Home Maternal oxytocin administration modulates gene expression in the brains of perinatal mice
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Maternal oxytocin administration modulates gene expression in the brains of perinatal mice

  • Frances F. Hsieh , Ilya Korsunsky ORCID logo , Andrew J. Shih , Matthew A. Moss , Prodyot K. Chatterjee , Jaai Deshpande , Xiangying Xue , Swati Madankumar , Gopal Kumar , Burton Rochelson and Christine N. Metz ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: November 1, 2021

Abstract

Objectives

Oxytocin (OXT) is widely used to facilitate labor. However, little is known about the effects of perinatal OXT exposure on the developing brain. We investigated the effects of maternal OXT administration on gene expression in perinatal mouse brains.

Methods

Pregnant C57BL/6 mice were treated with saline or OXT at term (n=6–7/group). Dams and pups were euthanized on gestational day (GD) 18.5 after delivery by C-section. Another set of dams was treated with saline or OXT (n=6–7/group) and allowed to deliver naturally; pups were euthanized on postnatal day 9 (PND9). Perinatal/neonatal brain gene expression was determined using Illumina BeadChip Arrays and real time quantitative PCR. Differential gene expression analyses were performed. In addition, the effect of OXT on neurite outgrowth was assessed using PC12 cells.

Results

Distinct and sex-specific gene expression patterns were identified in offspring brains following maternal OXT administration at term. The microarray data showed that female GD18.5 brains exhibited more differential changes in gene expression compared to male GD18.5 brains. Specifically, Cnot4 and Frmd4a were significantly reduced by OXT exposure in male and female GD18.5 brains, whereas Mtap1b, Srsf11, and Syn2 were significantly reduced only in female GD18.5 brains. No significant microarray differences were observed in PND9 brains. By quantitative PCR, OXT exposure reduced Oxtr expression in female and male brains on GD18.5 and PND9, respectively. PC12 cell differentiation assays revealed that OXT induced neurite outgrowth.

Conclusions

Prenatal OXT exposure induces sex-specific differential regulation of several nervous system-related genes and pathways with important neural functions in perinatal brains.


Corresponding author: Christine N. Metz, PhD, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA; Institute of Molecular Medicine, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA; and Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine at Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, USA, Manhasset, NY USA, Phone: +1 516-562-3403, E-mail:
Frances F. Hsieh and Ilya Korsunsky contributed equally to this work.

Funding source: The Lax Family FoundationThe Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research

Award Identifier / Grant number: 5806

Award Identifier / Grant number: 727604

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the staff of the Center for Comparative Physiology for assisting with animal care and maintenance and the staff of the Genetics Core of the Feinstein Institutes for running the microarrays.

  1. Research funding: Funding for this study was received from the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research (CNM) and the Lax Family Foundation (BR).

  2. Author contributions: FFH, IK, BR and CNM conceived experiments and designed the study. IK (lead), AS, MAM performed gene expression studies/analyses, helped with the interpretation of gene expression studies and prepared figures showing gene expression data. FFH, JD, XX, CNM and GK performed animal experimentation, sample collection and processing, and DNA isolation. FH and PC performed RNA isolation and qPCR for Oxtr mRNA expression, sex determination, and microarray validation; both contributed to data interpretation and preparation of Tables/Figures. JD and XX performed in vitro neurogenesis assays using PC12 cells. SM prepared Table 3. FFH, SM, and CNM wrote the manuscript with input from all authors and finalized the manuscript, tables, figures, and figure legends. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript. All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  3. Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

  4. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  5. Ethical approval: The Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research reviewed and approved the animal studies (IACUC #2015-053) prior to animal experimentation. All animal experimentation was in accordance with the National Institutes of Health guidelines for animal care. Euthanasia was performed according to The AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals, 2013 Edition.

References

1. Moos, F, Freund-Mercier, MJ, Guerne, Y, Guerne, JM, Stoeckel, ME, Richard, P. Release of oxytocin and vasopressin by magnocellular nuclei in vitro: specific facilitatory effect of oxytocin on its own release. J Endocrinol 1984;102:63–72, https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.1020063.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

2. Brownstein, MJ, Russell, JT, Gainer, H. Synthesis, transport, and release of posterior pituitary hormones. Science 1980;207:373–8, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.6153132.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

3. Gimpl, G, Fahrenholz, F. The oxytocin receptor system: structure, function, and regulation. Physiol Rev 2001;81:629–83, https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.2001.81.2.629.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

4. Kim, SC, Lee, JE, Kang, SS, Yang, HS, Kim, SS, An, BS. The regulation of oxytocin and oxytocin receptor in human placenta according to gestational age. J Mol Endocrinol 2017;59:235–43, https://doi.org/10.1530/jme-16-0223.Search in Google Scholar

5. Tabbaa, M, Hammock, EAD. Orally administered oxytocin alters brain activation and behaviors of pre-weaning mice. Horm Behav 2019;118:1–43, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.104613.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

6. Cochran, DM, Fallon, D, Hill, M, Frazier, JA. The role of oxytocin in psychiatric disorders: a review of biological and therapeutic research findings. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2013;21:219–47, https://doi.org/10.1097/hrp.0b013e3182a75b7d.Search in Google Scholar

7. Gottschalk, MG, Domschke, K. Oxytocin and anxiety disorders. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2018;35:467–98, https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2017_25.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

8. Martin, JA, Hamilton, BE, Osterman, MJ, Driscoll, AK. Births: final data for 2019. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2021;70:1–51. http://doi.org/10.15620/cdc:100472.10.15620/cdc:100472Search in Google Scholar

9. Guinchat, V, Thorsen, P, Laurent, C, Cans, C, Bodeau, N, Cohen, D. Pre-, peri- and neonatal risk factors for autism. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2012;91:287–300, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01325.x.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

10. Kurth, L, Haussmann, R. Perinatal Pitocin as an early ADHD biomarker: neurodevelopmental risk? J Atten Disord 2011;15:423–31, https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054710397800.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

11. Silva, D, Colvin, L, Hagemann, E, Bower, C. Environmental risk factors by gender associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatrics 2014;133:e14–22, https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-1434.Search in Google Scholar

12. Malek, A, Blann, E, Mattison, DR. Human placental transport of oxytocin. J Matern Fetal Med 1996;5:245–55, https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1520-6661(199609/10)5:5<245::aid-mfm3>3.0.co;2-h.10.1002/(SICI)1520-6661(199609/10)5:5<245::AID-MFM3>3.0.CO;2-HSearch in Google Scholar

13. Yamamoto, Y, Liang, M, Munesue, S, Deguchi, K, Harashima, A, Furuhara, K, et al.. Vascular RAGE transports oxytocin into the brain to elicit its maternal bonding behaviour in mice. Commun Biol 2019;2:76, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-019-0325-6.Search in Google Scholar

14. National Research Council. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals, 8th ed. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press; 2011. 246 p.Search in Google Scholar

15. Narver, HL. Oxytocin in the treatment of dystocia in mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2012;51:10–7.Search in Google Scholar

16. Imamura, T, Luedke, CE, Vogt, SK, Muglia, LJ. Oxytocin modulates the onset of murine parturition by competing ovarian and uterine effects. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2000;279:R1061–7, https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.2000.279.3.r1061.Search in Google Scholar

17. McFarlane, L, Truong, V, Palmer, JS, Wilhelm, D. Novel PCR assay for determining the genetic sex of mice. Sex Dev 2013;7:207–11, https://doi.org/10.1159/000348677.Search in Google Scholar

18. Raudvere, U, Kolberg, L, Kuzmin, I, Arak, T, Adler, P, Peterson, H, et al.. g:Profiler: a web server for functional enrichment analysis and conversions of gene lists (2019 update). Nucleic Acids Res 2019;47:191–8, https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkz369.Search in Google Scholar

19. Harris, K, Desai, N, Gupta, M, Xue, X, Chatterjee, PK, Rochelson, B, et al.. The effects of prenatal metformin on obesogenic diet-induced alterations in maternal and fetal fatty acid metabolism. Nutr Metab 2016;13:55–67, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-016-0115-9.Search in Google Scholar

20. Das, KP, Freudenrich, TM, Mundy, WR. Assessment of PC12 cell differentiation and neurite growth: a comparison of morphological and neurochemical measures. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2004;26:397–406, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2004.02.006.Search in Google Scholar

21. Harrill, JA, Mundy, WR. Quantitative assessment of neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Methods Mol Biol 2011;758:331–48, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-170-3_23.Search in Google Scholar

22. Jurek, B, Neumann, ID. The oxytocin receptor: from intracellular signaling to behavior. Physiol Rev 2018;98:1805–908, https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00031.2017.Search in Google Scholar

23. Phaneuf, S, Asboth, G, Carrasco, MP, Linares, BR, Kimura, T, Harris, A, et al.. Desensitization of oxytocin receptors in human myometrium. Hum Reprod Update 1998;4:625–33, https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/4.5.625.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

24. Bell, AF, Erickson, EN, Carter, CS. Beyond labor: the role of natural and synthetic oxytocin in the transition to motherhood. J Midwifery Wom Health 2014;59:35–42, https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12101.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

25. Chapat, C, Corbo, L. Novel roles of the CCR4-NOT complex. Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA; 2014;5:883–901, https://doi.org/10.1002/wrna.1254.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

26. Yan, X, Nykanen, NP, Brunello, CA, Haapasalo, A, Hiltunen, M, Uronen, RL, et al.. FRMD4A-cytohesin signaling modulates the cellular release of tau. J Cell Sci 2016;129:2003–15, https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.180745.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

27. Biswas, S, Kalil, K. The microtubule-associated protein tau mediates the organization of microtubules and their dynamic exploration of actin-rich lamellipodia and filopodia of cortical growth cones. J Neurosci 2018;38:291–307, https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2281-17.2017.Search in Google Scholar

28. Hammock, EA, Levitt, P. Oxytocin receptor ligand binding in embryonic tissue and postnatal brain development of the C57BL/6J mouse. Front Behav Neurosci 2013;7:195–9, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2013.00195.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

29. Vaidyanathan, R, Hammock, EAD. Oxytocin receptor gene loss influences expression of the oxytocin gene in C57BL/6J mice in a sex- and age-dependent manner. J Neuroendocrinol 2020;32: e12821, https://doi.org/10.1111/jne.12821.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

30. Sharma, K, LeBlanc, R, Haque, M, Nishimori, K, Reid, MM, Teruyama, R. Sexually dimorphic oxytocin receptor-expressing neurons in the preoptic area of the mouse brain. PLoS One 2019;14:1–27, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0219784.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

31. Mitre, M, Kranz, TM, Marlin, BJ, Schiavo, JK, Erdjument-Bromage, H, Zhang, X, et al.. Sex-Specific differences in oxytocin receptor expression and function for parental behavior. Gend Genome 2017;1:142–66, https://doi.org/10.1089/gg.2017.0017.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

32. Olazabal, DE, Alsina-Llanes, M. Are age and sex differences in brain oxytocin receptors related to maternal and infanticidal behavior in naive mice? Horm Behav 2016;77:132–40, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.04.006.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

33. Bakos, J, Srancikova, A, Havranek, T, Bacova, Z. Molecular mechanisms of oxytocin signaling at the synaptic connection. Neural Plast 2018;4864107:1–9, https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/4864107.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

34. Mirza, FJ, Zahid, S. The role of synapsins in neurological disorders. Neurosci Bull 2018;34:349–58, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12264-017-0201-7.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

35. Bouquet, C, Soares, S, von Boxberg, Y, Ravaille-Veron, M, Propst, F, Nothias, F. Microtubule-associated protein 1B controls directionality of growth cone migration and axonal branching in regeneration of adult dorsal root ganglia neurons. J Neurosci 2004;24:7204–13, https://doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.2254-04.2004.Search in Google Scholar

36. Kuo, TY, Hong, CJ, Hsueh, YP. Bcl11A/CTIP1 regulates expression of DCC and MAP1b in control of axon branching and dendrite outgrowth. Mol Cell Neurosci 2009;42:195–207, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcn.2009.07.006.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

37. Meixner, A, Haverkamp, S, Wassle, H, Fuhrer, S, Thalhammer, J, Kropf, N, et al.. MAP1B is required for axon guidance and Is involved in the development of the central and peripheral nervous system. J Cell Biol 2000;151:1169–78, https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.151.6.1169.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

38. Jimenez-Mateos, EM, Paglini, G, Gonzalez-Billault, C, Caceres, A, Avila, J. End binding protein-1 (EB1) complements microtubule-associated protein-1B during axonogenesis. J Neurosci Res 2005;80:350–9, https://doi.org/10.1002/jnr.20453.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

39. Gonzalez-Billault, C, Avila, J, Caceres, A. Evidence for the role of MAP1B in axon formation. Mol Biol Cell 2001;12:2087–98, https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.12.7.2087.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

40. Raihan, O, Brishti, A, Li, Q, Zhang, Q, Li, D, Li, X, et al.. SFRS11 loss leads to aging-associated cognitive decline by modulating LRP8 and ApoE. Cell Rep 2019;28:78–90, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.06.002.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

41. Ripamonti, S, Ambrozkiewicz, MC, Guzzi, F, Gravati, M, Biella, G, Bormuth, I, et al.. Transient oxytocin signaling primes the development and function of excitatory hippocampal neurons. Elife 2017;6:1–31, https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.22466.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

42. Greene, LA, Tischler, AS. PC12 pheochromocytoma cultures in neurobiological research. In: Fedorff, SHL, editor Advances in cellular neurobiology. New York: Academic Press; 1982.10.1016/B978-0-12-008303-9.50016-5Search in Google Scholar

43. Hirashima, N, Nishio, M, Nakanishi, M. Intracelluar dynamics of a high affinity NGF receptor TrkA in PC12 cell. Biol Pharm Bull 2000;23:1097–9, https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.23.1097.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

44. Lestanova, Z, Bacova, Z, Kiss, A, Havranek, T, Strbak, V, Bakos, J. Oxytocin increases neurite length and expression of cytoskeletal proteins associated with neuronal growth. J Mol Neurosci 2016;59:184–92, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-015-0664-9.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

45. Yang, M, Wu, M, Xia, P, Wang, C, Yan, P, Gao, Q, et al.. The role of microtubule-associated protein 1B in axonal growth and neuronal migration in the central nervous system. Neural Regen Res 2012;7:842–8, https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.11.008.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

46. De Souza Santos, R, Frank, AP, Palmer, BF, Clegg, DJ. Sex and media: considerations for cell culture studies. ALTEX 2018;35:435–40, https://doi.org/10.14573/altex.1806151.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

47. Kawamata, M, Yoshida, M, Sugimoto, Y, Kimura, T, Tonomura, Y, Takayanagi, Y, et al.. Infusion of oxytocin induces successful delivery in prostanoid FP-receptor-deficient mice. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2008;283:32–7, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2007.10.012.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

48. King, CE, Griffin, WC, Luderman, LN, Kates, MM, McGinty, JF, Becker, HC. Oxytocin reduces ethanol self-administration in mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2017;41:955–64, https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13359.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

49. Sinclair, MS, Perea-Martinez, I, Abouyared, M, St John, SJ, Chaudhari, N. Oxytocin decreases sweet taste sensitivity in mice. Physiol Behav 2015;141:103–10, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.12.048.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

50. Teng, BL, Nikolova, VD, Riddick, NV, Agster, KL, Crowley, JJ, Baker, LK, et al.. Reversal of social deficits by subchronic oxytocin in two autism mouse models. Neuropharmacology 2016;105:61–71, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.12.025.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

51. Nair, AB, Jacob, S. A simple practice guide for dose conversion between animals and human. J Basic Clin Pharm 2016;7:27–31, https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-0105.177703.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

52. Xu, K, Bai, Y, Zhang, A, Zhang, Q, Bartlam, MG. Insights into the structure and architecture of the CCR4-NOT complex. Front Genet 2014;5:1–12, https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2014.00137.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

53. Diaz-Beltran, L, Esteban, FJ, Wall, DP. A common molecular signature in ASD gene expression: following Root 66 to autism. Transl Psychiatry 2016;6:e705, https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2015.112.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

54. Halpain, S, Dehmelt, L. The MAP1 family of microtubule-associated proteins. Genome Biol 2006;7:224–30, https://doi.org/10.1186/gb-2006-7-6-224.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

55. Wu, JY, Kar, A, Kuo, D, Yu, B, Havlioglu, N. SRp54 (SFRS11), a regulator for tau exon 10 alternative splicing identified by an expression cloning strategy. Mol Cell Biol 2006;26:6739–47, https://doi.org/10.1128/mcb.00739-06.Search in Google Scholar

56. Salatino-Oliveira, A, Wagner, F, Akutagava-Martins, GC, Bruxel, EM, Genro, JP, Zeni, C, et al.. MAP1B and NOS1 genes are associated with working memory in youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2016;266:359–66, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-015-0626-9.Search in Google Scholar PubMed


Supplementary Material

The online version of this article offers supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2020-0525).


Received: 2020-11-06
Accepted: 2021-10-01
Published Online: 2021-11-01
Published in Print: 2022-02-23

© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Corner of Academy
  3. External cephalic version in the outpatient clinic
  4. Original Articles – Obstetrics
  5. How COVID-19 pandemic is changing the practice of prenatal screening and diagnosis?
  6. Analysis of prevalence and sociodemographic conditions among women in labor with and without COVID-19 in public hospitals in Chile
  7. Influence of Covid-19 infection on fetal thymus size after recovery
  8. Second trimester fetal thymus size in association to preterm birth
  9. Heat stable carbetocin vs. oxytocin for the prevention of post-partum hemorrhage in emergency caesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial
  10. Enhanced S100B expression in T and B lymphocytes in spontaneous preterm birth and preeclampsia
  11. The impact of parity and maternal obesity on the fetal outcomes of a non-selected Lower Saxony population
  12. Importance of frame rate for the measurement of strain and synchrony in fetuses using speckle tracking echocardiography
  13. Kidney graft function before pregnancy as a predictor of graft, maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant renal transplant recipients
  14. Sociodemographic factors affecting perceived stress during pregnancy and the association with immune-mediator concentrations
  15. Original Articles – Neonates
  16. Smoking influence on early and late fetal growth
  17. Maternal oxytocin administration modulates gene expression in the brains of perinatal mice
  18. Original Articles – Fetus
  19. Human epididymis protein 4 and fetal lung maturity
  20. Commentary
  21. Plato unmasks hidden limits of tele-education
  22. Letter to the Editors
  23. COVID-19 delta variant and anxiety and fear in pregnant women
  24. Reply to: COVID-19 Delta variant and anxiety and fear in pregnant women
  25. COVID-19 infected pregnant women and cardiotocographic features
  26. Letter Reply
  27. Response to the concern that the baseline change in CTG traces does not reflect the impact of maternal COVID-19
Downloaded on 26.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/jpm-2020-0525/html?lang=en
Scroll to top button