Postnatal oxytocin injections cause sustained weight gain and increased nociceptive thresholds in male and female rats
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate possible long-term effects of postnatally administered oxytocin on weight gain, gastrointestinal hormone levels, and nociceptive thresholds in rats. For this purpose, s.c. daily injections of oxytocin (1 mg/kg) or saline (NaCl, 0.9%) were given to male and female rat pups on d 10-14 after birth. The animals were killed at the age of 60 or 94 d. Treatment with oxytocin resulted in higher body weight in males, 60 d after birth, and in females from d 60 and throughout the rest of the experiment, compared with controls. The higher body weight was due to an increased weight gain in oxytocin-treated rats, compared with controls, which was most pronounced between 40 and 60 d after birth. Oxytocin-treated male rats had increased circulating levels of cholecystokinin, a tendency to increased plasma levels of insulin (p = 0.066), and relatively more adipose tissue in the thigh and interscapular region, compared with controls. At the age of 60 d, oxytocin-treated female and male rats had a prolonged withdrawal latency when measured in the tail-flick test, compared with controls. This study shows that oxytocin can induce long-lasting changes in weight gain, hormone levels, and nociceptive thresholds, when administered postnatally, in female and male rats.
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In rats, repeated administration of oxytocin between postnatal day 10 and 14 results in weight gain in both males and females, increases in the gut hormone cholecystokinin, and longer withdrawal latencies in the tail-flick test at postnatal day 60, suggesting an increase in pain threshold.
“In rats, repeated administration of Oxt between PND10 and PND14 results in weight gain in both males and females, increases in the gut hormone cholecystokinin, and longer withdrawal latencies in the tail-flick test at PND60, which suggests an increase in pain threshold (63).”
From Oxytocin during Development: Possible Organizational Effects on Behavior (2015) · cites this paper as [63]
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- Authors
- Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Alster, P., Petersson, M., Sohlström, A., & Björkstrand, E.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
- ORCID
- Petersson, Maria
- Venue
- Pediatric Research
- Published
- 1998-03
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 344-348
- ISSN
- 0031-3998 (ISSN-L)
- 1530-0447
- OpenAlex
- W2022811780
- Cited by
- 94
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 5.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Pediatric Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
- Keywords
- oxytocin, weight gain, nociceptive threshold, cholecystokinin, insulin, gastrointestinal hormones, adipose tissue, sex differences, tail-flick test, neonatal rats, long-term effects
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Age Factors, Animals, Blood Glucose, Cholecystokinin, Female, Growth, Injections, Subcutaneous, Insulin, Male, Oxytocin, Weight Gain, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Pain Threshold, Rats
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