Vasopressin stimulates ventromedial hypothalamic neurons via oxytocin receptors in oxytocin gene knockout male and female mice.

Ragnauth AK, Goodwillie A, Brewer C, Muglia LJ, Pfaff DW, Kow LM

Neuroendocrinology2 Nov 2004Cited by 30 (Europe PMC)

PMID15528951DOI10.1159/000081844PepBankPUB-15528951

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Summary

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

Results from this study2

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

01LabEx vivo tissueMechanism
In ventromedial hypothalamic slices from male oxytocin-knockout mice, oxytocin receptors were more sensitive to oxytocin than in wild-type littermates.
In plain wordsIn mouse brain slices, oxytocin receptors in male knockout mice responded more strongly to oxytocin than in normal mice.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseOxytocin receptor sensitivity to oxytocin in knockout males
Study
mousen: not reported in source
hypothalamic tissue slices
Comparator
Wild-type littermates
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Further, we proposed that because of the lifelong absence of OT in OTKO, OT receptors would be more sensitive to OT in the knockout animals. We tested this idea in males and found that it was correct.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here, we compared single-unit activities recorded from the ventromedial hypothalamus in tissue slices of male and female OTKO mice and their wild-type littermate to test two hypotheses about OT functional genomics.
Report a problemFND-1552895102

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

02LabNot a test of Oxytocin aloneEx vivo tissueMechanism
In ventromedial hypothalamic slices from oxytocin-knockout mice of both sexes, vasopressin compensated for the lack of oxytocin through oxytocin receptors.
In plain wordsIn mouse brain slices, vasopressin appeared to stand in for missing oxytocin in both males and females.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableVasopressin compensation for missing oxytocin (VMH neuron activity)
Study
mousen: not reported in source
hypothalamic tissue slices
Comparator
Wild-type littermates
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
First, we proposed that in OTKO mice, a very similar 9-amino-acid neuropeptide, arginine vasopressin (a likely gene duplication product), can 'cross over' and compensate for the lack of OT. This hypothesis was confirmed in both males and females.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Here, we compared single-unit activities recorded from the ventromedial hypothalamus in tissue slices of male and female OTKO mice and their wild-type littermate to test two hypotheses about OT functional genomics.
In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-1552895101

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.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 20:03 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:51 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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