Investigators have long known the gene that controls the hormone vasopressin is responsible for monogamy in prairie voles, small animals common in the grasslands of North America. 研究人員很早就知道，這種基因不僅控制抗利尿激素，也能使草原田鼠這種北美草原常見的小動物保持一夫一妻。
Virtually all vertebrates have an oxytocin-like nonapeptide hormone that supports reproductive functions and a vasopressin-like nonapeptide hormone involved in water regulation. 事實上所有脊椎動物都有有利於生殖功能的類似催產素的激素，以及水平衡的類似於抗利尿激素的激素。
