The wide distribution of receptors underlies the ability of OXT to exert a wide array of behavioral effects, including regulation of learning and memory processes, stress response, emotionality/mood, and social and reward related behaviors (Gimpl and Fahrenholz, 2001). The OXTR is diverse in its signaling pathways (many of which remain unexplored) and the precise mechanisms by which OXT exerts multiple biological actions have not been fully established (Devost et al., 2008). Nonetheless, OXT appears to be functionally coupled to the Gq/11- mediated pathway, stimulating phospholipase C (PLC) to induce increased intracellular calcium and inositol trisphosphate production (InsP3) (Vrachnis et al., 2011). However, depending on brain area and concentration, OXT also promotes activation of Gi and Go coupled signaling cascades (Busnelli et al., 2012). While the precise role for these OXTR signaling pathways within the brain is relatively unknown, the promiscuity of OXTR (coupling to Gq or Gi/Go) most likely results in opposite effects on cell excitability (Gravati et al., 2010). One possible hypothesis is that the local concentration reached by OXT may engage different signaling pathways to allow for more
