Cited by 171Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorBarrier Structure and Function StudiesNeuropeptides and Animal Physiology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 83 of the 84 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 3 of the 48 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Vascular RAGE transports oxytocin into the brain to elicit its maternal bonding behaviour in mice

Open access

Abstract

Oxytocin sets the stage for childbirth by initiating uterine contractions, lactation and maternal bonding behaviours. Mice lacking secreted oxcytocin ( Oxt −/− , Cd38 −/− ) or its receptor ( Oxtr −/− ) fail to nurture. Normal maternal behaviour is restored by peripheral oxcytocin replacement in Oxt −/− and Cd38 −/− , but not Oxtr −/− mice, implying that circulating oxcytocin crosses the blood-brain barrier. Exogenous oxcytocin also has behavioural effects in humans. However, circulating polypeptides are typically excluded from the brain. We show that oxcytocin is transported into the brain by receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) on brain capillary endothelial cells. The increases in oxcytocin in the brain which follow exogenous administration are lost in Ager −/− male mice lacking RAGE, and behaviours characteristic to abnormalities in oxcytocin signalling are recapitulated in Ager −/− mice, including deficits in maternal bonding and hyperactivity. Our findings show that RAGE-mediated transport is critical to the behavioural actions of oxcytocin associated with parenting and social bonding.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

RAGE on brain capillary endothelial cells binds and transports peripheral oxytocin across the blood-brain barrier. Ager−/− mice lack brain oxytocin increases after peripheral oxytocin and show maternal neglect and hyperactivity, which endothelial RAGE re-expression rescues.

Key findings

  • Oxytocin binds RAGE directly: surface plasmon resonance gave an apparent KD of 179 nM for oxytocin binding to immobilised human esRAGE; oxytocin co-eluted with soluble RAGE in human serum and was structurally confirmed by LC-MS/MS. Binding mapped to the RAGE V domain and did not activate NF-κB, Rac1, or Cdc42 signalling.
  • Endothelial RAGE is necessary and sufficient for oxytocin transport into the brain: RAGE knockdown reduced blood-to-brain oxytocin transport in an in vitro BBB model; after subcutaneous oxytocin (30 ng/mouse), CSF oxytocin rose in WT but not Ager−/− male mice, and transgenic endothelial RAGE in Ager−/− mice restored CSF oxytocin. [13C,15N]oxytocin was undetectable in Ager−/− CSF but equivalent in WT and KO+Tg mice.
  • Ager−/− mice recapitulated oxytocin-related behavioural deficits: maternal neglect reduced offspring survival, and endothelial RAGE re-expression rescued survival (63.4% KO+Tg vs 10.5% non-transgenic KO, P < 0.001). c-Fos increased after oxytocin in BNST, mPOA, AHC, and ILS of WT but not Ager−/− mice, and Ager−/− hyperactivity was normalised by intraventricular but not subcutaneous oxytocin.
  • After bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, capillary RAGE increased ~2-fold and exogenous oxytocin increased in CSF of WT but not Ager−/− male mice. The estimated availability of oxytocin in CSF was 0.2% after subcutaneous administration of 30 ng oxytocin in mice.

Methods

  • Mouse models included WT, Ager−/−, endothelial RAGE-transgenic Ager−/− (KO+Tg), and endothelial RAGE-deficient (EC-KO) mice; both male and female mice were used, with behavioural and maternal survival assays, BCCAO, and oxytocin administration by subcutaneous, intravenous, or intranasal routes.
  • Binding and transport were assessed by surface plasmon resonance, plate binding/competition assays, gel permeation chromatography, anti-RAGE affinity chromatography, LC-MS/MS, and an in vitro BBB model using monkey brain capillary endothelial cells with rat pericytes and astrocytes, including RAGE shRNA knockdown, TEER, and Papp calculations.
  • In vivo oxytocin was measured by enzyme immunoassay in serum, cisterna magna CSF, third-ventricle CSF, and microperfusates from amygdala and PVN; c-Fos immunohistochemistry and behavioural tests (light-dark transition, open field) were used, with statistics by t-test, ANOVA, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis.

Limitations

  • Stated: the exact bioavailability of oxytocin reaching the CNS remains unclear, and findings across studies are inconsistent due to differences in treatment protocols, species, and detection methods. The mechanism by which RAGE transports oxytocin is also unclear, though vesicular endocytosis/transcytosis is proposed.
  • Stated: current experiments provide no evidence for direct intranasal transport via olfactory or trigeminal routes; instead, nasally applied oxytocin may enter the bloodstream and then be transported by RAGE. Oxytocin measurement is also method-dependent, and plasma extraction may lower measured levels.
  • Evident: the maternal behaviour and hyperactivity experiments were conducted largely in male mice, while female mice were used mainly to show RAGE-mediated transport; human data are limited to serum binding/co-elution and do not test behaviour or causality.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s42003-019-0325-6

Cites

83 of 83 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Fig. 1 Offspring survival and RAGE-oxytocin interactions. Kaplan–Meier survival curves for offspring of WT (Ager+/+) and RAGE-null Ager−/− (knockout of the mouse gene for the receptor for AGEs) dams housed with their biological mothers (a; n = 40 WT pups/WT dams; 38 Ager−/−pups/Ager−/− dams), or transferred to different cages and housed with postpartum dams of the opposite genotype (b; n = 66 WT pups/Ager−/− dams; 66 Ager−/− pups/WT dams). P-values derived from log-rank calculations. c Surface plasmon resonance (BiaCore) assessment of oxytocin binding to immobilised human esRAGE. d, e Microtitre plate wells contain varying amounts of immobilised oxytocin (d) or esRAGE (e); added d esRAGE (1 μg/ml) or e oxytocin (100 μM) were detected immunochemically (n = 3). Values are mean ± SEM
Fig. 1 Offspring survival and RAGE-oxytocin interactions. Kaplan–Meier survival curves for offspring of WT (Ager+/+) and RAGE-null Ager−/− (knockout of the mouse gene for the receptor for AGEs) dams housed with their biological mothers (a; n = 40 WT pups/WT dams; 38 Ager−/−pups/Ager−/− dams), or transferred to different cages and housed with postpartum dams of the opposite genotype (b; n = 66 WT pups/Ager−/− dams; 66 Ager−/− pups/WT dams). P-values derived from log-rank calculations. c Surface plasmon resonance (BiaCore) assessment of oxytocin binding to immobilised human esRAGE. d, e Microtitre plate wells contain varying amounts of immobilised oxytocin (d) or esRAGE (e); added d esRAGE (1 μg/ml) or e oxytocin (100 μM) were detected immunochemically (n = 3). Values are mean ± SEMCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 RAGE transports oxytocin across an in vitro blood brain barrier (BBB). a A schematic diagram of the monkey BBB kit (PharmaCo-Cell). EC, monkey brain capillary endothelial cells; Peri, rat brain pericytes; Astro, rat astrocytes. The upper and the lower chambers represent the luminal (blood) and abluminal (brain extracellular space) sides, respectively. b Oxytocin (1 or 10 ng/ml) was added to the upper (luminal, blood) chambers of the model BBB system, and 3 h later oxytocin was quantified in the lower (abluminal, brain) chambers (n = 4–5). c Flow cytometry. The endothelial cells used in the upper chamber in a were treated with RAGE shRNA (knockdown, KD) or control (C or CNT) vectors to assess the effects of RAGE knockdown. Isotype control (Iso) instead of anti-RAGE antibody assesses background signal. d Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER, Ωcm2) measures >150 Ωcm2 indicate integrity of the model BBB (n = 6). e Conversely, oxytocin was added to the abluminal chambers and its transport to the luminal chamber was quantified (n = 3). f The apparent permeability constants (Papp) for transfer were calculated from the distribution ratios across the chambers (n = 3–5). Values are mean ± SEM
Fig. 2 RAGE transports oxytocin across an in vitro blood brain barrier (BBB). a A schematic diagram of the monkey BBB kit (PharmaCo-Cell). EC, monkey brain capillary endothelial cells; Peri, rat brain pericytes; Astro, rat astrocytes. The upper and the lower chambers represent the luminal (blood) and abluminal (brain extracellular space) sides, respectively. b Oxytocin (1 or 10 ng/ml) was added to the upper (luminal, blood) chambers of the model BBB system, and 3 h later oxytocin was quantified in the lower (abluminal, brain) chambers (n = 4–5). c Flow cytometry. The endothelial cells used in the upper chamber in a were treated with RAGE shRNA (knockdown, KD) or control (C or CNT) vectors to assess the effects of RAGE knockdown. Isotype control (Iso) instead of anti-RAGE antibody assesses background signal. d Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER, Ωcm2) measures >150 Ωcm2 indicate integrity of the model BBB (n = 6). e Conversely, oxytocin was added to the abluminal chambers and its transport to the luminal chamber was quantified (n = 3). f The apparent permeability constants (Papp) for transfer were calculated from the distribution ratios across the chambers (n = 3–5). Values are mean ± SEMCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 RAGE in the brain vasculature. a, b Confocal microscopy. Sections of the hippocampus (a; CA1, stratum radiatum) and choroid plexus in the third ventricle (b) of WT male mice were immunostained with anti-RAGE and anti-CD31 antibodies; nuclei were stained with DAPI (Bar = 100 μm). Co-staining of RAGE (red, arrows) with CD31 (green) indicates that RAGE is present in some vascular endothelial cells
Fig. 3 RAGE in the brain vasculature. a, b Confocal microscopy. Sections of the hippocampus (a; CA1, stratum radiatum) and choroid plexus in the third ventricle (b) of WT male mice were immunostained with anti-RAGE and anti-CD31 antibodies; nuclei were stained with DAPI (Bar = 100 μm). Co-staining of RAGE (red, arrows) with CD31 (green) indicates that RAGE is present in some vascular endothelial cellsCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 4 Transport of oxytocin into the brain. a Oxytocin concentrations in CSF from the cisterna magna after subcutaneous injection of 30 ng oxytocin in WT (Ager+/+) or Ager−/− male mice (n = 3–15/data point, *p < 0.05). b Oxytocin concentrations in the CSF of the third ventricles before and 90 min after subcutaneous administration of oxytocin (30 ng) (n = 7–9). c Oxytocin concentrations in microperfusates of the amygdala before and after intranasal (20 ng) oxytocin. Closed circles, oxytocin in WT mice; open triangles, oxytocin in Ager−/− mice; inverted open triangles, saline in WT mice; open squares, saline in Ager−/− mice (n = 4–13; *p < 0.05). d Oxytocin concentrations in microperfusates of the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of WT mice before and 60 min after intravenous (iv), nasal (in) or subcutaneous (sc) administration of oxytocin (n = 6–8). e, f Transgenic (Tg) mice expressed human RAGE selectively in endothelial cells either on WT or Ager−/− (KO) backgrounds. Oxytocin concentrations in the CSF were measured 60 min after subcutaneous injections of oxytocin (e; n = 4–14) or [13C,15N]oxytocin (f; n = 9–10). g Oxytocin concentrations in the CSF of female mice were measured 60 min after subcutaneous injections of oxytocin (OT) (n = 4–10). n.d., not detected; ns, not significant. Values are mean ± SEM
Fig. 4 Transport of oxytocin into the brain. a Oxytocin concentrations in CSF from the cisterna magna after subcutaneous injection of 30 ng oxytocin in WT (Ager+/+) or Ager−/− male mice (n = 3–15/data point, *p < 0.05). b Oxytocin concentrations in the CSF of the third ventricles before and 90 min after subcutaneous administration of oxytocin (30 ng) (n = 7–9). c Oxytocin concentrations in microperfusates of the amygdala before and after intranasal (20 ng) oxytocin. Closed circles, oxytocin in WT mice; open triangles, oxytocin in Ager−/− mice; inverted open triangles, saline in WT mice; open squares, saline in Ager−/− mice (n = 4–13; *p < 0.05). d Oxytocin concentrations in microperfusates of the paraventricular nuclei (PVN) of WT mice before and 60 min after intravenous (iv), nasal (in) or subcutaneous (sc) administration of oxytocin (n = 6–8). e, f Transgenic (Tg) mice expressed human RAGE selectively in endothelial cells either on WT or Ager−/− (KO) backgrounds. Oxytocin concentrations in the CSF were measured 60 min after subcutaneous injections of oxytocin (e; n = 4–14) or [13C,15N]oxytocin (f; n = 9–10). g Oxytocin concentrations in the CSF of female mice were measured 60 min after subcutaneous injections of oxytocin (OT) (n = 4–10). n.d., not detected; ns, not significant. Values are mean ± SEMCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 5 Oxytocin transport after transient brain ischaemia. a Transient brain ischaemia was induced by 15 min of bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO) as described in Methods. RAGE and CD31 expression in vascular cells of the hippocampus were assessed 24 h after ischaemic insults; nuclei are stained with DAPI (Bar = 100 μm). b Quantitation of RAGE induction in CD31-positive endothelial cells (n = 5). c Fluorescein dye was used to check nonspecific vascular leakage and BBB damage following BCCAO (n = 3–6). ns, not significant. d Oxytocin concentrations in CSF from the cisterna magna of BCCAO or sham-operated WT (RAGE+/+) or Ager−/− male mice (n = 4–9). Values are mean ± SEM
Fig. 5 Oxytocin transport after transient brain ischaemia. a Transient brain ischaemia was induced by 15 min of bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO) as described in Methods. RAGE and CD31 expression in vascular cells of the hippocampus were assessed 24 h after ischaemic insults; nuclei are stained with DAPI (Bar = 100 μm). b Quantitation of RAGE induction in CD31-positive endothelial cells (n = 5). c Fluorescein dye was used to check nonspecific vascular leakage and BBB damage following BCCAO (n = 3–6). ns, not significant. d Oxytocin concentrations in CSF from the cisterna magna of BCCAO or sham-operated WT (RAGE+/+) or Ager−/− male mice (n = 4–9). Values are mean ± SEMCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 6 Reporter assay for oxytocin activity in the brain. a 60 min after sc administration of oxytocin (OT) (30 ng) or PBS, c-Fos positive nuclei were visualised in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) of WT and Ager−/− male mice (LV, lateral ventricle; aca, anterior commissure, anterior part) (Bar = 100 μm). b Densities of c-Fos positive nuclei in the BNST, medial preoptic area (mPOA), centre of the anterior hypothalamic area (AHC), and intermediate lateral septal nucleus (ILS) regions of WT and Ager−/− mice (n = 12–56)
Fig. 6 Reporter assay for oxytocin activity in the brain. a 60 min after sc administration of oxytocin (OT) (30 ng) or PBS, c-Fos positive nuclei were visualised in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) of WT and Ager−/− male mice (LV, lateral ventricle; aca, anterior commissure, anterior part) (Bar = 100 μm). b Densities of c-Fos positive nuclei in the BNST, medial preoptic area (mPOA), centre of the anterior hypothalamic area (AHC), and intermediate lateral septal nucleus (ILS) regions of WT and Ager−/− mice (n = 12–56)CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 7 Offspring survival in Ager−/− mice and behavioural characteristic. a Survival curves for biological offspring of WT (Ager+/+) dams with (solid black line, n = 45) or without (black dashed line, n = 40) re-expressed human RAGE (Tg). Survival curves for biological offspring of Ager−/− (KO) dams with (red solid line, n = 71) or without (red dashed line, n = 38) re-expression of human RAGE. P < 0.001. b Survival curves for offspring of dams deficient for RAGE in endothelial cells (EC-KO, n = 76) and WT (Ager+/+) dams (solid black line, n = 45). P < 0.001. P-values derived from log-rank calculations. c, d During light-dark transition tests, the greater distances travelled (c) and greater average speed (d) in the light zone exhibited by Ager−/− male mice were both reduced by intraventricular (V) but not subcutaneous (sc) injection of oxytocin (OT) (n = 14–16). e In open field tests that assess anxiety in a new environment, the total distance travelled during the first 5 min was determined for Ager−/− male mice before and after intraventricular (intraV) (5 min, 0.1 ng/μl × 3 μl/min) or nasal (100 ng/ml × 20 μl) administration of oxytocin (OT) (n = 4–5). ns, not significant. Values are mean ± SEM
Fig. 7 Offspring survival in Ager−/− mice and behavioural characteristic. a Survival curves for biological offspring of WT (Ager+/+) dams with (solid black line, n = 45) or without (black dashed line, n = 40) re-expressed human RAGE (Tg). Survival curves for biological offspring of Ager−/− (KO) dams with (red solid line, n = 71) or without (red dashed line, n = 38) re-expression of human RAGE. P < 0.001. b Survival curves for offspring of dams deficient for RAGE in endothelial cells (EC-KO, n = 76) and WT (Ager+/+) dams (solid black line, n = 45). P < 0.001. P-values derived from log-rank calculations. c, d During light-dark transition tests, the greater distances travelled (c) and greater average speed (d) in the light zone exhibited by Ager−/− male mice were both reduced by intraventricular (V) but not subcutaneous (sc) injection of oxytocin (OT) (n = 14–16). e In open field tests that assess anxiety in a new environment, the total distance travelled during the first 5 min was determined for Ager−/− male mice before and after intraventricular (intraV) (5 min, 0.1 ng/μl × 3 μl/min) or nasal (100 ng/ml × 20 μl) administration of oxytocin (OT) (n = 4–5). ns, not significant. Values are mean ± SEMCC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

25 Own result · 18 Not checked yet · 8 Own method · 5 Own interpretation · 1 Partly supported · 1 No basis given · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 45 references — free account

Show all 25 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 19
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 18
33 of 33
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Mice naturally prefer to be near protective walls rather than being exposed to potential dangers in open spaces.

    “This test is based on the idea that mice naturally prefer to be near protective walls rather than being exposed to potential dangers in open spaces.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Sodium fluorescein (MW 376.3) does not cross an intact blood-brain barrier.

    “Sodium fluorescein (MW 376.3) is a fluorescent tracer that does not cross an intact BBB.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) primarily reflects the flux of sodium ions through the cell layers in the culture conditions.

    “Trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER), which primarily reflects the flux of sodium ions through the cell layers in the culture conditions, was measured with an epithelial-volt-ohm metre and an Endohm-6 chamber electrodes (World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, FL, USA).”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Show all 84 references

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Items 101–171 of 171

Metadata

Authors
Yamamoto, Y., Liang, M., Munesue, S., Deguchi, K., Harashima, A., Furuhara, K., Yuhi, T., Zhong, J., Akther, S., Goto, H., Eguchi, Y., Kitao, Y., Hori, O., Shiraishi, Y., Ozaki, N., Shimizu, Y., Kamide, T., Yoshikawa, A., Hayashi, Y., Nakada, M., Lopatina, O., Gerasimenko, M., Komleva, Y., Malinovskaya, N., Salmina, A. B., Asano, M., Nishimori, K., Shoelson, S. E., Yamamoto, H., & Higashida, H.
Affiliations
  • Kanazawa University (JP)
  • Kanazawa Medical University (JP)
  • Krasnoyarsk State Medical University (RU)
  • Tohoku University (JP)
  • Joslin Diabetes Center (US)
Corresponding author
  • Yamamoto, Yasuhiko
  • Higashida, Haruhiro
Venue
Communications Biology
Published
2019-02-25
Volume
2
Issue
1
Pages
76-76
ISSN
2399-3642 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2915217457
Cited by
171
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 44 · 2019: 11
FWCI
37.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Communications Biology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Kanazawa University
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (17K09031, 18K06889, 25461335, 18KK0255, 24590375, 18K06500, 18K07551)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (P30DK036836)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
Keywords
oxytocin, receptor for advanced glycation end products, RAGE, blood-brain barrier, brain microvascular endothelial cells, maternal behavior, social bonding, hyperactivity, oxytocin receptor
MeSH terms
Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products, Animals, Brain, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal Behavior, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Receptors, Oxytocin, Mice, Knockout, Endothelial Cells

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-10-09, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).

A second model labelled each claim on 2026-10-09 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).

Cited sources are checked with a language model’s help (gpt-6-sol).

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review