Cited by 25Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorPsychedelics and Drug Studies

MDMA ('Ecstasy'), oxytocin and vasopressin modulate social preference in rats: a role for handling and oxytocin receptors

Ramos, Linnet, Hicks, Callum, Caminer, Alex, Couto, Kalliu, Narlawar, Rajeshwar, Kassiou, Michael, McGregor, Iain S.·2016·Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

Abstract

In laboratory rats, peripheral administration of the neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) induces similar prosocial effects (i.e. increased adjacent lying) to the party drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), which are sensitive to vasopressin V 1A receptor (V 1A R) antagonism. Here, we employed a social preference paradigm to further compare the prosocial effects of OT, AVP and MDMA. We also investigated the possible involvement of the V 1A R and oxytocin receptor (OTR) in rodent social preference. The social preference paradigm measures investigation times towards an empty wire cage (presented for 4min) followed by an identical cage containing a novel rat (also presented for 4min). Social preference is defined as greater investigation time towards the inhabited cage than the empty cage. Results indicated that well-handled rats exhibited no social preference at baseline, while intraperitoneally injected MDMA (5mg/kg), OT (0.5mg/kg) and AVP (0.005mg/kg) increased social preference. However, this effect was primarily due to reduced investigation of the empty cage. In contrast, rats that received minimal prior handling displayed a social preference at baseline, while MDMA (5mg/kg), OT (0.5mg/kg) and AVP (0.005mg/kg) reduced investigation times towards both the empty and inhabited cages. Lower doses of MDMA, OT and AVP were ineffective. The OTR antagonist Compound 25 (C25, 5mg/kg), but not the V 1A R antagonist SR49059 (1mg/kg), reduced the baseline social preference seen in minimally-handled rats and prevented the social preference induced by OT and AVP (but not MDMA) in well-handled rats. Overall, these results further confirm prosocial actions of MDMA, OT and AVP, which are dependent on handling history. These findings also indicate that social preference is sensitive to OTR rather than V 1A R modulation.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.pbb.2016.10.002

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Authors
Ramos, L., Hicks, C., Caminer, A., Couto, K., Narlawar, R., Kassiou, M., & McGregor, I. S.
Affiliations
The University of Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
McGregor, Iain S.
Venue
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-11
Volume
150-151
Pages
115-123
ISSN
0091-3057 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2531655104
Cited by
25
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1
FWCI
2.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
Keywords
MDMA, ecstasy, oxytocin, vasopressin, social preferences, prosocial behavior, oxytocin receptor, vasopressin V1a receptor, neuropeptides, rats
MeSH terms
Animals, Animal Husbandry, Indoles, Male, Oxytocin, Pyrrolidines, Social Behavior, Vasopressins, Receptors, Vasopressin, Receptors, Oxytocin, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Rats, Long-Evans, Rats

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