Oxytocin anxiolytic effects

Fig. 3A, B Neuropeptide effects on anxiety-related behavioiu. A The oxytocin receptor antagonist (black bars) administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) increased indices of anxiety-related behaviour in pregnant rats as measured on the elevated plus maze. Entries into the closed arms indicate unchanged locomotor activity. B Prolactin is an anxiolytic neuropeptide in female rats as revealed by i.c.v. administration of synthetic prolactin (grey and black bars represent two different doses) and by antisense targeting of the prolactin receptor (R). Vehicle (white bars) vs mixed bases (grey bars) and antisense oligodeoxynu-cleotide (black bars). p<0.05 vs vehicle (white bars). (Adapted from Nemnann et al. 2000) and Torner et al. 2001)...

Umriukhin A, Wigger A, Singewald N, Landgraf R (2002) Hypothalamic and hippocampal release of serotonin in rats bred for hyper- or hypo-anxiety. Stress 5 299-305 Uvnas-Moberg K, Ahlenius S, Hillgaart V, Alster P (1994) High doses of oxytocin cause sedation and low doses cause an anxiolytic-like effect in male rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 49 101-106... 

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