Oxytocin

Oxytocin (OXT), a 9-amino acid neuropeptide, plays a critical role in mammal’s social interaction and cognition. Previously, human and animal studies have revealed that intranasal OXT administration may enhance social preferences. However, it is unclear whether age may affect such social preferences by using airborne OXT. Here, we established an OXT preference test in a 40*41 cm rectangle arena (chamber), wherein two plastic tubes harboring OXT-impregnated cotton-tip were in two arena side-sharing corners, and two plastic tubes harboring vehicle-impregnated cotton-tip were in the other. OXT zo

Recent studies revealed that the dysfunction of post-synapse and/or pre-synapse related to neuropsychological disorder such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). HPC-1/syntaxin1A (STX1A) is known to regulate neurotransmitter release at pre-synaptic terminal. Previously, we found that some ASD patients were haploid for STX1A gene. We also reported that STX1A gene knockout mice (STX1A KO) showed unusual behavioral profiles similar to human ASD patient. Interestingly, the deficit of social recognition, one of the unusual behavior in STX1A KO, partially ameriolated with dopamine (DA) receptor agonis

Neuromodulators such as monoamines or neuropeptides play crucial roles in modulating diverse brain functions. They can be released phasically, i.e. in response to stimuli, or tonically, in a spontaneous and more discrete manner. Understanding how these spontaneous releases occur is challenging yet essential, as their disruption is associated with behavioral and psychiatric disorders. A paradigm shift in this domain has been the generation of fluorescent probes sensitive enough to detect, using 2-photons microscopy, discrete tonic release of specific neuromodulators including dopamine, noradren

…Central to this process is oxytocin (OT), whose release, driven by the synchronized activity of magnocellular OT neurons, facilitates milk let-down. Despite its significance, the underlying neural mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. Our study advances this understanding by exploring the role of parvocellular OT neurons, previously identified as key modulators of magnocellular neuron activity. Employing advanced opto- and pharmacogenetic techniques

Although oxytocin (Oxt) is expressed in a highly conserved neuroanatomical pattern among vertebrates, brain OXT receptor (Oxtr) distribution is highly variable across species and associated with species-typical social behavior. Genetic mechanisms leading to diversity in brain Oxtr expression, and a causal link between brain Oxtr expression and social behaviors have not been demonstrated. Monogamous prairie voles and promiscuous mice have different brain Oxtr distribution. Here, eight independent “volized” transgenic prairie vole-Oxtr (pvOxtr) mouse lines were created carrying the Oxtr locus wi

…of the hypothalamic neurohormone oxytocin (Menon & Neumann, 2023). However, pup stimuli are often aversive to virgin females (Lecca et al., 2023; Schiavo et al., 2020), who also exhibit different patter

The hypothalamic, peptide hormone, oxytocin (OXT), is a powerful modulator of social-, stress- and anxiety-related behaviors, as is the brainstem, neuropeptide relaxin-3 (RLN3). Recent studies indicate the involvement of KCNQ potassium channels in neuronal OXT and RLN3 signaling, with these neuropeptides displaying opposing excitatory and inhibitory actions, respectively. OXT receptors (OXTR) and RLN3 receptors (RXFP3) are expressed by neurons in the rat ventral hippocampal CA3 area (vCA3), which is involved in social behavior and anxiety control; but the possible interaction between OXT and R

…As UCP2 is co-expressed with oxytocin and vasopressin, the well-known social hormones.Our aim was to explore the role of UCP2 in social behaviour comparing wild-type (WT) and UCP2 knockout (KO) rats using social discrimination test. As possible background mec

…The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) plays a pivotal role in regulating various aspects of social behavior and can reach and modulate many regions of the central nervous system. However, the mechanisms through which it modulates neuronal activity are still unclear, also because this peptide can exert different effects depending on the brain area and on the neuronal type. In this work, we investigated and deepened the action of OT on a specific subpopulation of interneuro

Specialized secretory neurons in the hypothalamus and the Edinger-Westphal nucleus secrete severalneurohormones. Very little is known about the regulation of their expression at the post-transcriptionallevel. Here we discovered that a non-canonical cytoplasmic poly(A) polymerase Tent5a is a globalpositive regulator of neurohormone expression. We detect Tent5a in Edinger-Westphal, paraventricularand supraoptic nuclei, as well as the lateral hypothalamic area. Importantly, RNA sequencing of theseregions’ biopsies, as well as northern analysis of the whole hypothalami, revealed decreased expressi

…Oxytocin (OXT) release in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) mediates dopamine neuron activity, whose projections to the nucleus accumbens bidirectionally modulate duration

Recent research has extended the role of the neurohormone oxytocin far beyond mating and bonding. Oxytocin now appears as a cornerstone that allows individuals to adapt their group interaction in a flexible, age and context-dependent manner. On the other hand, recent data showed that the cerebellum actually contributes to cognitive, emotional, and perceptual brain functions. Finally, both oxytocin and its receptors are present in the cerebellum, but this system remains poorly characterized.Here, we studied the effects of oxytocin-receptor (OXTR) activation on Purkinje cell activity in vitro an

…We assessed oxytocin-level in the extracellular fluid through in v

Maternal care is a crucial aspect of mammalian behavior. Mothers detect signals from their pups, perform specific behaviors essential to their care (nest preparation, nursing, keeping pups warm), and remain motivated to care for them despite danger or fear. These behaviors are well documented in mothers but are also observed in nulliparous rodents, though with notable differences in expression and initiation compared to experienced mothers. This study concentrates on maternal motivation and explores the distinct neuronal mechanisms impacted in dams and nulliparous females. Initially, our findi

…study we investigated the effects of oxytocin, a neuropeptide with reported prosocial and anti-aggressiv

…Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide with roles in parturition and social behavior, but it also modulates the microglial inflammatory responses. Therefore, the study of OT signaling can be helpful to bridge the gap

Oxytocin (Oxt) is a hormone produced in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei of the hypothalamus, known to mediate the central anorexigenic effects of the adipokine leptin (Lep), as well as to promote adipose tissue (AT) lipolysis at the periphery. Here, we sought to address whether Oxt neurons could directly respond to Lep, and if any such regulatory cascade would increase Oxt levels in plasma. Adult C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with mouse recombinant leptin (0.5 mg/kg) or saline, while others were subjected to standard or high-fat diet (HFD). Hypothalamus, AT

…potential factor is the neuropeptide oxytocin. Oxytocin has shown to be neuroprotective in adult neuroinflammatory st

…the role of the prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin in neural circuits between the mPFC and the BLA invo

Oxytocin is essential in shaping social behavior across the lifespan. While the role of oxytocin signaling in parental care has been widely investigated, little is known about its function in social behavior during early life. This is partly due to the lack of precise technologies for studying the developing brain. In mice, the expression of the oxytocin receptor peaks during the second and third weeks of life, suggesting that oxytocin signaling is important at this early stage. Here, we studied the role of oxytocin in pup social behavior under acute separation from and reunion with the mother

Recent research has extended the role of the neurohormone oxytocin far beyond mating and bonding. Oxytocin now appears as a cornerstone that allows individuals to adapt their group interaction in a flexible, age and context-dependent manner. Accordingly, the central oxytocin system has been studied mainly in regions that belong to the "social brain", but not in the cerebellum - a structure traditionally not considered part of it. Recent data challenged this traditional view by showing that the cerebellum actually contributes to cognitive, emotional, and perceptual brain functions. In addition,

…interventions can modulate endogenous oxytocin levels in the hypothalamus. Hence, we hypothesized that the maternal

Atypical responses to sensory stimuli are considered a core aspect and early life marker of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Although recent findings performed in mouse ASD genetic models report sensory deficits, these were explored exclusively during the juvenile or adult period. Our research concentrates on neonate mice lacking the autism-associated gene Magel2. MAGEL2 is an imprinted gene highly expressed in the hypothalamus that is paternally expressed and for which paternal deletion and point mutation cause Prader-Willi and Schaaf-Yang respectively; two syndromes with a high prevalence of

Opioids use cause thousands of deaths per year in United States. Lately, several studies have been focused on ibogaine (IBO), a psychoactive alkaloid with the ability to treat drug dependence and reduce withdrawal syndrome. The mechanism by which IBO exerts its anti-addictive effects is unknown. This study aims to identify changes in the gene expression after a single oral dose of IBO in different brain areas. Male and female C57BL/6 mice were treated with 60 mg/kg of IBO by gavage. Four hours post-administration frontal cortex samples of three males and three females were obtained to perform