The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) is a key regulator of social behavior, stress response, and cognition across species. While its role is well documented in humans and other animals, less was known about its functional variation in dogs until the study by Bence and colleagues (2017).
The researchers sequenced dog, wolf, and jackal OXTR genes, identifying novel polymorphisms and comparing their distribution across populations. They also assessed mRNA expression in the brain, detected a new splice variant, and performed in vitro functional assays using luciferase reporter experiments.
The findings showed that certain OXTR alleles were dog-specific, while others varied significantly between purebred dogs, free-ranging populations, wolves, and jackals. This suggests that the gene may have been under selective pressure during domestication, with variants influencing human-preferred aspects of temperament, such as reduced aggression and enhanced sociability.
Importantly, expression patterns and functional tests linked OXTR polymorphisms to differences in nervous system function, strengthening the connection between genetic variation and canine social behavior. These results support the idea that OXTR was a molecular target in the shaping of dogs’ unique capacity for cooperation and bonding with humans.
Source: Bence, M., Marx, P., Szántai, E., Kubinyi, E., Rónai, Z., & Banlaki, Z. (2017). Lessons from the canine Oxtr gene: populations, variants and functional aspects. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 16. Citations: 25.
