A new oxytocin-saporin cytotoxin for lesioning oxytocin-receptive neurons in the rat hindbrain.

ABSTRACT: Evidence suggests that release of oxytocin in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) of the hindbrain from descending projections that originate in the paraventricular nucleus can inhibit food intake by amplifying the satiety response to cholecystokinin (CCK). To further evaluate this mechanism in rats, we used a novel cytotoxin, saporin conjugated to oxytocin (OXY-SAP), a compound designed to destroy cells that express oxytocin receptors (OXYr). OXY-SAP was injected directly into the NTS to lesion neurons that express OXYr and that are implicated in potentiating CCK's satiety effects. The control consisted of injection of saporin conjugated to a nonsense peptide. We found that OXY-SAP was cytotoxic to human uterine smooth muscle cells in vitro, demonstrating that OXY-SAP can lesion cells th

SUBMITTER: Baskin DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2940497 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature