Noonan L R, Continella G, Pedersen C A
Biological Sciences Research Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1989 Jul;33(3):555-8. doi: 10.1016/0091-3057(89)90386-9.
Three-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were intracisternally infused with a single dose of oxytocin (1 microgram/2 microliters) or saline, or were untreated. As adults, these animals were observed for novelty-induced grooming, analgesia measured by the hot-plate test, and behavior in the open field. Oxytocin treatment during infancy resulted in an elevation of novelty-induced grooming when compared to saline and untreated animals. There were no significant oxytocin treatment effects on analgesia response or open-field behaviors. Oxytocin given early in life may have permanent effects on certain behavioral responses to stress.
