Effect of a single neonatal oxytocin treatment (hormonal imprinting) on the biogenic amine level of the adult rat brain could oxytocin-induced labor cause pervasive developmental diseases?
Abstract
Perinatal single-hormone treatment causes hormonal imprinting with lifelong consequences in receptor-binding capacity, hormone production as well as in social and sexual behavior. In the present experiments, newborn rats were treated with a single dose of oxytocin, and the levels of biogenic amines and their metabolites were studied in 8 different brain regions and in the sera when the male and female animals were 4 months old. Both dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission was found to be significantly influenced. The levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid metabolites decreased in the hypothalamus and striatum. Dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptophol levels were hardly altered, and there was no difference in the epinephrine levels. The results show that dopamine and serotonin metabolism of hypothalamus and striatum are deeply and lifelong influenced by a single neonatal oxytocin treatment Oxytocin imprinting resulted in decreased dopamine turnover in the hypothalamus and decreased serotonin turnover in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and striatum of females. As the disturbance of brain dopamine and serotonin system has an important role in the development of pervasive developmental diseases (eg, autism) and neuropsychiatric disorders (eg, schizophrenia), the growing number of oxytocin-induced labor as a causal factor, cannot be omitted.
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Neonatal oxytocin administration decreases dopamine turnover in the hypothalamus and serotonin turnover in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and striatum of 4-month-old female rats.
“as well as decreases dopamine turnover in the hypothalamus as well as serotonin turnover in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, and striatum of 4-month-old female rats (84).”
From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [84]
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- Authors
- Hashemi, F., Tekes, K., Laufer, R., Szegi, P., Tóthfalusi, L., & Csaba, G.
- Affiliations
- Semmelweis University (HU)
- Corresponding author
- Csaba, G.
- ORCID
- Csaba, G.
- Venue
- Reproductive Sciences
- Published
- 2013-10
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1255-1263
- ISSN
- 1933-7191 (ISSN-L)
- 1933-7205
- OpenAlex
- W1993188170
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 8.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Reproductive Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Semmelweis University Repository (Semmelweis University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
- Keywords
- hormonal imprinting, biogenic amines, dopamine turnover, serotonin turnover, norepinephrine, hypothalamus, striatum, medulla oblongata, autism spectrum disorder, pervasive developmental disorders, oxytocin-induced labor, sex differences, neuropsychiatric disorders
- MeSH terms
- Age Factors, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Biogenic Amines, Brain, Brain Chemistry, Developmental Disabilities, Female, Labor, Induced, Male, Oxytocin, Pregnancy, Rats, Wistar, Rats
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