Cited by 261Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeuropeptides and Animal PhysiologyNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Centrally released oxytocin mediates mating-induced anxiolysis in male rats

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Waldherr, Martin, Neumann, Inga D.·2007·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Sexual activity and mating are accompanied by a high level of arousal, whereas anecdotal and experimental evidence demonstrate that sedation and calmness are common phenomena in the postcoital period in humans. These remarkable behavioral consequences of sexual activity contribute to a general feeling of well being, but underlying neurobiological mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that sexual activity and mating with a receptive female reduce the level of anxiety and increase risk-taking behavior in male rats for several hours. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to exert multiple functions in male and female reproduction, and to play a key role in the regulation of emotionality after its peripheral and central release, respectively. In the present study, we reveal that oxytocin is released within the brain, specifically within the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, of male rats during mating with a receptive female. Furthermore, blockade of the activated brain oxytocin system by central administration of an oxytocin receptor antagonist immediately after mating prevents the anxiolytic effect of mating, while having no effect in nonmated males. These findings provide direct evidence for an essential role of an activated brain oxytocin system mediating the anxiolytic effect of mating in males.

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Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.0705860104

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  • In rats, OT release from neurons in the PVN facilitates male sexual activity and ejaculation as well as mating-induced anxiolysis.

    “In rats, OT release from neurons in the PVN facilitates male sexual activity and ejaculation as well as mating-induced anxiolysis [122,123].”
  • Peripheral and central release are dissociated under certain circumstances.

    “This separation of projection targets is supported by microdialysis studies showing that peripheral and central release are dissociated under certain circumstances [128-130].”
  • Prior studies have suggested that oxytocin is anxiolytic or attenuates measures of fear conditioning.

    “The results of a number of other studies have suggested that oxytocin is anxiolytic19–21 or attenuates measures of fear conditioning15–18.”

    From Oxytocin enhances observational fear in mice (2017) · cites this paper as [20]

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Authors
Waldherr, M., & Neumann, I. D.
Affiliations
University of Regensburg (DE)
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2007-10-16
Volume
104
Issue
42
Pages
16681-16684
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2085847387
Cited by
261
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 23
FWCI
21.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Regensburg Publication Server (University of Regensburg) (acceptedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › 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, mating behavior, anxiolysis, anxiety, paraventricular nucleus, hypothalamus, oxytocin receptor antagonist, risk-taking, male rats, sexual arousal
MeSH terms
Animals, Anxiety, Brain, Female, Male, Oxytocin, Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Rats, Wistar, Receptors, Oxytocin, Rats, Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists

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