Effects of oxytocin microinjected into the central amygdaloid nucleus and bed nucleus of stria terminalis on maternal aggressive behavior in rats

Consiglio, Angélica Rosat; Borsoi, Anderlise; Pereira, Gabriela Magalhães; Lucion, Aldo Bolten

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2005.05.002

Cited by 100 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Support for the importance of oxytocin in male social behavior can be derived from the reduction in oxytocin mRNA production in the PVN and the ability of exogenous oxytocin to improve the social withdrawal in the prenatally stressed rats. While a relatively high dose of oxytocin was needed to observe the pro-social effect of oxytocin in this model, these concentrations are similar to other studies where behavioral effects have been observed (Witt et al, 1992, Consiglio et al, 2005. Without knowledge of the actual concentration of oxytocin that binds to the receptors in the amygdala, it is impossible to determine the physiological relevance of this effect but these findings nonetheless suggest a focal location, the CeA, as a final common pathway for male non-sexual interactive behaviors.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Prenatal stress generates deficits in rat social behavior: Reversal by oxytocin

Lee¹,

Brady²,

Shapiro³

et al. 2007

Brain Research

237

188

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Neurodevelopmental changes induced by environmental stress exposure play a significant but poorly defined role in the etiology of schizophrenia. Exposure of pregnant female rats to a series of unpredictable stresses during the final week of pregnancy generates behavioral deficits and molecular changes in the offspring similar to those observed in schizophrenic individuals. We used this rat prenatal stress preparation to investigate social withdrawal behaviors that may have relevance to the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The cumulative time adult male offspring of stress-exposed pregnant female rats actively interacted with a weight-matched, same-sex peer was decreased approximately 76% relative to non-stress exposed control rats. Prenatal stress exposure also diminished the quality of the social interaction behavior indicative of reduced social drive. Analysis of the oxytocinergic system in the prenatally stressed male rats revealed significantly less oxytocin mRNA in the paraventricular nucleus and increased oxytocin receptor binding in the central amygdala. Moreover, oxytocin, but not vasopressin, administration into the central amygdala reversed the social incompetence of the prenatally stressed rats without increasing behavior in nonstressed control animals. In addition, cross-fostering pups from prenatally stressed mothers to nonstressed mothers failed to improve the social deficit of the prenatally stressed male offspring. Two behavioral assays designed to measure anxiety did not differentiate the prenatally stressed rats from non-stressed controls. These data indicate that prenatal stress may be an etiologically appropriate animal model for some aspects of schizophrenic social withdrawal. Furthermore, unpredictable prenatal stress exposure selectively degrades social interaction behaviors without increasing anxiety measures.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Prenatal stress generates deficits in rat social behavior: Reversal by oxytocin

Lee¹,

Brady²,

Shapiro³

et al. 2007

Brain Research

237

188

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…A female resident rat that underwent OVX, HSP-H, or HSPP-H/7 treatment (n = 10/group) confronted a naive male intruder rat (240-270 g) for 10 min. A similar paradigm (female resident and smaller male intruder) has been shown to result in significant aggressive behavior in a previous report (19). The behavior of residents during confrontation was videotaped and latency to the first attack was monitored.…”

Section: Resident Intruder Testmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Aggression toward an unfamiliar intruder was evaluated as described previously (17)(18)(19). This test was carried out during the dark cycle (9:00 PM-1:00 AM).…”

Section: Resident Intruder Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Postpartum Model in Rat: Behavioral and Gene Expression Changes Induced by Ovarian Steroid Deprivation

Suda

Segi-Nishida

Newton

et al. 2008

Biological Psychiatry

136

103

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Background-Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 10% to 20% of women during the first 4 weeks of the postpartum period and is characterized by labile mood with prominent anxiety and irritability, insomnia,and depressive mood. During the postpartum period, elevated ovarian hormones abruptly decrease to the early follicular phase levels that are postulated to play a major role in triggering PPD. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to PPD have not been determined.

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“…Oxytocin administered directly into either the central nucleus of the amygdala or bed nucleus of the stria terminalis has been shown to decrease MA in the postpartum period (Consiglio et al 2005), whereas oxytocin antagonists infused into the central nucleus of the amygdala can dramatically increase MA to the extent that it becomes mal-adaptive (Lubin et al 2003). Furthermore, both ibotenic acid lesions of the paraventricular nucleus and oxytocin antisense administration into the paraventricular nucleus can also stimulate maternal aggression (Giovenardi et al 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intergenerational effects of cocaine on maternal aggressive behavior and brain oxytocin in rat dams

McMurray

Joyner

Middleton

et al. 2008

Stress

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Gestational cocaine treatment results in significantly increased maternal aggression towards an intruder by postpartum day six, while acute postpartum treatment dose dependently decreases maternal aggressive (MA) behavior. Both increased and decreased aggression in the cocainetreated dams are correlated with either decreased or increased levels of oxytocin in the amygdala, respectively. The current study was an effort to determine whether the effect of gestational cocaine on maternal aggression is transient or would continue into the postpartum period; whether an intermittent cocaine treatment regimen, which incorporates gestational and postpartum intermittent cocaine treatment, would differ from chronic daily gestational treatment; and finally, whether next generation female offspring of cocaine-treated or control dams would have altered MA behavior and oxytocin system changes attributable to either prenatal drug exposure, rearing condition or both. We now report no increase in maternal aggression following chronic gestational treatment and significantly lower levels of aggression in intermittently treated dams on postpartum day eight, with no significant effects in either group on postpartum day 12. Young adult female offspring of the cocaine-treated and control dams, who reared their own natural litters and were tested on postpartum day eight for maternal aggression, had higher levels of maternal aggression towards an intruder attributable to both prenatal cocaine exposure and rearing condition. Higher aggression in cocaine-reared next generation dams was associated with lower levels of oxytocin in the amygdala. Intergenerational effects of cocaine were apparent with respect to aggression and oxytocin system changes.

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Effects of oxytocin microinjected into the central amygdaloid nucleus and bed nucleus of stria terminalis on maternal aggressive behavior in rats

Cited by 100 publications

References 63 publications

Prenatal stress generates deficits in rat social behavior: Reversal by oxytocin

Prenatal stress generates deficits in rat social behavior: Reversal by oxytocin

A Postpartum Model in Rat: Behavioral and Gene Expression Changes Induced by Ovarian Steroid Deprivation

Intergenerational effects of cocaine on maternal aggressive behavior and brain oxytocin in rat dams

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