The DOI matches its Crossref record; 76 of the 76 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Acute Prosocial Effects of Oxytocin and Vasopressin When Given Alone or in Combination with 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine in Rats: Involvement of the V1A Receptor
Open accessAbstract
The neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are recognized for their modulation of social processes in humans when delivered peripherally. However, there is surprisingly little evidence for acute social effects of peripherally administered OT or AVP in animal models. On the other hand, the party drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'Ecstasy') has powerful prosocial effects in rats that appear to occur through stimulation of central OT release. Here, we directly compared the social effects of peripherally administered OT and AVP with those of MDMA, and examined a possible role for the vasopressin 1A receptor (V1AR) in the observed prosocial effects. Adult male Long-Evans rats were tested in a social interaction paradigm after OT (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (IP)), AVP (0.001, 0.0025, 0.005, 0.01, and 0.1 mg/kg, IP), and MDMA (2.5, 5 mg/kg, IP), or combined low doses of OT and MDMA, or AVP and MDMA. The effects of pretreatment with the non-peptide OT receptor antagonist compound 25 (C25; 5 mg/kg, IP) and the V1AR antagonist SR49059 (1 mg/kg, IP) were also examined. OT (0.5 mg/kg), AVP (0.01 mg/kg), and MDMA (5 mg/kg) potently increased 'adjacent lying', where rats meeting for the first time lie passively next to each other. C25 did not inhibit adjacent lying induced by OT, whereas SR49059 inhibited adjacent lying induced by MDMA (5 mg/kg), OT (0.5 mg/kg), and AVP (0.01 mg/kg). Interestingly, when ineffective doses of OT and MDMA, or AVP and MDMA, were combined, a robust increase in adjacent lying was observed. These results show for the first time acute prosocial effects of peripherally injected OT and AVP in laboratory rats, and suggest a commonality of action of OT, AVP, and MDMA in stimulating social behavior that involves V1ARs.
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“A selective V1aR, but not an OTR antagonist, inhibits adjacent lying following peripheral administration of OT or AVP.”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [44]
In the citing paper
“Both OT and AVP administered peripherally increase a form of social interaction in male rats referred to as “adjacent lying” in which rats maintain passive side-by-side contact during their first interaction [44].”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [44]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Ramos, L., Hicks, C., Kevin, R., Caminer, A., Narlawar, R., Kassiou, M., & McGregor, I. S.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- McGregor, Iain S
- Venue
- Neuropsychopharmacology
- Published
- 2013-05-16
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 2249-2259
- ISSN
- 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
- 1740-634X
- PMC
- PMC3773675
- OpenAlex
- W2033282483
- Cited by
- 128
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 17
- FWCI
- 26.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- Australian Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council (1011518, 1033444)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- oxytocin, vasopressin, MDMA, ecstasy, prosocial behavior, vasopressin V1a receptor, social interaction, neuropeptides, drug combination effects
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Synergism, Hallucinogens, Hormone Antagonists, Indoles, Male, Oxytocin, Pyrrolidines, Social Behavior, Vasopressins, Receptors, Vasopressin, Receptors, Oxytocin, N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Rats, Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists
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