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Orally administered oxytocin alters brain activation and behaviors of pre-weaning mice.

ABSTRACT: Oxytocin (OXT) regulates adult social behavior and has been implicated in its development. Because mammalian milk contains OXT and we have recently identified OXT receptors (OXTR) in the face and oronasal cavity of pre-weaning mice, we hypothesize that orally applied OXT may impact brain activity and acute behavior in developing mice. Oral OXT may have effects in the absence of sensory stimulation or perhaps by modulating sensory input, such as whisker stimulation. The present study investigates the acute c-Fos response in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and along whisker sensory processing brain regions (trigeminothalamocortical circuit) to orally applied OXT, compared to saline, with and without whisker stimulation in postnatal day (P) 14 and P21 male and female mice. Acute behavioral responses were also quantified after oral OXT with whisker stimulation in a non-social context. Oral OXT with and without whisker stimulation increased c-Fos activity in the PVN of males and decreased c-Fos in the ventroposterior medial thalamus in both males and females compared to saline. Additionally, oral OXT with whisker stimulation decreased c-Fos activity across whisker sensory processing brain regions in males and females and decreased c-Fos activity in the trigeminal motor nucleus of females. Lastly, oral OXT with whisker stimulation increased males' locomotor behavior and decreased females' oromotor behavior compared to saline-treated controls. These data indicate that orally applied OXT has acute brain and behavioral effects on developing mice. OXT-modulated sensory signals may bias brain and behavior development toward the social world.

SUBMITTER: Tabbaa M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7015803 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Orally administered oxytocin alters brain activation and behaviors of pre-weaning mice.

Tabbaa Manal M Hammock Elizabeth A D EAD

Hormones and behavior 20191114

Oxytocin (OXT) regulates adult social behavior and has been implicated in its development. Because mammalian milk contains OXT and we have recently identified OXT receptors (OXTR) in the face and oronasal cavity of pre-weaning mice, we hypothesize that orally applied OXT may impact brain activity and acute behavior in developing mice. Oral OXT may have effects in the absence of sensory stimulation or perhaps by modulating sensory input, such as whisker stimulation. The present study investigates ...[more]

PMID: 31654673

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Project description:Performance of dairy cows can be influenced by early life nutrient supply. Adipose tissue is diet sensitive and an important component in that process as it is involved in the regulation of energetic, reproductive and immunological functions. However, it is not clear how early life nutrition alters the molecular regulation of adipose tissue in calves and potentially adult individuals. This study aimed at determining how differences in pre-weaning nutrient supply alter gene expression profiles and physiology in omental adipose tissue. A total of 12 female Holstein calves were fed two levels of milk replacer supply: a restricted amount of 11.72 MJ of metabolizable energy (ME) intake per day (n = 6) or an enhanced amount of 1.26 MJ ME intake per kg of metabolic body weight (BW0.75), resulting in supply from 17.58 to 35.17 MJ ME intake per day (n = 6). All calves had ad libitum access to a commercial calf starter and water. Analysis of the transcriptome profiles at 54 ± 2 days of age revealed that a total of 396 out of 19,968 genes were differentially expressed (DE) between groups (p < 0.001, FDR < 0.1). The directional expression of DE genes through Ingenuity Pathway Analysis showed that an enhanced nutrient supply alters adipose tissue physiology of pre-weaned calves. Several biological functions were increased (Z-score > +2), including Lipid Metabolism (Fatty Acid Metabolism), Cell Cycle (Entry into Interphase, Interphase, Mitosis and Cell Cycle Progression), Cellular Assembly and Organization (Cytoskeleton Formation and Cytoplasm Development) and Molecular Transport (Transport of Carboxylic Acid). These changes were potentially orchestrated by the activation/inhibition of 17 upstream regulators genes. Our findings indicate that adipose tissue of calves under an enhanced nutrient supply is physiologically distinct from restricted calves due to an increased development/expansion rate and also a higher metabolic activity through increased fatty acid metabolism.

Dataset Information

Orally administered oxytocin alters brain activation and behaviors of pre-weaning mice.

Publications

Orally administered oxytocin alters brain activation and behaviors of pre-weaning mice.

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