Oxytocin Reduces Alcohol Cue-Reactivity in Alcohol-Dependent Rats and Humans.

Hansson AC, Koopmann A, Uhrig S, Bühler S, Domi E, Kiessling E, Ciccocioppo R, Froemke RC, Grinevich V, Kiefer F, Sommer WH, Vollstädt-Klein S, Spanagel R

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology1 Nov 2017Cited by 100 (Europe PMC)

PMID29090683PMCIDPMC5916348DOI10.1038/npp.2017.257PepBankPUB-29090683

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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 study5

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 1 result from people.

01HumanOther designMechanism
In heavy social male drinkers, intranasal oxytocin decreased neural cue-reactivity in brain networks seen in dependent rats and humans.
In plain wordsIn heavy social male drinkers, intranasal oxytocin lowered brain responses to alcohol cues.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseNeural alcohol cue-reactivity
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Finally, a clinical pilot study (German clinical trial number DRKS00009253) using functional magnetic resonance imaging in heavy social male drinkers showed that intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) decreased neural cue-reactivity in brain networks similar to those detected in dependent rats and humans with…
Report a problemFND-2909068305
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In alcohol-dependent rats, intracerebroventricular oxytocin reduced the cue-induced reinstatement response.
In plain wordsIn alcohol-dependent rats, oxytocin injected into the brain reduced the return of alcohol seeking triggered by cues.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseCue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking
Study
ratn: not reported in source
alcohol-dependent rats
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
10 nM · intracerebroventricularAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Pharmacological validation showed that oxytocin reduced cue-induced reinstatement response in dependent rats-an effect that was not observed in non-dependent rats.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Alcohol self-administration and cue-induced reinstatement behavior was measured after intracerebroventricular injection of 10 nM oxytocin in dependent rats
Report a problemFND-2909068303
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In non-dependent rats, intracerebroventricular oxytocin did not reduce the cue-induced reinstatement response.
In plain wordsIn rats that were not alcohol dependent, oxytocin injected into the brain did not reduce cue-triggered alcohol seeking.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeCue-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking, non-dependent rats
Study
ratn: not reported in source
non-dependent rats
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Mental health and mood
Studied dose
10 nM · intracerebroventricularAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Pharmacological validation showed that oxytocin reduced cue-induced reinstatement response in dependent rats-an effect that was not observed in non-dependent rats.
Report a problemFND-2909068304

Natural levels measured2

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

04HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyMechanism
In post-mortem brain tissue from deceased alcoholics, oxytocin receptors were upregulated, mainly in frontal and striatal areas.
In plain wordsIn brains of deceased people with alcohol dependence, the body's own oxytocin receptors were more abundant in frontal and striatal areas.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseOxytocin receptor expression in brain
Study
n: not reported in source
post-mortem brain tissue
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
Here we show a pronounced upregulation of oxytocin receptors in brain tissues of alcohol-dependent rats and deceased alcoholics, primarily in frontal and striatal areas.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-2909068302
05AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In alcohol-dependent rats, oxytocin receptors were upregulated in brain tissue, mainly in frontal and striatal areas.
In plain wordsIn alcohol-dependent rats, the body's own oxytocin receptors were more abundant in frontal and striatal brain areas.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseOxytocin receptor expression in brain
Study
ratn: not reported in source
alcohol-dependent rats, brain tissue
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
Here we show a pronounced upregulation of oxytocin receptors in brain tissues of alcohol-dependent rats and deceased alcoholics, primarily in frontal and striatal areas.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Alcohol-dependent rats as well as post-mortem brains of human alcoholics and controls
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-2909068301

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, 01:30 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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Terms as the source lists them.

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