Cited by 90Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

Antiaggressive activity of central oxytocin in male rats

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Calcagnoli, Federica, de Boer, Sietse F., Althaus, Monika, den Boer, Johan A., Koolhaas, Jaap M.·2013·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Rationale A substantial body of research suggests that the neuropeptide oxytocin promotes social affiliative behaviors in a wide range of animals including humans. However, its antiaggressive action has not been unequivocally demonstrated in male laboratory rodents.Objective Our primary goal was to examine the putative serenic effect of oxytocin in a feral strain (wild type Groningen, WTG) of rats that generally show a much broader variation and higher levels of intermale aggression than commonly used laboratory strains of rats.Methods Resident animals were intracerebroventricularly (icv) administered with different doses of synthetic oxytocin and oxytocin receptor antagonist, alone and in combination, in order to manipulate brain oxytocin functioning and to assess their behavioral response to an intruder.Results Our data clearly demonstrate that acute icv administered oxytocin produces dose-dependent and receptor-selective changes in social behavior, reducing aggression and potentiating social exploration. These antiaggressive effects are stronger in the more offensive rats. On the other hand, administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist tends to increase (nonsignificantly) aggression only in low-medium aggressive animals.Conclusions These results suggest that transiently enhancing brain oxytocin function has potent antiaggressive effects, whereas its attenuation tends to enhance aggressiveness. In addition, a possible inverse relationship between trait aggression and endogenous oxytocinergic signaling is revealed. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of brain oxytocinergic signaling for regulating intermale offensive aggression. This study supports the suggestion that oxytocin receptor agonists could clinically be useful for curbing heightened aggression seen in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders like antisocial personality disorder, autism, and addiction.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00213-013-3124-7

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  • Several studies have demonstrated a reduction in aggressive behaviors upon treatment with exogenous OT or an increase in such behaviors in animals genetically lacking OT or OTR.

    “Several studies have employed the RI paradigm to demonstrate a reduction in aggressive behaviors upon treatment with exogenous OT (Calcagnoli et al., 2013, Calcagnoli et al., 2014, Calcagnoli et al., 2015, Jong et al., 2014, Karpova et al., 2016) or an increase in such behaviors in animals genetically lacking OT or OTR (Dhakar et al., 2012, Pagani et al., 2015, Ragnauth et al., 2005, Takayanagi et”

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Authors
Calcagnoli, F., de Boer, S. F., Althaus, M., den Boer, J. A., & Koolhaas, J. M.
Affiliations
  • University Medical Center Groningen (NL)
  • University of Groningen (NL)
Corresponding author
Calcagnoli, Federica
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2013-04-28
Volume
229
Issue
4
Pages
639-651
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W2069557491
Cited by
90
References
116
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 1
FWCI
16.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
oxytocin, antiaggressive effects, male-male aggression, oxytocin receptor antagonist, intracerebroventricular administration, social exploration, social affiliation, aggressive personality, antisocial behavior
MeSH terms
Aggression, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Brain, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Injections, Intraventricular, Male, Oxytocin, Social Behavior, Signal Transduction, Receptors, Oxytocin, Rats

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