Neonatal administration of oxytocin increases novelty-induced grooming in the adult rat
Abstract
Three-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were intracisternally infused with a single dose of oxytocin (1 microgram/2 microliters) or saline, or were untreated. As adults, these animals were observed for novelty-induced grooming, analgesia measured by the hot-plate test, and behavior in the open field. Oxytocin treatment during infancy resulted in an elevation of novelty-induced grooming when compared to saline and untreated animals. There were no significant oxytocin treatment effects on analgesia response or open-field behaviors. Oxytocin given early in life may have permanent effects on certain behavioral responses to stress.
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There is evidence that oxytocin in early postnatal and peripubertal development, and perhaps during prenatal life, affects adult behavior by altering neural structure and function.
“There is evidence that Oxt in early postnatal and peripubertal development, and perhaps during prenatal life, affects adult behavior by altering neural structure and function.”
From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [10]
A single intracisternal injection of oxytocin in postnatal day 3 rats significantly increases novelty-induced grooming at 4 months of age.
“Their work demonstrated that a single intracisternal injection of Oxt in postnatal day (PND) 3 rats (Rattus norvegicus) significantly increases novelty-induced grooming at 4 months of age (10)”
From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [10]
Exposure to oxytocin during early life is important for the proper development of neural pathways and subsequent sex-specific behaviors.
“While much of the work on Oxt has focused on its involvement in the acute modulation of behavior, there is also evidence that exposure to Oxt during early life is important for the proper development of neural pathways and subsequent sex-specific behaviors.”
From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [10]
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- Authors
- Noonan, L. R., Continella, G., & Pedersen, C. A.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- Corresponding author
- Noonan, Linda Ristine
- ORCID
- Pedersen, Cort A.
- Venue
- Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1989-07
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 555-558
- ISSN
- 0091-3057 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2053692164
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 3.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH 33127)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 20640)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, neonatal administration, stress response, analgesia, open field behavior, neonatal rats
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Female, Grooming, Male, Motor Activity, Oxytocin, Pain, Rats, Inbred Strains, Sensory Thresholds, Rats
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