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Study · Animal study (in vivo) · rat · 1986

7 results

Oxytocin-induced penile erection and yawning: site of action in the brain.

Melis MR, Argiolas A, Gessa GL

Brain research1 Nov 1986Cited by 149 (Europe PMC)

PMID3801903 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/0006-8993(86)91485-x (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-03801903
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study7

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

  1. 01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In male rats, microinjection of oxytocin into the paraventricular nucleus or the hippocampal CA1 field caused a dose-dependent increase in penile erection episodes.

    In plain wordsIn male rats, oxytocin injected into two brain areas increased penile erections in a dose-dependent way.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreasePenile erection episodes after intracerebral oxytocin
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    male rats
    Outcome group
    Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · microinjection into brain regionAs given in this study (rat).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Microinjection of oxytocin into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus or into the CA1 field of the hippocampus induced a dose-dependent increase in the number of penile erection and yawning episodes in male rats.
  2. 02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In male rats, microinjection of oxytocin into the paraventricular nucleus or the hippocampal CA1 field caused a dose-dependent increase in yawning episodes.

    In plain wordsIn male rats, oxytocin injected into two brain areas increased yawning in a dose-dependent way.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseYawning episodes after intracerebral oxytocin
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    male rats
    Outcome group
    Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · microinjection into brain regionAs given in this study (rat).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Microinjection of oxytocin into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus or into the CA1 field of the hippocampus induced a dose-dependent increase in the number of penile erection and yawning episodes in male rats.
  3. 03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In male rats, the minimal effective dose of oxytocin injected into the paraventricular nucleus was 3 ng, which induced the behaviours in 60% of treated rats.

    In plain wordsIn male rats, the smallest effective oxytocin dose in one brain area was 3 ng, which worked in 60% of rats.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseMinimal effective dose in paraventricular nucleus
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    male rats
    Outcome group
    Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    3 ng · microinjection into brain regionAs given in this study (rat).

    Measurements

    Minimal effective dose
    3 ng
    paraventricular nucleus
    Responding rats
    60%
    3 ng, paraventricular nucleus

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The minimal effective dose of oxytocin injected into the paraventricular nucleus was 3 ng. This dose induced the above-mentioned behaviors in 60% of the treated rats.
  4. 04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In male rats, oxytocin doses of 9 ng or higher in the paraventricular nucleus induced penile erection and yawning in more than 85% of animals.

    In plain wordsIn male rats, oxytocin doses of 9 ng or higher in one brain area triggered the behaviours in more than 85% of animals.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseResponders at 9 ng or higher in paraventricular nucleus
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    male rats
    Outcome group
    Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    9 ng or higher · microinjection into brain regionAs given in this study (rat).

    Measurements

    Responding rats
    > 85%
    9 ng or higher, paraventricular nucleus

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Doses of 9 ng or higher induced the symptomatology in more than 85% of the animals.
  5. 05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In male rats, 9 ng of oxytocin injected bilaterally into the CA1 field of the hippocampus was needed to induce penile erection and yawning, in 62% of rats.

    In plain wordsIn male rats, 9 ng of oxytocin in both sides of the hippocampus triggered the behaviours in 62% of rats.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseResponders after bilateral hippocampal CA1 injection
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    male rats
    Outcome group
    Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    9 ng bilaterally · microinjection into brain regionAs given in this study (rat).

    Measurements

    Responding rats
    62%
    9 ng bilaterally, CA1 field

    Source sentences

    Summary
    On the other hand, when the peptide was injected into the CA1 field of the hippocampus, 9 ng bilaterally were necessary to elicit penile erection and yawning in 62% of the rats.
  6. 06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In male rats, oxytocin injected into the paraventricular nucleus or hippocampus was 5-10 times more potent than arginine vasopressin in inducing penile erection and yawning.

    In plain wordsIn male rats, vasopressin caused the same behaviours as oxytocin but was 5-10 times less potent than oxytocin.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreasePotency relative to arginine vasopressin
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    male rats
    Comparator
    Arg8-vasopressin
    Outcome group
    Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · microinjection into brain regionAs given in this study (rat).

    Measurements

    Relative potency of arginine vasopressin
    5 to 10 times less potent than oxytocin
    paraventricular nucleus or hippocampus

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Arg8-vasopressin, which only differs from oxytocin in two amino acids, induced penile erection and yawning when injected either into the paraventricular nucleus or into the hippocampus, but was 5-10 times less potent than oxytocin.
  7. 07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome

    In male rats, oxytocin injected into the lateral septum, caudate nucleus, subiculum, preoptic area, ventromedial nucleus or supraoptic nucleus was ineffective.

    In plain wordsIn male rats, oxytocin injected into several other brain areas did not cause the behaviours.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeEffect of oxytocin injected into other brain regions
    Study

    ratn: not reported in source

    male rats
    Outcome group
    Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · microinjection into brain regionAs given in this study (rat).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin injection into the lateral septum, caudate nucleus, subiculum, preoptic area, ventromedial nucleus and supraoptic nucleus, was ineffective.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 20:03 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:52 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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