Lateral characteristics of oxytocin distribution in the mouse brain following intranasal peptide administration

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intranasal administration of oxytocin is an effective method for delivering the hormone to the central nervous system, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. This approach holds significant promise for psychiatric clinical applications. Previous studies have demonstrated that simultaneous oxytocin administration in both nostrils induces lateralized changes in monoamine metabolism in the mouse brain.

AIM: To investigate the lateral characteristics of oxytocin penetration in the brain following intranasal administration.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were conducted on 12 male outbred white mice. The experimental group received intranasal oxytocin (5 IU/1 mL, 10 μL per nostril), while the control group received an equivalent volume of saline. Oxytocin levels were measured 15 minutes post-instillation in the hypothalamus, olfactory bulbs, striatum, and hippocampus on both sides of the brain using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: In the control group, oxytocin distribution was symmetric in the olfactory bulb and striatum. However, in the hippocampus, control mice exhibited asymmetry with a higher oxytocin concentration on the right side (p = 0.0192). In the experimental group, oxytocin levels significantly increased in the left hippocampus (p = 0.0223) and hypothalamus (p = 0.0036), with a trend observed in the left olfactory bulb (p = 0.0572).

CONCLUSION: Intranasal oxytocin administration enhances oxytocin penetration into the left side of the brain, primarily through the left olfactory bulb and hippocampus, ultimately reaching the hypothalamus.

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About the authors

Inessa V. Karpova

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Author for correspondence.
Email: inessa.karpova@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8725-8095

Dr. Biol. Sci. (Pharmacology)

Russian Federation, 197022, Saint Petersburg, Academician Pavlov str., 12

Maria V. Litvinova

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: litvinova-masha@bk.ru
SPIN-code: 9548-4683

post-graduate student

Russian Federation, 197022, Saint Petersburg, Academician Pavlov str., 12

Illya Yu. Tissen

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: iljatis@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8710-9580
SPIN-code: 9971-3496

Cand. Sci. (Biology)

Russian Federation, 197022, Saint Petersburg, Academician Pavlov str., 12

Evgeny R. Bychkov

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: bychkov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8911-6805
SPIN-code: 9408-0799

Dr. Sci. (Biology)

Russian Federation, 197022, Saint Petersburg, Academician Pavlov str., 12

Petr D. Shabanov

Institute of Experimental Medicine

Email: pdshabanov@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1464-1127
SPIN-code: 8974-7477

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), professor

Russian Federation, 197022, Saint Petersburg, Academician Pavlov str., 12

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2. Fig. 1. Oxytocin levels in the mouse brain (pg/mg of protein): a , after saline administration; b , after oxytocin administration. Notes: “Left”, left side of the brain; “Right”, right side of the brain. Brain areas assessed: olfactory bulb, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and striatum. In fragment a , the bar representing oxytocin concentration in the right hippocampus is highlighted with a bold line and labeled “max”. Bar heights represent mean values, with error bars indicating standard error (M ± SEM). Significant differences from oxytocin levels in the right hippocampus: * — р < 0.05; ** — р < 0.01; *** — р < 0.001 (based on ANOVA)

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3. Fig. 2. Changes in oxytocin levels in different brain regions after intranasal administration of oxytocin. “Left”, left side of the brain (dark bars); “Right”, right side of the brain (light bars). The hypothalamus (sampled bilaterally) is represented by light gray bars. Groups: “Saline”, control mice receiving saline (solid bars); “Oxytocin”, experimental mice receiving oxytocin (hatched bars). Bar heights represent mean values, with error bars indicating standard error (M ± SEM). Differences between groups: (*) р = 0.0572 — a trend toward increased oxytocin levels in the left olfactory bulb; * — р < 0.05; ** — р < 0.01; differences between oxytocin levels in the left and right hippocampus: # — р < 0.05 (Student’s t -test)

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