Oxytocin treatment reduced food intake and body fat and ameliorated obesity in ovariectomized female rats.

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that oxytocin reduces food intake and body weight gain and promotes lipolysis in some species, including humans. Interestingly, these effects of oxytocin are more marked in obese individuals. Although the menopausal loss of ovarian function induces increased visceral adiposity and some metabolic disorders, no safe medical interventions for these conditions have been established. In this study, we evaluated the effects of oxytocin on appetite, body weight, and fat mass in ovariectomized rats. Six-day oxytocin treatment attenuated cumulative food intake and body weight gain, and reduced visceral and subcutaneous fat weight and adipocyte cell area in ovariectomized rats. Blood examinations indicated that 6-day oxytocin treatment did not alter renal or hepatic functions. Instead, it might prevent ovariectomy-induced liver damage. In addition, acute oxytocin treatment did not affect body temperature or locomotor activity. These results indicate that oxytocin might be useful for treating or preventing menopause-induced metabolic disorders, without causing any adverse effects.

• Authors: Takeshi Iwasa, Toshiya Matsuzaki, Yiliyasi Mayila, Rie Yanagihara, Yuri Yamamoto, Takako Kawakita, Akira Kuwahara, Minoru Irahara
• Journal: Neuropeptides (Neuropeptides) Vol. 75 Pg. 49-57 (Jun 2019) ISSN: 1532-2785 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 30885500 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Oxytocin

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (drug effects)
• Animals
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Eating (drug effects)
• Female
• Obesity (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Ovariectomy
• Oxytocin (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Rats