Infusion of Oxytocin into the Brain of an Ovariectomized (Unreceptive)

question 17

Essay

Infusion of oxytocin into the brain of an ovariectomized (unreceptive) female prairie vole is sufficient for her to develop preference for a nearby male. But what is the neurological basis for this preference? There are established techniques for making knockout and transgenic mice, but since mice do not exhibit pair-bonding behavior, researchers are currently developing similar techniques for use in voles. Describe some specific experiments that you would like to perform in order to determine in which neurons oxytocin reception is present, necessary, and sufficient for female vole partner preference.

---

Definitions:

Portfolio Manager

A professional responsible for making investment decisions and overseeing a portfolio of assets to achieve the investment objectives of their clients or institution.

Tracking Error

A measure of the deviation from the performance of a benchmark by an investment portfolio.

Optimized Portfolio

A portfolio of investments that has been designed to achieve the best possible balance of risk and return, based on specific investor goals and constraints.

Posterior Distribution

Revised probability distribution for a variable after adjustment for empirical evidence on its likely value.