title: Acute and repeated intranasal oxytocin administration exerts anti-aggressive and pro-affiliative effects in male rats.
abstract: Socio-emotional deficits and impulsive/aggressive outbursts are prevalent symptoms of many neuropsychiatric disorders, and intranasal administration of oxytocin (OXT) is emerging as a putative novel therapeutic approach to curb these problems. Recently, we demonstrated potent anti-aggressive and pro-social effects of intracerebroventricular (icv) OXT administration in male rats. The present study tested whether similar behavioral effects are induced when OXT is delivered intranasally. Heart-rate and blood-pressure responses were telemetrically monitored to investigate whether peripheral physiological effects were provoked after intranasal OXT administration. Intranasal OXT administration in resident animals reduced offensive aggression and increased social exploration toward an unfamiliar male intruder. Using a partner-preference test, intranasal OXT also strengthened the bonding between the male resident and its female partner. No changes in cardiovascular (re)activity were found, indicating an absence of direct peripheral physiological effects after intranasal OXT treatment. In conclusion, although the precise route and mechanisms of nose-to-brain transport/communication remain to be elucidated, our data demonstrated intranasal OXT to be an effective application method for suppressing intermale aggression and enhancing social affiliation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Physiology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: f.calcagnoli@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calcagnoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Physiology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Judith C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kreutzmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Physiology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sietse F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.affiliation: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Althaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Physiology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jaap M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Koolhaas
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Blood pressure; Heart rate; Intranasal application; Offensive behavior; Oxytocin; Partner preference; Social exploration