| First Author | Mantella RC | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | Endocrinology | Volume | 144 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 2291-6 |
| PubMed ID | 12746288 | Mgi Jnum | J:83709 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2663343 | Doi | 10.1210/en.2002-0197 |
| Citation | Mantella RC, et al. (2003) Female oxytocin-deficient mice display enhanced anxiety-related behavior. Endocrinology 144(6):2291-6 |
| abstractText | Previous studies have suggested that oxytocin (OT) may be anxiolytic in female laboratory rats and mice. The elevated plus-maze was used to compare anxiety-related behaviors of OT-deficient (OT-/-) and wild-type (OT+/+) mice. Female OT-/- mice displayed increased anxiety-related behavior compared with OT+/+ mice. The percentage of entries (P < 0.0002) and time spent (P < 0.003) in the open arms was less in female OT-/- than OT+/+ mice. Administration of synthetic OT, 2 ng by intracerebroventricular (icv) injection to female OT-/- mice, increased the percentage of entries (P < 0.003) and time spent (P < 0.004) in the open arms compared with artificial cerebrospinal fluid female OT-/- mice. Administration of an OT receptor antagonist (Atosiban, d[Dtyr(Et)(2), Thr(4)]ornithine vasotocin) 100 ng icv, to female OT+/+ mice increased anxiety-related behavior by decreasing the percentage of entries (P < 0.01) and time spent (P < 0.04) in the open arms compared with artificial cerebrospinal fluid-treated controls. Central infusion of an OT receptor antagonist, 100 ng icv, before administration of synthetic OT, 2 ng icv, in female OT-/- mice blocked the anxiolytic affect of OT. In contrast, male OT-/- mice displayed decreased anxiety-related behavior compared with male OT+/+ mice. The percentage of entries (P < 0.007) and time spent (P < 0.004) in the open arms was greater in male OT-/- vs. OT+/+ mice. Our findings indicate that OT pathways play a role in modulating anxiety in female mice of the C57BL/6 background, and the effect is mediated by the OT receptor. |
