High Oxytocin Research Articles

Birthing Parents' Neural Response to Infant Cry: Moderating Effects of Oxytocin and Perceived Childhood Care.

Perceived childhood maternal care was measured using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) for 54 first-time birthing-parents. Salivary oxytocin and observations of parenting behaviors were assessed during parent-infant play at 3.5 months postpartum. Neural activation while listening to infant cry was measured with fMRI. More positive perceptions of childhood maternal care and higher oxytocin were interactively related to greater anterior cingulate activation to own infant cry. Higher oxytocin levels were associated with reduced left cuneus activation in response to own infant cry when compared with control cry and matched noise. Findings suggested that positive memories of childhood caregiving may have protective functions for birthing-parents with high oxytocin levels during the early postpartum period, a time when parents need to manage increased stress and form an exclusive bond with their baby.

The Moderating Role of Oxytocin in the Association Between Parental Support and Change in Secure Attachment Development

According to the Learning Theory of Attachment, neuroendocrinological processes affect the association between parental support and change in attachment. The current study aimed to test this assumption for oxytocin (OT) given its role in social behavior. We conducted a three-wave longitudinal study in which 91 children (56% girls, M age = 9.55, SD age = 0.63) participated. Change in attachment was assessed from Wave 1 to Wave 3 and was indexed by measuring trust in maternal support and Secure Base Script (SBS) knowledge. Measures of salivary child OT and parental support (child and mother report) were obtained during respectively the first and last wave. Results indicated that child-reported parental support was positively related to change in trust and more so for children with high OT levels. No (moderation) effects were found for SBS knowledge. Overall, these findings illustrate the importance of considering biological factors along with experienced parenting to explain differences in attachment.

Expression of bond-related behaviors affects titi monkey responsiveness to oxytocin and vasopressin treatments.

Social bonds influence physiology and behavior, which can shape how individuals respond to physical and affective challenges. Coppery titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) offspring form selective bonds with their fathers, making them ideal for investigating how father-daughter bonds influence juveniles' responses to oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) manipulations. We quantified the expression of father-daughter bond-related behaviors in females (n = 10) and gave acute intranasal treatments of saline, low/medium/high OT, low/high AVP, or an OT receptor antagonist (OTA) to subjects prior to a parent preference test. While females spent more time in proximity to their parents than strangers, we found a large degree of individual variation. Females with greater expression of bonding behaviors responded to OT treatments in a dose-dependent manner. Subjects also spent less time in proximity to strangers when treated with High OT (p = 0.003) and Low OT (p = 0.007), but more time when treated with High AVP (p = 0.007), Low AVP (p = 0.009), and OTA (p = 0.001). Findings from the present study suggest that variation in the expression of bond-related behaviors may alter responsiveness to OT and AVP, increasing engagement with unfamiliar social others. This enhanced sociality with strangers may promote the formation of pair bonds with partners.

Breast milk oxytocin and s-IgA modulate infant biomarkers and social engagement; The role of maternal anxiety

Breastfeeding has long been known to improve infants' health and mental development and to enhance the mother-infant bond, but much less research focused on the biological composition of breast milk and its associations with the infant's biomarkers and social development. In this exploratory study, we measured oxytocin (OT) and secretory immunoglobulin-A (s-IgA), the most abundant antibody in breast milk, and evaluated their associations with the same biomarkers in infant saliva and, consequently, with infant social engagement behavior. Fifty-five mother-infant dyads were home-visit and OT and s-IgA were assessed from breast milk and from infant saliva before and after a free-play interaction. Infant social behavior was coded offline using the Coding Interactive Behavior (CIB) and maternal anxiety self-reported. A path model revealed that mother's breast milk s-IgA impacted child social engagement via its links with child OT. In parallel, maternal breast milk OT was linked with infant social behavior through its association with the infant's immunity. This path was moderated by maternal anxiety; only in cases of high anxiety breast milk OT was positively connected to infant s-IgA. Our study, the first to measure OT and s-IgA in both breast milk and infant saliva in relation to observed social behavior, underscores the need for much further research on the dynamic interplay between breast milk composition, infant biomarkers, maternal mental health, and infant social outcomes. Results may suggest that biological systems in breast milk integrate to prepare infants to function in their social ecology through bio-behavioral feedback loops that signal the degree of stress in the environment.

Preliminary evidence of an increased susceptibility to face pareidolia in postpartum women.

As primates, we are hypersensitive to faces and face-like patterns in the visual environment, hence we often perceive illusory faces in otherwise inanimate objects, such as burnt pieces of toast and the surface of the moon. Although this phenomenon, known as face pareidolia, is a common experience, it is unknown whether our susceptibility to face pareidolia is static across our lifespan or what factors would cause it to change. Given the evidence that behaviour towards face stimuli is modulated by the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), we reasoned that participants in stages of life associated with high levels of endogenous OT might be more susceptible to face pareidolia than participants in other stages of life. We tested this hypothesis by assessing pareidolia susceptibility in two groups of women; pregnant women (low endogenous OT) and postpartum women (high endogenous OT). We found evidence that postpartum women report seeing face pareidolia more easily than women who are currently pregnant. These data, collected online, suggest that our sensitivity to face-like patterns is not fixed and may change throughout adulthood, providing a crucial proof of concept that requires further research.

Oxytocin response to food intake in avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

To investigate the response of anorexigenic oxytocin to food intake among adolescents and young adults with avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), a restrictive eating disorder characterized by lack of interest in food or eating, sensory sensitivity to food, and/or fear of aversive consequences of eating, compared with healthy controls (HC). Cross-sectional. A total of 109 participants (54 with ARFID spectrum and 55 HC) were instructed to eat a ∼400-kcal standardized mixed meal. We sampled serum oxytocin at fasting and at 30-, 60-, and 120-min postmeal. We tested the hypothesis that ARFID would show higher mean oxytocin levels across time points compared with HC using a mixed model ANOVA. We then used multivariate regression analysis to identify the impact of clinical characteristics (sex, age, and body mass index [BMI] percentile) on oxytocin levels in individuals with ARFID. Participants with ARFID exhibited greater mean oxytocin levels at all time points compared with HC, and these differences remained significant even after controlling for sex and BMI percentile (P = .004). Clinical variables (sex, age, and BMI percentile) did not show any impact on fasting and postprandial oxytocin levels among individuals with ARFID. Consistently high oxytocin levels might be involved in low appetite and sensory aversions to food, contributing to food avoidance in individuals with ARFID.

The In Vitro Contractile Response of Canine Pregnant Myometrium to Oxytocin and Denaverine Hydrochloride.

In pregnant bitches, the response to oxytocin and denaverine hydrochloride in dystocia management is usually poor. To better understand the effect of both drugs on myometrial contractility, the circular and longitudinal muscle layers were examined in an organ bath. For each layer, three myometrial strips were stimulated twice, each with one of three oxytocin concentrations. The effect of denaverine hydrochloride was studied once in direct combination with oxytocin and alone with subsequent oxytocin administration. Contractions were recorded and evaluated for average amplitude, mean force, area under the curve (AUC), and frequency. Effects of different treatments were analyzed and compared within and between layers. In the circular layer, oxytocin significantly increased amplitude and mean force compared to untreated controls regardless of stimulation cycles or concentrations. In both layers, high oxytocin concentrations caused tonic contractions, while the lowest concentration created regular rhythmic contractions. Longitudinal layer tissue responded to oxytocin with a significantly decreased contractility when stimulated twice, presumably a sign of desensitization. Denaverine hydrochloride neither affected oxytocin induced contractions nor showed a priming effect to subsequent oxytocin. Thus, no benefit of denaverine hydrochloride on myometrial contractility was found in the organ bath. Our results suggest a better efficiency of low-dose oxytocin in canine dystocia management.

Serum oxytocin correlated with later logical memory in older Japanese women: A 7-year follow-up study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the longitudinal relationship between serum oxytocin and logical memory among older adults in rural Japan and clarify sex differences in this relationship. MeasurementsThe first survey was conducted from October 2009 to March 2011 (Time 1) and the second from November 2016 to September 2017 (Time 2). The final analysis for Time 1 included 385 participants (median age 75 years, interquartile range [IQR] 70–81 years) and that for Time 2 included 76 participants (median age 80 years, IQR 76–83 years). We assessed cognition, logical memory, and living conditions, and measured serum oxytocin levels. Logical memory was evaluated using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory II delayed recall part A (LM II-DR). Serum oxytocin was measured using the enzyme immunoassay method. ResultsThe median (IQR) oxytocin level among men (n = 20) was 34 (16–78) pg/mL at Time 1 and 53 (28–140) pg/mL at Time 2. The median (IQR) oxytocin level among women (n = 56) was 117 (35–412) pg/mL at Time 1 and 76 (32–145) pg/mL at Time 2. The median oxytocin level among women at Time 2 was significantly lower than that at Time 1 (p = 0.004). The multivariate analysis showed that for women, LM II-DR score at Time 2 was positively associated with oxytocin level at Time 1 (p = 0.042) and negatively associated with age (p = 0.02). ConclusionsOur study suggests that maintaining high oxytocin levels in older women may prevent age-related decline in logical memory.

Association between Maternal Serum Lipids and Intrapartum Oxytocin Requirements during Labor Induction and Augmentation.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal serum lipid parameters and oxytocin requirements among women with term vaginal deliveries. In this secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study, women who presented for delivery at ≥37 weeks' gestation and received oxytocin during their labor were included. Maternal serum was collected intrapartum. The cohort was stratified into two groups based on maximum oxytocin infusion dose during labor. Primary outcomes were maternal total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride levels. Generalized linear regression models were used to assess the association between lipid parameters and maximum oxytocin dose requirements while controlling for potential confounders. For secondary analyses, the cohort was stratified by HDL-C into two groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between low maternal HDL-C and additional intrapartum oxytocin parameters. There were no differences in maternal total cholesterol, LDL-C, or triglyceride values between high and low maximum oxytocin groups. Median serum HDL-C was significantly lower among women in the high oxytocin group compared with those in the low oxytocin group (56 vs. 62 mg/dL, p < 0.01). For every 0.26 mg/dL lower HDL-C, women had 1 mU/min higher maximum oxytocin infusion dose during labor. Women with low serum HDL-C were also more likely to require maximum oxytocin doses above the 75th percentile (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-3.75) and above the 90th percentile (aOR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.10-5.54). Among women undergoing induction of labor, low serum HDL-C was also associated with longer duration of oxytocin infusion (aOR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.02-4.20). Low maternal HDL-C levels at term are associated with higher maximum oxytocin infusion doses among women undergoing labor induction or augmentation. Given the growing prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the United States and persistently high rates of cesarean delivery, HDL-C or its components may present a new target for predicting and improving labor outcomes. · Serum HDL-C at term is inversely correlated with oxytocin infusion doses at term.. · Low maternal serum HDL-C is associated with higher oxytocin requirements during labor induction or augmentation.. · No association between maternal serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, or triglyceride levels and oxytocin requirements in labor..

OXTRHigh stroma fibroblasts control the invasion pattern of oral squamous cell carcinoma via ERK5 signaling

The Pattern Of Invasion (POI) of tumor cells into adjacent normal tissues clinically predicts postoperative tumor metastasis/recurrence of early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but the mechanisms underlying the development of these subtypes remain unclear. Focusing on the highest score of POIs (Worst POI, WPOI) present within each tumor, we observe a disease progression-driven shift of WPOI towards the high-risk type 4/5, associated with a mesenchymal phenotype in advanced OSCC. WPOI 4-5-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFsWPOI4-5), characterized by high oxytocin receptor expression (OXTRHigh), contribute to local-regional metastasis. OXTRHigh CAFs induce a desmoplastic stroma and CCL26 is required for the invasive phenotype of CCR3+ tumors. Mechanistically, OXTR activates nuclear ERK5 transcription signaling via Gαq and CDC37 to maintain high levels of OXTR and CCL26. ERK5 ablation reprograms the pro-invasive phenotype of OXTRHigh CAFs. Therefore, targeting ERK5 signaling in OXTRHigh CAFs is a potential therapeutic strategy for OSCC patients with WPOI 4-5.

Correlations between behavior and hormone concentrations or gut microbiome imply that domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) living in a group are not like 'groupmates'.

Domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) can live in high densities, although most feline species are solitary and exclusively territorial animals; it is possible that certain behavioral strategies enable this phenomenon. These behaviors are regulated by hormones and the gut microbiome, which, in turn, is influenced by domestication. Therefore, we investigated the relationships between the sociality, hormone concentrations, and gut microbiome of domestic cats by conducting three sets of experiments for each group of five cats and analyzing their behavior, hormone concentrations (cortisol, oxytocin, and testosterone), and their gut microbiomes. We observed that individuals with high cortisol and testosterone concentrations established less contact with others, and individuals with high oxytocin concentrations did not exhibit affiliative behaviors as much as expected. Additionally, the higher the frequency of contact among the individuals, the greater the similarity in gut microbiome; gut microbial composition was also related to behavioral patterns and cortisol secretion. Notably, individuals with low cortisol and testosterone concentrations were highly tolerant, making high-density living easy. Oxytocin usually functions in an affiliative manner within groups, but our results suggest that even if typically solitary and territorial animals live in high densities, their oxytocin functions are opposite to those of typically group-living animals.

High Oxytocin Receptor Expression Linked to Increased Cell Migration and Reduced Survival in Patients with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with limited treatment options and high mortality. The oxytocin receptor (OTR) is a class-A G protein-coupled receptor that has been linked to breast cancer, but its role in tumorigenesis and disease progression remains underexplored. OTR expression is highest in tumour-adjacent breast tissue, followed by normal and tumour tissue, indicating a potential role in the tumour microenvironment. OTR levels were higher in migrated MDA-MB-231 cells than in the control parental cells cultured in normal medium; OTR overexpression/knock-down and metastasis biomarker experiments revealed that high OTR expression enhanced metastasis capabilities. These findings align well with data from a murine breast cancer metastasis model, where metastasised tumours had higher OTR expression than the corresponding primary tumours, and high OTR expression also correlates to reduced survival in TNBC patients. OTR agonists/antagonists did not affect MDA-MB-231 cell migration, and pharmacological analysis revealed that the OT/OTR signalling was compromised. High OTR expression enhanced cell migration in an OTR ligand-independent manner, with the underlying mechanism linked to the EGF-mediated ERK1/2-RSK-rpS6 pathway. Taken together, high OTR expression seems to be involved in TNBC metastasis via increasing cell sensitivity to EGF. These results support a potential prognostic biomarker role of OTR and provide new mechanistic insights and opportunities for targeted treatment options for TNBC.

The Complex Role of Oxytocin in Major Depressive Disorder

Objective: One proposed mechanism to subclassify depressive illness relates oxytocinergic dysregulation, via its effect on social behavior and Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis inhibition. To further investigate the role of oxytocin in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), we compared plasma oxytocin levels in patients with MDD to healthy controls. &#x0D; Methods: Plasma samples from 12 healthy controls and 33 MDD patients were collected at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of treatment and oxytocin was measured by enzyme-immunoassay. Depression and anxiety scales were administered at screening, baseline, and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12 of treatment. Additionally, we investigated possible associations between blood concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers and oxytocin.&#x0D; Results: The average baseline oxytocin level was 429 pg/ml in MDD patients and 392 pg/ml in healthy control subjects. A significant negative correlation was found between baseline oxytocin and BMI. Treatment responders had significantly lower baseline oxytocin levels than non-responders. After stratifying patients into low and high oxytocin groups based on a median split, within the high oxytocin group, patients with no prior depressive episodes had significantly higher baseline oxytocin levels. A Chi-square distribution test revealed that African American patients were more likely to belong to the high baseline oxytocin group while Caucasian and Hispanic patients were more likely to belong to the low baseline oxytocin group. We found significant correlations between oxytocin and Von-Willebrand Factor (VWF) and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), only within the high oxytocin subgroup. There were no other significant correlations between baseline oxytocin and any other biomarkers.&#x0D; Conclusion: Within our limited patient cohort, our data adds to the mixed literature regarding the role of oxytocin in MDD. Oxytocinergic dysregulation and confounding factors may play a role for a subset of depressed patients.

High Dose Versus Low Dose Oxytocin for Augmentation of Delayed Labour in Obese Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial

High Dose Versus Low Dose Oxytocin for Augmentation of Delayed Labour in Obese Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The Methylation of Clock Genes in Perinatal Depression: Which Role for Oxytocin?

Background: Perinatal Depression (PD) is a widespread disabling condition that is hypothesized to be associated with abnormalities in circadian rhythms and neuropeptide release including oxytocin (OXT).Methods: Fourty-four pregnant women (28 with PD, and 16 controls) were evaluated through the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y), and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). A blood sample was collected from all participants, and OXT plasma levels, DNA methylation of clock genes, as well as of FOXp3 and HERV-W were measured. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the effect of oxytocin on the methylation of selected genes. Continuous ordinal regression models was further applied to see if the score of rating scales was associated to gene methylation, adjusting for oxytocin-methylation interaction.Results: OXT plasma levels were positively associated with CRY1 methylation. Women with higher OXT plasma levels showed an association between higher degree of CRY2 methylation (thus, reduced expression) and lower EPDS (OR = 0.21; P = 0.043) and STAI-S scores (OR = 6.96; P = 0.019). Finally, with high OXT levels, hypermethylation of CRY1 was associated to higher scores on the PAI (OR = 2.74; P = 0.029) while higher methylation of HERV-W related to lower PAI scores (OR = 0.273; P = 0.019).Conclusion: Our results suggest a possible protective role played by oxytocin in the development of PD by promoting a favorable methylation profile characterized by reduced expression of CRY1 and CRY2. Moreover, oxytocin strengthens the association between maternal prenatal attachment with a favorable pattern of methylation of clock genes and HERV-W, which is essential for pregnancy outcomes.

Perinatal outcomes of high dose versus low dose oxytocin regimen used for labor induction and factors associated with adverse perinatal outcome in four hospitals of Ethiopia: a multicenter comparative study

BackgroundThere is limited evidence on effect of high and low dose oxytocin used for labor induction on perinatal outcomes. We compared perinatal outcomes among pregnant mothers who received the two different oxytocin regimens and identified risk factors associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.MethodsFacility based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in four hospitals of Ethiopia over eight month’s period during 2017/2018 year with 216 pregnant women who received high and low dose oxytocin for labor induction. Socio-demographics, reproductive characteristics of mothers and perinatal outcomes data were collected and entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 20 for cleaning and analysis. Chi-square test and logistic regression were done to see the effect of different oxytocin regimens on perinatal outcome. The result was presented using 95 % confidence interval of crude and adjusted odds ratios. P-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.ResultHigher adverse perinatal outcomes (29 % vs. 13.9 %, p = 0.005) and higher non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern (23.1 % vs. 7.4 %, p = 0.001) was observed among mothers who received high dose oxytocin compared to mothers who received low dose oxytocin. Using high oxytocin dose [AOR = 2.4, 95 % CI: 1.1, 5.5], caesarean birth [AOR = 9.3, 95 %CI: 3.8, 22.5], instrumental birth [AOR = 7.7, 95 % CI: 2.1, 27.8], and antepartum hemorrhage [AOR = 17.8, 95 %CI: 1.9, 168.7] were risk factors of adverse perinatal outcomes.ConclusionsThere was significance difference in the occurrence of adverse perinatal outcomes among pregnant mothers who received high and low dose of oxytocin. Using high dose oxytocin, antepartum hemorrhage, caesarean birth and instrumental birth were associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. We recommend using low dose oxytocin for better perinatal outcomes.

Being moved by listening to unfamiliar sad music induces reward-related hormonal changes in empathic listeners.

Many people enjoy sad music, and the appeal for tragedy is widespread among the consumers of film and literature. The underlying mechanisms of such aesthetic experiences are not well understood. We tested whether pleasure induced by sad, unfamiliar instrumental music is explained with a homeostatic or a reward theory, each of which is associated with opposite patterns of changes in the key hormones. Sixty-two women listened to sad music (or nothing) while serum was collected for subsequent measurement of prolactin (PRL) and oxytocin (OT) and stress marker (cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone) concentrations. Two groups of participants were recruited on the basis of low and high trait empathy. In the high empathy group, PRL and OT levels were significantly lower with music compared with no music. And compared to the low empathy group, the high empathy individuals reported an increase of positive mood and higher ratings of being moved with music. None of the stress markers showed any changes across the conditions or the groups. These hormonal changes, inconsistent with the homeostatic theory proposed by Huron, exhibit a pattern expected of general reward. Our findings illuminate how unfamiliar and low arousal music may give rise to pleasurable experiences.

Epidural Analgesia With or Without Oxytocin, but Not Oxytocin Alone, Administered During Birth Disturbs Infant Pre-feeding and Sucking Behaviors and Maternal Oxytocin Levels in Connection With a Breastfeed Two Days Later.

Aims This work aimed to study consequences of medical interventions in connection with birth on infant pre-feeding and feeding behaviors and on maternal oxytocin levels in connection with a breastfeed 2 days later.Materials and Methods Mothers and their full-term newborns (n = 41) were videotaped during a breastfeed 2 days after birth. Duration and quality of rooting [Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool (IBFAT)] were assessed. Maternal blood samples were collected, oxytocin levels were analyzed, and mean oxytocin level and variance were calculated. Data on medical interventions during birth, number of breastfeedings, and infant weight loss since birth were recorded. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models.Results The duration of infant rooting was significantly shorter when the mother had received epidural analgesia. The shorter the duration of infant rooting, the more often infants had breastfed and the greater was the infant weight loss since birth. Mothers with epidural analgesia with oxytocin had the lowest oxytocin mean levels in connection with a breastfeed. Oxytocin variance correlated positively with quality of rooting and correlated negatively with infant weight loss. In the control group alone, we found similar patterns of associations with oxytocin levels.Conclusion Epidural analgesia and epidural analgesia with oxytocin infusion in connection with birth negatively influenced infant rooting behavior and maternal mean oxytocin levels, respectively. Oxytocin infusion alone was without effect. The data also suggest that infants who suck well stimulate oxytocin release more efficiently, as expressed by a high oxytocin variance, leading to a better stimulation of milk production and consequently to a reduced infant weight loss 2 days after birth.

Pathogen dependent effects of high amounts of oxytocin on the bloodmilk barrier integrity during mastitis in dairy cows.

The reduction of antibiotic use in food producing animals becomes increasingly important. Therefore, suitable alternatives for mastitis treatment in dairy cows have to be considered. Oxytocin (OT) induces milk ejection and hence supports milk removal from infected mammary quarters. Beyond udder emptying, the injection of very high dosages of OT causes increased somatic cell counts (SCC) in milk and enables the transfer of immunoglobulins (Ig) from blood into milk through a reduced blood-milk barrier integrity. The aim of the present study was to investigate pathogen-specific changes of SCC, the blood derived milk components lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum albumin (SA), and IgG in milk of cows suffering from mastitis caused by different pathogens treated with two intravenous injections of high dosages of OT (100 IU). Milk samples from 184 dairy cows from different farms were collected on day1 (day of clinical examination and mastitis diagnosis) and on days2, 3, 14, and 28. Bacteriological examination (day1) identified involved pathogens. Cows were randomly assigned to treatment (OT injections on days1 and 2) or control group (no OT). Independently of the assigned experimental group, cows received the common therapy protocol of the veterinary practice after sample collection if the general condition was affected. Milk SCC, LDH, SA, and IgG changed specifically depending on involved pathogens. Highest values of all three parameters were measured in mastitis caused by Streptococcus uberis. Changes were less pronounced with other Streptococci spp., Staphylococci spp. or Corynebacterium bovis. Oxytocin treatment did not affect any of the studied parameters independent of the involved pathogen. Only in quarters infected with Staphylococci other than Staphylococcus aureus a decreased SCC and increased IgG concentrations in quarters, where no pathogens were detected, were observed. Thus, high dosage OT administration is obviously not suitable as a stand-alone mastitis treatment in dairy cows.

Oxytocin and social anxiety: Interactions with sex hormones

Oxytocin has been associated with anxiolytic and stress reducing effects in a number of studies. Less is known about the associations of endogenous oxytocin concentrations and their interaction with other hormones such as sex hormones in relation to self-reported anxiety levels. In this study, endogenous oxytocin and sex hormone levels were analyzed in 99 high (51 women) and 100 low (50 women) socially anxious individuals. Regression analyses showed that women with high oxytocin and estradiol levels reported a lower total Liebowitz Social Anxiety Score (LSAS) as well as a lower score on the subscale LSAS Fear. This association of hormonal interaction with social anxiety scores was significant in the subsample of high socially anxious women. In men there were no significant associations for endogenous hormones with LSAS scores. These findings suggest that in women the link between oxytocin and anxiety might be dependent on basal anxiety levels as well as on individual sex hormone levels.