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 facilitates its antianxiety effects in a fear-potentiated startle paradigm. Oxytocin given systemically (0.1 micrograms/kg, sc) effectively reduced background 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. Social isolation for 3 weeks potentiated startle; this was reversed by oxytocin. Intracerebroventricular infusion of oxytocin only reduced background anxiety with a very large dose (20 micrograms), suggesting indirect action in brain. It is concluded that oxytocin has unique antianxiety properties that reduce background and social-isolation anxiety -- anxiety states not directly related to cue-specific fear, but are sustained beyond the immediate threat. Oxytocin might be promising as a drug with novel benefits for patients with PTSD.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA555016
Entities
People
- Jeffrey B. Rosen
Organizations
- University of Delaware