Elucidation of the relationship between oxytocin and circadian rhythm, feeding behavior, food preference by applying chemogenetics

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22749
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0802:Biomedical structure and function and related fields
• Research Institution: University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan
• Principal Investigator: Sonoda Satomi 産業医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (30644009)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: オキシトシン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

When rat oxytocin neurons were endogenously activated, there were no changes in food intake, water intake, activity and core body temperature. In the sucrose preference test, sucrose intake in a short time decreased, and the early insulin release decreased after glucose tolerance test when oxytocin neurons were activated. It was found that activation of oxytocin neurons endogenously does not necessarily affect feeding suppression and that changes in oxytocin circadian rhythm do not affect rat activity. It was also suggested that activation of oxytocin neurons endogenously may suppress insulin secretion. It was found that changes in feeding behavior and glucose metabolism differ between when oxytocin neurons are activated by administration of oxytocin and when where oxytocin neurons are activated endogenously.

Free Research Field

内分泌学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

外因性のオキシトシン投与による摂食抑制効果はこれまで報告されているが、内因性にオキシトシンを活性化させた際の生体反応については不明であった。今回、化学遺伝学的手法を用いて内因性にオキシトシンを活性化させた際のラットの行動解明を通して、今後のオキシトシンニューロンの生理学的な解明の一助となりうる可能性があると考える。