Oxytocin and Social Support as Synergistic Inhibitors of Aversive Fear Conditioning and Fear-Potentiated Startle in Male Rats
Abstract
The purpose of the grant is to test whether exogenous oxytocin acts as an antianxiety agent and whether social support to facilitate its antianxiety effects in a fear-potentiated startle paradigm. Oxytocin given systemically (0.1 ug/kg, subcutaneous) effectively reduced background or generalized anxiety, but not specific cue-potentiated fear. This was found when oxytocin was given either before fear conditioning (acquisition), immediately after fear conditioning (consolidation), or before retrieval/expression of conditioned fear-potentiated startle. Initial tests of social support (pair-housed vs. isolated rats) did not alter the antianxiety effect of oxytocin. Additional experiments testing the effects of intraventricular or amygdala infusion of oxytocin are inconclusive, but these experiments are still ongoing. The generalized antianxiety effect of peripherally administered oxytocin, but not a specific effect on conditioned fear, is novel and suggests that oxytocin may have unique antianxiety properties.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA517290
Entities
People
- Jeffrey B. Rosen
Organizations
- University of Delaware