Abstract
The nonapeptide oxytocin is considered beneficial to mental health due to its anxiolytic, prosocial and antistress effects, but evidence for anxiogenic actions of oxytocin in humans has recently emerged. Using region-specific manipulations of the mouse oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) gene (Oxtr), we identified the lateral septum as the brain region mediating fear-enhancing effects of Oxtr. These effects emerge after social defeat and require Oxtr specifically coupled to the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase pathway.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Analysis of Variance
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Animals
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Butadienes / pharmacology
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CREB-Binding Protein / metabolism
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Fear*
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Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
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Neurons / metabolism
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Nitriles / pharmacology
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Oxytocin / pharmacology
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Protein Kinase C / metabolism
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Proteins / genetics
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RNA, Untranslated
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Receptors, Oxytocin / genetics
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Receptors, Oxytocin / metabolism*
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Septum of Brain / cytology
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Septum of Brain / drug effects
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Septum of Brain / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Social Behavior
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Stress, Psychological / complications
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Transduction, Genetic
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Vasotocin / pharmacology
Substances
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Butadienes
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Gt(ROSA)26Sor non-coding RNA, mouse
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Nitriles
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OXTR protein, mouse
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Proteins
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RNA, Untranslated
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Receptors, Oxytocin
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U 0126
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Oxytocin
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CREB-Binding Protein
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Protein Kinase C
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
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Vasotocin