Beneficial effects of chronic oxytocin administration and social co-housing in a rodent model of post-traumatic stress disorder

Behav Pharmacol. 2016 Dec;27(8):704-717. doi: 10.1097/FBP.0000000000000270.

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is in part due to a deficit in memory consolidation and extinction. Oxytocin (OXT) has anxiolytic effects and promotes prosocial behaviors in both rodents and humans, and evidence suggests that it plays a role in memory consolidation. We studied the effects of administered OXT and social co-housing in a rodent model of PTSD. Acute OXT yielded a short-term increase in the recall of the traumatic memory if administered immediately after trauma. Low doses of OXT delivered chronically had a cumulating anxiolytic effect that became apparent after 4 days and persisted. Repeated injections of OXT after short re-exposures to the trauma apparatus yielded a long-term reduction in anxiety. Co-housing with naive nonshocked animals decreased the memory of the traumatic context compared with single-housed animals. In the long term, these animals showed less thigmotaxis and increased interest in novel objects, and a low OXT plasma level. Co-housed PTSD animals showed an increase in risk-taking behavior. These results suggest beneficial effects of OXT if administered chronically through increases in memory consolidation after re-exposure to a safe trauma context. We also show differences between the benefits of social co-housing with naive rats and co-housing with other shocked animals on trauma-induced long-term anxiety.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety / drug therapy
  • Anxiety / etiology
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Housing, Animal
  • Male
  • Memory / drug effects*
  • Memory Consolidation / drug effects
  • Mental Recall / drug effects
  • Oxytocin / administration & dosage*
  • Oxytocin / blood
  • Oxytocin / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Risk-Taking
  • Social Behavior
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / drug therapy*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Oxytocin