Facilitation and attenuation of social recognition in rats by different oxytocin-related peptides.
The memory-modulating effects of subcutaneously administered oxytocin and related peptides were investigated in the social recognition paradigm in rats. The attenuation of social recognition by 0.6 and 6 micrograms/kg of oxytocin was mimicked by the same doses of des-Gly8-oxytocin, [pGlu4, Cyt6]oxytocin-(4-9) and prolyl-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG) and by 0.6 micrograms/kg of oxytocin-(1-6) and [pGlu4,Cyt6]oxytocin-(4-8). The peptide leucyl-glycinamide (LG) was not active in this respect. The facilitation of social recognition by 0.6 and 6 ng/kg of oxytocin was mimicked by the same doses of PLG and LG but not by the other peptides and the amino acid glycine. It is concluded that the active moieties for attenuation and facilitation of social memory reside in different parts of the oxytocin molecule, e.g. the 5-7 and 8-9 region, respectively.
Popik
P
P
Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Kraków, Poland. nfpopik@cyf-kr.edu.pl
Vetulani
J
J
Van Ree
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012919:Social Behavior
D010455:Peptides; D010121:Oxytocin