Oxytocin mediates the antidepressant effects of mating behavior in male mice

Matsushita, Haruo; Tomizawa, Kazuhito; Okimoto, Naoki; Nishiki, Tadaaki; Ohmori, Iori; Matsui, Hideki

doi:10.1016/j.neures.2010.06.007

Cited by 23 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Using a food-related fMRI paradigm, we demonstrated that AN and ANWR had fasting and post-prandial hypoactivation of the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotion, compared to healthy women, and post-prandial oxytocin secretion mediated a significant portion of this difference in AN 4, 5 . Animal data indicate that oxytocin has anxiolytic and antidepressant properties 6-10 . Oxytocin administration reduces symptoms in rodent models of anxiety and depression, and serotoninergic neurons may mediate these effects 11 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postprandial Oxytocin Secretion Is Associated With Severity of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Anorexia Nervosa

Lawson¹,

Holsen²,

Santin³

et al. 2013

J. Clin. Psychiatry

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Objective Anorexia nervosa, a psychiatric disorder characterized by self-induced starvation, is associated with endocrine dysfunction and comorbid anxiety and depression. Animal data suggest that oxytocin may have anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. We have reported increased postprandial oxytocin levels in women with active anorexia nervosa (AN), and decreased levels in weight-recovered women with anorexia nervosa (ANWR) compared to healthy controls (HC). A meal may represent a significant source of stress in patients with disordered eating. We therefore investigated the association between post-prandial oxytocin secretion and symptoms of anxiety and depression in anorexia nervosa. Method We performed a cross-sectional study of 35 women (13 AN, 9 ANWR and 13 HC). Serum oxytocin and cortisol and plasma leptin levels were measured fasting and 30, 60, and 120min after a standardized mixed meal. The area under the curve (AUC), and for oxytocin, postprandial nadir and peak levels were determined. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Results In women with anorexia nervosa, oxytocin AUC and post-prandial nadir and peak levels were positively associated with STAI scores. Oxytocin AUC and nadir levels were positively associated with BDI-II scores. After controlling for cortisol AUC, most relationships remained significant. After controlling for leptin AUC, all of the relationships remained significant. Oxytocin secretion explained up to 51% of the variance in STAI trait and 24% of BDI-II scores. Conclusions Abnormal post-prandial oxytocin secretion in women with anorexia nervosa is associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. This may represent an adaptive response of oxytocin secretion to food-related symptoms of anxiety and depression.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postprandial Oxytocin Secretion Is Associated With Severity of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Anorexia Nervosa

Lawson¹,

Holsen²,

Santin³

et al. 2013

J. Clin. Psychiatry

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“…Sexual activity and mating in male rats mediated anxiolysis via the release of OT in the CNS, specifically within the PVN [21]. A recent study showed that OT mediated the antidepressant-like effect of sexual activity and mating behavior in male mice [13]. For nonmating behavioral experiments, a male was placed with a female into a cage partitioned by a perforated acrylic wall allowing auditory, visual, and olfactory communication, but not physical contact.…”

Section: Sexual Activity Shows Antidepressant-like Effects Through Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No reduction in the duration of immobility was seen 24 h after the mating behavior. However, the mice showing long-term mating behavior had a significantly reduced duration of immobility both 1 and 24 h after the termination of cohabitation compared with control mice [13]. In addition to the PVN, other regions of the brain, notably, the hippocampus, amygdala, and spinal cord, release OT to mediate sexual behavior [21].…”

Section: Sexual Activity Shows Antidepressant-like Effects Through Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Oxytocin mediates an antidepressant-like effect in male mice, which disappears in OTR knockout (KO) mice [13,14]. In humans, moreover, there is a significant association between plasma OT levels and major depressive disorders (MDD) [15][16][17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both acute and chronic treatment with OT decreased immobility time in the forced swim test (FST) [25,26]. This antidepressant-like effect was blocked by an OTR antagonist and was absent in OTR KO mice [13,14,27]. An antidepressant-like effect of OT was also demonstrated in the tail suspension test [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Oxytocin: a therapeutic target for mental disorders

et al. 2012

Self Cite

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We review here that oxytocin (OT) is released into blood and within distinct brain regions in response to stressful and social stimuli, and has been shown to have an antidepressant-like effect in animal studies. Clinical reports suggest OT to be a promising drug for psychiatric diseases such as depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and autism. OT may also have therapeutic potential in the treatment of major depressive disorders, even though OT administered into blood does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier. Physiological functions such as sexual activity and mating induce the release of OT in the central nervous system. A drug for the treatment of sexual dysfunction, sildenafil, enhances the electrically evoked release of OT from the posterior pituitary. This drug has antidepressant-like effects through activation of an OT signaling pathway. These results suggest that sildenafil may have promise as a potential antidepressant.

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The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in emotional and social behaviors

Bachner‐Melman

Ebstein

2014

Handbook of Clinical Neurology

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Oxytocin mediates the antidepressant effects of mating behavior in male mice

Cited by 23 publications

References 22 publications

Postprandial Oxytocin Secretion Is Associated With Severity of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Anorexia Nervosa

Postprandial Oxytocin Secretion Is Associated With Severity of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Anorexia Nervosa

Oxytocin: a therapeutic target for mental disorders

The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in emotional and social behaviors

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