title: Oxytocin mediates social neuroprotection after cerebral ischemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The reduced incidence, morbidity, and mortality of stroke among humans with strong social support have been well-documented; however, the mechanisms underlying these socially mediated phenomena remain unknown, but may involve oxytocin (OT), a hormone that modulates some aspects of social behavior in humans and other animals.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, adult male mice were socially isolated (housed individually) or socially paired (housed with an ovariectomized female); social pairing increased hypothalamic OT gene expression. To determine whether a causal relationship exists between increased OT and improved stroke outcome, mice were treated with exogenous OT or OT receptor antagonist beginning 1 week before induction of experimental stroke via middle cerebral artery occlusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to social isolation, social housing attenuated infarct size, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress following experimental stroke; the neuroprotective effect of social housing was eliminated by receptor antagonist treatment. In contrast, administration of OT to socially isolated mice reproduced the neuroprotection conferred by social housing. We further report evidence for a direct suppressive action of OT on cultured microglia, which is a key instigator in the development of neuroinflammation after cerebral ischemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the hypothesis that OT mediates the neuroprotective effect of social interaction on stroke outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, 4030 Graves Hall, 333 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. ekaterina.karelina@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karelina
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stuller
authors.forename: Brant
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jarrett
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Greg J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: A Courtney
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: DeVries
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006799:Housing, Animal; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation
chemical_list: D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D010121:Oxytocin