This thesis examines the relationship between the type of crime of which an inmate is convicted, the change in oxytocin level, and the level of generosity of that inmate. The level of generosity is measured using a behavioral economics task called the Ultimatum Game. Studies of oxytocin have demonstrated that it is connected to generosity so it is illuminating to study it in conjunction with the generosity measure obtained in the Ultimatum Game. The results of the experiment indicate that there is no correlation between the type of crime of which an inmate is convicted and his generosity level.

Zugl.: Zürich, Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 61 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-52).

Aggressive behavior in dogs poses public health and animal welfare concerns, however the biological mechanisms regulating dog aggression are not well understood. We investigated the relationships between endogenous plasma oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP)-neuropeptides that have been linked to affiliative and aggressive behavior in other mammalian species-and aggression in domestic dogs. We first validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for the measurement of free (unbound) and total (free + bound) OT and AVP in dog plasma. In Experiment 1 we evaluated behavioral and neuroendocrine differences between a population of pet dogs with a history of chronic aggression toward conspecifics and a matched control group. Dogs with a history of aggression exhibited more aggressive behavior during simulated encounters with conspecifics, and had lower free, but higher total plasma AVP than matched controls, but there were no group differences for OT. In Experiment 2 we compared OT and AVP concentrations between pet dogs and a population of assistance dogs that have been bred for affiliative and non-aggressive temperaments, and investigated neuroendocrine predictors of individual differences in social behavior within the assistance dog population. Compared to pet dogs, assistance dogs had higher free and total OT, but there were no differences in either measure for AVP. Within the assistance dog population, dogs who behaved more aggressively toward a threatening stranger had higher total AVP than dogs who did not. Collectively these data suggest that endogenous OT and AVP may play critical roles in shaping dog social behavior, including aspects of both affiliation and aggression.

No description available.

No description available.

Στην παρούσα διατριβή παρουσιάζεται η σύνθεση εικοσιεπτά νέων αναλόγων της ωκυτοκίνης (ΟΤ), τα οποία περιέχουν πέραν της Gly(But)8 ή/και Gly(But)9 και Gly(But)3 ή/και Gly(But)7, D-Cys6;ή Pen6, το μη φυσικό αμινοξύ α-αμινοϊσοβουτυρικό οξύ (Aib), το ιμινοξύ 1,2,3,4- τετραϋδροκινολινο-3-καρβοξυλικό οξύ (Tic) στη D- μορφή του στις θέσεις 7 ή/και 9 και τέλος τα παράγωγα D-Tyr(Et) και D-Nal(1) στη θέση 2. H σύνθεση των νέων αναλόγων έγινε σύμφωνα με την Fmoc/But μεθοδολογία σύνθεσης επί στερεάς φάσεως σε στερεό υπόστρωμα Rink Bernatowitz 2-χλωροτριτυλο-ρητίνη.Τα πεπτίδια δοκιμάστηκαν όσον αφορά στην ωκυτόκειο δράση in vitro, σε απομονωμένο ιστό μήτρας επίμυος ενώ η δοκιμή επί της πιέσεως πραγματοποιήθηκε σε επίμυες οι οποίοι είχαν επεξεργαστεί με φαινοξυβενζαμίνη. Τα νέα ανάλογα δοκιμάστηκαν και όσον αφορά στη συγγένεια τους με τον ανθρώπινο ωκυτόκειο υποδοχέα, η δοκιμή πραγματοποιήθηκε σε ανθρώπινα εμβρυϊκά νεφρικά κύτταρα (HEK) τα οποία υπερεκφράζουν τον υποδοχέα. Επιπρόσθετα, κάποια από τα ανάλογα αυτά δοκιμάστηκαν όσον αφορά στην επίδρασή τους στον πολλαπλασιασμό των καρκινικών κυττάρων του μαστού (MCF-7). Από τα προκαταρκτικά βιολογικά αποτελέσματα φαίνεται ότι τα συντεθέντα ανάλογα παρουσιάζουν στο σύνολό τους ανταγωνιστικές ιδιότητες, 10 εκ των οποίων παρουσίασαν ιδιαίτερα ισχυρή ανταγωνιστική δράση και εκλεκτικότητα εφ’ όσον στη δοκιμή επί της πιέσεως δεν εμφάνισαν δράση. Τα 10 αυτά ανάλογα εμφανίζουν ανταγωνιστική ισχυρότερη από αυτήν του Atosiban (pA2=8,29±0,05) και είναι εκλεκτικά. Επιπλέον, τρία από τα νέα ανάλογα (MOPACIN I,II και III) βρίσκονται σε διαδικασία κατοχύρωσης. Όσον αφορά την συγγένεια με τον ανθρώπινο υποδοχέα υπήρξε μια διαφοροποίηση μεταξύ των αποτελεσμάτων από τη βιολογική δράση και την συγγένεια με τον υποδοχέα, αφού ανάλογα με ισχυρή ανταγωνιστική δράση (π.χ. ανάλογο 23 με τιμή pA2 =8,31 και συγγένεια με τον υποδοχέα περισσότερο από 100 φορές χαμηλότερη σε σύγκριση με αυτή της φυσικής ορμόνης) εμφάνισαν χαμηλή συγγένεια με τον υποδοχέα. Η διαφοροποίση αυτή ίσως οφείλεται στις διαφορές μεταξύ των ειδών. Επιπρόσθετα, κάποια από τα ανάλογα αυτά δοκιμάστηκαν όσον αφορά στην επίδρασή τους στον πολλαπλασιασμό των καρκινικών κυττάρων του μαστού (MCF-7). Τα αποτελέσματα αυτών αποτελούν ένδειξη της βιολογικής δράσης των συνθετικών πεπτιδίων. Όμως χρειάζεται περισσό-τερη διερεύνηση ο ρόλος τους για την εξαγωγή ασφαλών συμπερασμάτων.Εν κατακλείδι, τα συμπεράσματα στα οποία καταλήγουμε, όσον αφορά στην παρούσα διατριβή προσφέρουν νέα δεδομένα όσον αφορά στη σύνθεση και τον σχεδιασμό νέων αναλόγων της ωκυτοκίνης τα οποία πιθανότατα θα αποτελέσουν και καλούς ανταγωνιστές με ενδεχόμενη θερα-πευτική/φαρμακευτική εφαρμογή. Επιπλέον, το εύρημα ότι η ωκυτοκίνη καθώς και τα ανάλογα αυτής μπορεί να εμπλέκονται στον πολλαπλασιασμό των νεοπλασματικών κυττάρων μπορεί να βρει εφαρμογή στην ραδιοαπεικόνιση διαφόρων νεοπλασμάτων, καθώς και στη θεραπεία αυτών. Επίσης ανάλογα της ωκυτοκίνης τα οποία παρουσιάζουν υψηλή συγγένεια με τον υποδοχέα μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως ραδιοϊχνηθέτες ή ως χημειοθεραπευτικοί φορείς. / In the present study we present the synthesis and pharmacological investigation of twenty seven newly synthesized oxytocin analogues. Basic modification at positions 7, 8 and 9 (in-troduction of α,α-dialkyl amino acid, α-aminoisobutyric acid [Aib] or the unnatural imino acid D-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid [D-Tic] or tert-butyl-glycine [(But)Gly]) was combined with D-Cys6/Pen6, D-Tyr(Et)2, and D-Nal(1)2, Mpa1/Pen1 modifications and their various combinations.The new analogues were synthesized by Fmoc solid phase methodology utilizing a 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin as solid support bearing a Rink-Bernatowitz linker to provide the peptidic amide. The analogues were tested for their potency in two pharmacological tests, i.e. uterotonic in vitro test in the absence of magnesium ions on an isolated strip of rat uterus and in the pressοr test on phenoxybenzamine treated male rats. Parallel determination of binding affinity of the analogues to cloned human oxytocin recep-tors on HEK cell membranes using tritiated oxytocin from NEN Life Science, Boston, MA, USA was performed.We obtained a satisfactory number of quite potent and selective (as it concerns the binding with the vasopresor receptor V1a) oxytocin antagonists. Ten of these analogues showed higher antagonistic affinity than Atosiban (pA2=8.29) and they were completely inactive as far as it concerns the rat pressor test. Three of them (MOPACIN I, II and III) are under patent procedure. On the other hand, as it concerns the binding affinity and the biological evaluation, we observed a paradox phenomenon. Despite the high antagonistic potencies the affinity to the receptor was lower than oxytocin. This may be attributed to the species difference. Furthermore, some of the analogues were tested as far as it concerns their ability to in-crease or decrease the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The results indicate the ability of some analogues to decrease the growth of the MCF-7 breast cancer cells, but these re-sults need further investigation due to extract safe conclusions.Finally, the results from the presence study may aid in the design of novel and selective antagonists of oxytocin with pharmacological/pharmaceutical use. Furthermore, the evi-dence that some analogues have the ability to decrease the growth of MCF-7 cells, may find future applications in the radioimaging of different neoplasms, as wel as in their therapy, using oxytocin analogues that conserve high oxytocin receptor affinity as either radiotracers or chemiotherapeutic vectors.

Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to acquire knowledge about whether tactile touch as a complementary method can (i) promote comfort and (ii) reduce stress reactions during care in an intensive care unit (ICU) Method: In Paper I, five nurses with a touch therapist training were interviewed about their experiences of preparation before giving tactile touch in an ICU. To analyse the meaning of preparation as a phenomenon, Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological approach was used. In Paper II and III a randomised controlled trial was set up to investigate the effects of a five-day tactile touch intervention on patients’ oxytocin levels in arterial blood (II), on patients’ blood pressure, heart rate and blood glucose level, and on patients’ levels of anxiety, sedation and alertness (III). Forty-four patients were randomised to either an intervention group (n = 21) or a control group (n = 23). Data were analysed with non-parametric statistics. In Paper IV, six patients who had received the tactile touch intervention were interviewed to illuminate the experience of receiving tactile touch during intensive care. To gain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon and to illuminate the meaning, Ricoeur’s phenomenological hermeneutical method, developed by Lindseth and Norberg, was used. Findings: The nurses need four constituents (inner balance, unconditional respect for the patients’ integrity, a relationship with the patient characterized by reciprocal trust and a supportive environment) to be prepared and go through the transition from nurse to touch therapist (I). In the intervention study, no significant differences were shown for oxytocin levels between intervention and control group over time or within each day (II). There were significantly lower levels of anxiety for patients in the intervention group. There were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups for blood pressure, heart rate, the use of drugs, levels of sedation or blood glucose levels (III). The significance of receiving tactile touch during intensive care was described as the creation of an imagined room along with the touch therapist. In this imagined room, the patients enjoyed tactile touch and gained hope for the future (IV). Conclusion: Nurses needed internal and external balance to be prepared for providing tactile touch. Patients did not notice the surroundings as much as the nurses did. Patients enjoyed the tactile touch and experienced comfort. The impact on stress parameters were limited, except for levels of anxiety which declined significantly. The results gave some evidence for the benefit of tactile touch given to patients in intensive care. / <p>För avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen i omvårdnad, som med</p><p>tillstånd av Fakultetsnämnden vid Fakulteten för samhälls- och livsvetenskaper vid</p><p>Karlstads universtitet framläggs till offentlig granskning fredagen den 18 april 2008 kl.10:00</p><p>M204, Högskolan i Borås.</p>

Maternal behaviour during the peri-partum period, albeit in differing forms, can be observed in all mammals, thus it must serve an important evolutionary purpose in enabling the successful raising of offspring. Maternal behaviour is comprised of a large suite of behaviours; in rodents these are generally defined as lactation, pup retrieval, maternal aggression and pup grooming. The maternal behaviour circuitry involves many brain regions including the hypothalamus and the limbic system which work together to regulate the motor, motivational and emotional demands of the lactation period. The main aim of this thesis is to understand how different neuromodulators, specifically oxytocin (OXT), vasopressin (AVP), allopregnanolone (AP) and GABA, influence the expression of maternal behaviour, especially maternal aggression, and where in the brain they act to control this. Maternal aggression in rats changes dramatically throughout pregnancy, parturition and lactation. This expression is highly influenced by pups and during early lactation, pup cues are essential in maintaining it. Towards the end of lactation pup cues appear to result in the down regulation of maternal aggression. The maternal aggression circuitry is highly complex and involves many of the brain regions highlighted to be involved in maternal behaviour. The neuropeptides, OXT and AVP, are observed to have significant changes in their systems that correlate with maternal aggression, specifically within the BnST and PVN. This leads to the proposal they work oppositely to control maternal aggression by regulating fear and anxiety in the lactating rat. There is also evidence the OXT system mediates the motor output of maternal aggression. AP and GABA are also important in maternal behaviour, especially in relation to fear; whether this in context with OXT to enable maternal aggression or if they are a back up mechanism for OXT secretion malfunctioning remains to be determined. By understanding the complex maternal behaviour neural circuitry and how neuromodulators work to control it, enables the development of potential therapies for disorders a woman may experience during the peri-partum period. Prevention of these disorders is not only beneficial to the mother and her immediate family but is also crucial for her offspring’s development in prevention of adulthood disorders stemming from their childhood experience which can impact their own paternal or maternal care ability.