Immune-regulating effect of oxytocin and its association with the hypothalamic-pituitary axes
Tong Li1, Yun-Hao Jiang2, Xiaoran Wang3
1Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China; Neuroelectrophysiology Laboratory, School of Mental Health, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China.
Abstract:
Oxytocin can regulate immunological activity directly or indirectly; however, immunological functions and mechanisms of oxytocin actions under chronic stress like cesarean delivery (CD) are poorly understood. Our study found that abnormal oxytocin production and secretion in CD rats caused atrophy of thymic tissues. Neurotoxin kainic acid microinjected into the dorsolateral supraoptic nucleus in male rats selectively reduced hypothalamic oxytocin levels, increased corticotrophin-releasing hormone and plasma interleukin-1β while reducing plasma oxytocin, thyroxine and testosterone levels and causing atrophy of immune tissues. Thus, plasma oxytocin is essential for immunological homeostasis, which involves oxytocin facilitation of thyroid hormone and sex steroid secretion.
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