title: Oxytocin Protects Hippocampal Memory and Plasticity from Uncontrollable Stress.
abstract: The hippocampus is vulnerable to uncontrollable stress and is enriched with oxytocin receptors, but their interactive influences on hippocampal functioning are unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration on stress-induced alterations in synaptic plasticity and spatial memory in male rats. While vehicle-administered stressed rats showed impairment in long-term potentiation, enhancement in long-term depression, and weakened spatial memory, these changes were not observed in oxytocin-administered stressed rats. To reveal the potential signaling mechanism mediating these effects, levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK) in the hippocampus was examined. Western blotting showed that oxytocin treatment blocked stress-induced alterations of pERK. Additionally, the oxytocin receptor antagonist L-368,899 inhibited the oxytocin's protective effects on hippocampal memory to stress. Thus, intranasal administration of oxytocin reduced stress effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory in rats via acting on oxytocin receptors and regulating ERK activity. This study suggests that exogenous oxytocin may be a therapeutically effective means to counter the detrimental neurocognitive effects of stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Hae
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: ChiHye
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-1525, USA.
authors.forename: Jeansok J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Se-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001892:Camphanes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004597:Electroshock; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001892:Camphanes; D010879:Piperazines; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D010121:Oxytocin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; C086206:L 368899