte homeostasis, which is inevitably disturbed during feeding. Any central release of oxytocin induced by these peptides, might regulate feeding behaviour and satiety. Oxytocin neurone excitation induced by NPY may be relevant during stress responses.

Oxytocin is a neurohormone that has been correlated with lactation, uterine-contractions, postpartum behavior, pro-social behavior, trust, empathy, and decreased anxiety. In addition, oxytocin is believed to underscore the tend-and-befriend response to stress. In this study, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol and oxytocin levels were measured in response to a social stressor in human participants. Oxytocin was initially seen to increase with ACTH and cortisol in response to a social stressor. As levels of oxytocin increase, levels of ACTH and cortisol were shown to decrease or plateau. I conclude that oxytocin is released in response to a perceived stressor and display inhibitory effects over ACTH and cortisol.

Magnocellular neurones (MCNs) are capable of secreting vasopressin and oxytocin from the somato-dendritic compartment, which can occur independently to secretion from nerve terminals. One hypothesis of the mechanism that regulates this differential release is that dendrites utilise different vesicle pools compared to those found in terminals. Little is known for the function of neuronal dendrites, especially the mechanism for peptide release. One theory is that vesicles stored in dendrites are non-released vesicles ready for recycling or degradation. Immunofluorescent labelling was performed on hypothalamic slices of the transgenic rat where enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) was tagged to vasopressin. Lysosomes were detected by the lysosome-associated membrane protein LAMP1. Correlation analysis of LAMP1 labelling and VP-eGFP had shown that localisation of lysosomes in dendrites is positively correlated to loci of high vasopressin expression. This suggests active degradation of vesicles in dendrites. It is not known whether preferential release of peptides occurs along the profile of dendrites. Experiments were carried out using a temperature block to block exit of vesicles from the Golgi apparatus. Release of the temperature block triggered release of a wave of newly synthesised vesicles from the Golgi apparatus. Measurement of the fluorescent intensity of VP-eGFP showed that preferential release of peptides does not occur along the profile of dendrites. I have also utilised confocal live cell imaging to study the dynamics of dendritic vasopressin release using VP-eGFP slice explants. Experiments using high potassium stimulation showed significant increase in the release of vasopressin after priming with thapsigargin (intracellular calcium mobiliser), in accordance to in vitro release and microdialysis studies. These results demonstrate that live cell imaging can be achieved in magnocellular neurons, providing a robust model system in the study of dendritic peptide release. Large dense core vesicles (LDCVs) in other cell types such as bovine adrenal chromaffin cells were shown to segregate according to vesicle age, suggesting that vesicle age is an important factor in the regulation of peptide release. Whether vesicles of different age groups exist in magnocellular dendrites is not known. Thus, biolistic transfection with exogenous fluorescent proteins for expression under temporal control was carried out. However, low transfection rate in magnocellular neurones and the high background fluorescence caused by scattered gold particles used as bullets for transfection deemed this method inappropriate for the purpose of imaging vesicles. Hence, development of an adenoviral transduction system was employed. By using an inducible adenovirus gene construct coupled with a fluorescent reporter gene, it is possible to visualise vesicle pool segregation under different experimental conditions. Subcloning of a red fluorescent construct tagged to ppANF was tested on PC12 cells to show targeting of fluorescence expression to LDCVs. Successful production of an inducible adenoviral DNA with the red fluorescent construct insert was confirmed by PCR and DNA sequencing. Whilst the generation of viral particles is still to be achieved, successful production of the virus will be an invaluable system for inducible gene expression in neurones.

The neuropeptide hormone oxytocin plays an integral role in mammalian reproductive endocrinology and behaviour. It has been utilised to study the physiological factors driving maternal behaviour in both laboratory and domestic mammals, but few studies have successfully detected oxytocin in wild individuals, or linked detected concentrations to the behaviours they exhibit. Phocid seals present an excellent system in which to study oxytocin's effects on maternal behaviour in the wild. The energetic constraints placed on a phocid mother during the dependant period should cause strong selection pressure for behaviour that maximises reproductive success with the least cost to the mother. However in many phocid species, substantial variations in maternal behaviour persist. In order to investigate whether oxytocin plays a role in driving this variation, behavioural and hormonal datasets were collected from grey seal mothers and pups on two breeding colonies in Scotland. A protocol for the detection of plasma oxytocin in phocid seals was successfully developed, along with the methodology to manipulate peripheral oxytocin concentrations to directly test the hormone's impact on behaviour. Both correlatory studies on natural oxytocin concentrations and behaviour in wild mother-pup pairs and manipulation experiments on newly weaned pups show that plasma oxytocin concentrations influence behaviours that makes mother – pup separation less likely. These include increasing the time spent in close proximity to each other, increasing the number of checks performed on the pup and reducing the aggressive behaviour directed towards the other individual. Additionally, plasma oxytocin could be used as an indicator of weak maternal bonds between mother and pup, which resulted in behaviours such as abandonment and fostering. This study highlights the potential of oxytocin for studying variations in behaviours critical to an individual's reproductive success and provides the methodological framework for studies on other wild species to be conducted in the future.