Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Oxytocin mediates the antidepressant effects of mating behavior in male mice.
- Journal:
- Neuroscience research
- Year:
- 2010
- Authors:
- Matsushita, Hiroaki et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Physiology · Japan
- Species:
- rodent
Abstract
A significant association between plasma oxytocin (OT) levels and depression has been demonstrated. A recent study found that sexual activity and mating with a female induced the release of OT in the central nervous system of male rats. Here we examined the effect of mating behavior on depression-related behavior in wild-type (WT) and OT receptor-deficient (OTR KO) male mice. The WT males showed a reduction in depression-related behavior after mating behavior, but the OTR KO mice did not. Application of an OTR antagonist inhibited mating behavior-induced antidepressant effect in WT males. OT may mediate the antidepressant effects of mating behavior.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20600375/