Max Malacko

The peptide molecule oxytocin has been implicated in regulating a range of bodily functions from lactation and arousal, with more recent ties to social behavior. Though relatively uncommon within mammal species, a mode of social behavior exists known as pair bonding, which has been characterized as strong social or sexual attachment between two members of a species, and has been shown to be reinforced through neural interactions with oxytocin. Oxytocin-producing magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamus interact with social systems in the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, frontal cortex, and bed of the stria terminalis to modulate aggressive behavior. The release of oxytocin and aggressive behavior is not directly linear; Outcomes are multifactorial, relying on factors such as peptide levels, sex, species, and receptor density. In this study, we hypothesize that the uniquely pro-social behavior of the felid species Panthera leo (African Lion) is due to a significantly greater density of oxytocin receptors in social oxytocin target regions compared to densities possessed by other large, solitary felines such as cheetahs and leopards. Consequently, immunohistochemistry for the oxytocin peptide did not yield quantifiable results, and thus the opportunity was taken to instead build on the fundamental knowledge of gross African Lion neuroanatomy. Here we outline a process for translating the well-documented neuroanatomy of a homologous species Felis catus (the Common House Cat) to the African Lion model, which will aid in our continuing studies of oxytocin’s behavioral effect, as well as studies focused on the general Lion neuroanatomy.