Social stress blocks energy conservation in rats exposed to an oxytocin-injected cage mate.
We previously found stress-reduction in rats exposed to an oxytocin-injected cage-mate. Olfactory impairment and oxytocin antagonist treatment blocked the effect. Here, we investigated effects of social stress on the exposure-induced response and exposure on amygdaloid oxytocin concentrations. CT concentrations in exposed olfactorily impaired, CT antagonist-treated and saline-injected unexposed rats were reduced, compared to the significantly higher level in untreated and exposed saline-injected rats. Saline injections and group mixing enhanced heat dissipation. Exposure abolished the injection-induced, but not mixing-induced stress response, most likely via a social stress induced effect on the oxytocin-injected rat. The difference in exposure responsivity may relate to recognition, stress type and intensity affecting different stress-response systems. The mechanism could reinforce social attachment.
Agren
Greta
G
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Sensory Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Lundeberg
Thomas
T
D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology
D010121:Oxytocin