Effect of Neurosteroids on Basal and Stress-Induced Oxytocin Secretion in Luteal-Phase and Pregnant Sheep
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide synthesized in the hypothalamic nuclei that modulates both behavioral and reproductive functions, associated with the increased neurosteroid synthesis in the brain. Therefore, the present study tested the hypothesis that manipulation of central neurosteroid levels cou...
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1658 |
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| author | Patrycja Młotkowska Elżbieta Marciniak Anna Misztal Tomasz Misztal |
| author_facet | Patrycja Młotkowska Elżbieta Marciniak Anna Misztal Tomasz Misztal |
| author_sort | Patrycja Młotkowska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide synthesized in the hypothalamic nuclei that modulates both behavioral and reproductive functions, associated with the increased neurosteroid synthesis in the brain. Therefore, the present study tested the hypothesis that manipulation of central neurosteroid levels could affect oxytocin synthesis and release in non-pregnant and pregnant sheep under both basal and stressful conditions. In Experiment 1, luteal-phase sheep were subjected to a series of intracerebroventricular (icv.) infusions of allopregnanolone (AL, 4 × 15 μg/60 μL/30 min) for 3 days. In Experiment 2, pregnant animals (4th month) received a series of infusions of the neurosteroid synthesis blocker, finasteride (4 × 25 μg/60 μL/30 min), conducted for 3 days. In non-pregnant sheep AL alone was shown to differentially modulate OT synthesis in basal conditions, and strongly inhibit OT response to stress (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In contrast, in pregnant animals, basal and stress-induced OT secretion was significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) increased during finasteride infusion compared to controls. In conclusion, we showed that neurosteroids were involved in the control of OT secretion in sheep, particularly under stress and pregnancy conditions and are part of an adaptive mechanism which is responsible for protecting and maintaining pregnancy in harmful situations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:00:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab0770749cac4938b752aa84f7b49aef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:00:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab0770749cac4938b752aa84f7b49aef2023-11-18T00:10:20ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-05-011310165810.3390/ani13101658Effect of Neurosteroids on Basal and Stress-Induced Oxytocin Secretion in Luteal-Phase and Pregnant SheepPatrycja Młotkowska0Elżbieta Marciniak1Anna Misztal2Tomasz Misztal3Department of Animal Physiology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jabłonna, PolandDepartment of Animal Physiology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jabłonna, PolandDepartment of Animal Physiology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jabłonna, PolandDepartment of Animal Physiology, The Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Instytucka 3, 05-110 Jabłonna, PolandOxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide synthesized in the hypothalamic nuclei that modulates both behavioral and reproductive functions, associated with the increased neurosteroid synthesis in the brain. Therefore, the present study tested the hypothesis that manipulation of central neurosteroid levels could affect oxytocin synthesis and release in non-pregnant and pregnant sheep under both basal and stressful conditions. In Experiment 1, luteal-phase sheep were subjected to a series of intracerebroventricular (icv.) infusions of allopregnanolone (AL, 4 × 15 μg/60 μL/30 min) for 3 days. In Experiment 2, pregnant animals (4th month) received a series of infusions of the neurosteroid synthesis blocker, finasteride (4 × 25 μg/60 μL/30 min), conducted for 3 days. In non-pregnant sheep AL alone was shown to differentially modulate OT synthesis in basal conditions, and strongly inhibit OT response to stress (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In contrast, in pregnant animals, basal and stress-induced OT secretion was significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) increased during finasteride infusion compared to controls. In conclusion, we showed that neurosteroids were involved in the control of OT secretion in sheep, particularly under stress and pregnancy conditions and are part of an adaptive mechanism which is responsible for protecting and maintaining pregnancy in harmful situations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1658oxytocinallopregnanolonesheephypothalamuspituitaryestrous cycle |
| spellingShingle | Patrycja Młotkowska Elżbieta Marciniak Anna Misztal Tomasz Misztal Effect of Neurosteroids on Basal and Stress-Induced Oxytocin Secretion in Luteal-Phase and Pregnant Sheep Animals oxytocin allopregnanolone sheep hypothalamus pituitary estrous cycle |
| title | Effect of Neurosteroids on Basal and Stress-Induced Oxytocin Secretion in Luteal-Phase and Pregnant Sheep |
| title_full | Effect of Neurosteroids on Basal and Stress-Induced Oxytocin Secretion in Luteal-Phase and Pregnant Sheep |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Neurosteroids on Basal and Stress-Induced Oxytocin Secretion in Luteal-Phase and Pregnant Sheep |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Neurosteroids on Basal and Stress-Induced Oxytocin Secretion in Luteal-Phase and Pregnant Sheep |
| title_short | Effect of Neurosteroids on Basal and Stress-Induced Oxytocin Secretion in Luteal-Phase and Pregnant Sheep |
| title_sort | effect of neurosteroids on basal and stress induced oxytocin secretion in luteal phase and pregnant sheep |
| topic | oxytocin allopregnanolone sheep hypothalamus pituitary estrous cycle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/10/1658 |
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