A comparison of methods to measure central and peripheral oxytocin concentrations in human and non-human primates.

Lefevre A, Mottolese R, Dirheimer M, Mottolese C, Duhamel JR, Sirigu A

Scientific reports8 Dec 2017Cited by 85 (Europe PMC)

PMID29222505PMCIDPMC5722864DOI10.1038/s41598-017-17674-7PepBankPUB-29222505

Summary

Oxytocin (OT) concentration in the blood is considered to be a marker of its action in the brain. However, two problems have emerged when measuring OT level in the blood. First, it is unclear whether different methods of assessment lead to similar OT values. Second, it is unclear if plasma OT concentrations is informative on what OT does in the brain. To clarify these issues, we collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain ventricle of 25 patients during surgery to compare with plasma OT after simultaneous blood withdrawal. Additionally, we collected 12 CSF and blood samples from non-human primates while awake or under anaesthesia. We used four methods to assay OT concentrations: Commercial EIA with/without extraction, laboratory developed EIA with filtration and RIA with extraction. Three of these methods showed a positive correlation between plasma and CSF OT, suggesting a link between plasma and central OT, at least under specific testing conditions. However, none of the methods correlated to each other. Our results show major disagreements among methods used here to measure peripheral and brain OT and therefore they call for more caution when plasma OT is taken as a marker of central OT.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured1

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.

01HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
Three of four assay methods showed a positive correlation between plasma and cerebrospinal fluid oxytocin, at least under specific testing conditions.
In plain wordsWith three of four lab methods, the body's own oxytocin in blood matched that in brain fluid, at least under certain conditions.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableCorrelation between plasma and CSF oxytocin
Study
human and non-human primaten: not reported in source
Outcome group
Pharmacokinetics · Pharmacology
Source sentences
Summary
Three of these methods showed a positive correlation between plasma and CSF OT, suggesting a link between plasma and central OT, at least under specific testing conditions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To clarify these issues, we collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain ventricle of 25 patients during surgery to compare with plasma OT after simultaneous blood withdrawal.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2922250501

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.

02HumanNot a test of Oxytocin aloneObservational studyOther
None of the four oxytocin assay methods correlated with each other, showing major disagreement among methods for peripheral and brain oxytocin.
In plain wordsThe four lab methods for measuring oxytocin did not agree with each other, so blood levels should be used with caution as a brain marker.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAgreement between oxytocin assay methods
Study
human and non-human primaten: not reported in source
Outcome group
Pharmacokinetics · Pharmacology
Source sentences
Summary
However, none of the methods correlated to each other. Our results show major disagreements among methods used here to measure peripheral and brain OT and therefore they call for more caution when plasma OT is taken as a marker of central OT.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To clarify these issues, we collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain ventricle of 25 patients during surgery to compare with plasma OT after simultaneous blood withdrawal.
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.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2922250502

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

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · 1 stopped early · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

TerminatedPhase 1/2NCT03863288

Dose Response Relationship of Oxytocin on Irritability in Youths

University of Nebraskan = 6018 Feb 2022 to 27 Feb 2024

Irritable Mood

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 14 Mar 2025

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

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.