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Sucrose intake by rats affected by both intraperitoneal oxytocin administration and time of day

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Abstract

Rationale

Daily limited access to palatable food or drink at a fixed time is commonly used in rodent models of bingeing. Under these conditions, entrainment may modulate intake patterns. Oxytocin is involved in circadian patterns of intake and, when administered peripherally, reduces sucrose intake. However, oxytocin’s effects on intake under limited-access conditions and its potential interaction with entrainment have not been explored.

Objectives

This study examined the role of entrainment on intake patterns, oxytocin’s effects on sucrose intakes and locomotor activity and whether oxytocin’s effects were mediated by its actions at the oxytocin receptor.

Methods

Sated rats received daily 1-h access to 10% sucrose solution either at a fixed or varied time of day. Rats received intraperitoneal oxytocin (0 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg) prior to sucrose access, and spontaneous locomotor activity was assessed in an open-field test. Rats were then pre-treated with an oxytocin receptor antagonist, L368,899, prior to oxytocin before sucrose access.

Results

Intake patterns did not differ between fixed- or varied-time presentations; rats consumed more sucrose solution in the middle as opposed to the early-dark phase. Oxytocin dose-dependently reduced sucrose intakes, but also reduced locomotor activity. There was some evidence of partial blockade of oxytocin-induced sucrose intake reductions by L368,899, but the results were unclear.

Conclusions

Time of day and oxytocin impact sucrose solution intake under daily limited access in rats and the sedative-like effects of oxytocin should be considered in future studies on oxytocin and food intake.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Alison Salo, Manuel Menouhos and Vincent Zappala for providing animal husbandry and assistance during the study. We would also like to thank Stacey Gardiner and Marisa Henry for their management of administrative matters in the University of Sydney’s laboratory animal services.

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Sydney Postgraduate Research Support Scheme awarded to Simone Rehn in 2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Simone Rehn, Joel S. Raymond, Robert A. Boakes & Michael T. Bowen

  2. Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia

    Joel S. Raymond & Michael T. Bowen

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  1. Simone Rehn
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  2. Joel S. Raymond
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Contributions

SR conceived and designed the present experiments, collected experimental data, performed data analysis and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JR assisted in the collection of experimental data, aided with data analysis and was involved in reviewing and editing the manuscript. RB and MB were involved in the conceptualisation and the design of the present experiments, provided advice on data analysis and were involved in reviewing and editing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Simone Rehn.

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Conflict of interest

MB is listed as an inventor on patents for novel oxytocin-based therapeutics and for therapeutics for eating disorders and is co-founder and chief scientific officer of a company, Kinoxis Therapeutics Pty Ltd, commercialising this technology. The other authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

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Rehn, S., Raymond, J.S., Boakes, R.A. et al. Sucrose intake by rats affected by both intraperitoneal oxytocin administration and time of day. Psychopharmacology 239, 429–442 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-021-06014-3

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