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Fig. 1 | Frontiers in Zoology

Fig. 1

From: Population variation alters aggression-associated oxytocin and vasopressin expressions in brains of Brandt’s voles in field conditions

Fig. 1

Hypothesis of density-dependent behavioral regulation (and then population regulation) through OT/AVP systems. High density would increase crowding stress due to shortage of space, and unfamiliar encountering stress due to increased interactions with strangers, which would increase the AVP expression or decrease the OT expression. High-level of AVP and low-level of OT would alter HPA and HPG, which further elevate aggressive behavior by increasing glucocorticoids (GCs, corticosterone in rodents), and inhibit reproduction by reducing release of GnRH, estrogen (E), progesterone (P), and testosterone (T). High-level of AVP and low-level of OT may increase aggressive behavior directly, and high level of aggressive behavior could reduce OT and increase AVP, and to reduce survival rate due to direct fighting

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