title: Neonatal manipulation of oxytocin prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced decrease in gene expression of growth factors in two developmental stages of the female rat.
abstract: Oxytocin production and secretion is important for early development of the brain. Long-term consequences of manipulation of oxytocin system might include changes in markers of brain plasticity - cytoskeletal proteins and neurotrophins. The aim of the present study was (1) to determine whether neonatal oxytocin administration affects gene expression of nestin, microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the brain of two developmental stages of rat and (2) to evaluate whether neonatal oxytocin administration protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation. Neonatal oxytocin did not prevent a decrease of body weight in the LPS treated animals. Oxytocin significantly increased gene expression of BDNF in the right hippocampus in 21-day and 2-month old rats of both sexes. Gene expression of NGF and MAP-2 significantly increased in males treated with oxytocin. Both, growth factors and intermediate filament-nestin mRNA levels, were reduced in females exposed to LPS. Oxytocin treatment prevented a decrease in the gene expression of only growth factors. In conclusion, neonatal manipulation of oxytocin has developmental and sex-dependent effect on markers of brain plasticity. These results also indicate, that oxytocin may be protective against inflammation particularly in females.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia; Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. Electronic address: j.bakos@savba.sk.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bakos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lestanova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Medical Faculty, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strbak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Havranek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Medical Faculty, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bacova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D064231:Nestin / Q000235:genetics; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D010121:Oxytocin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: Development; MAP-2; Nestin; Neurotrophic factors; Oxytocin