Oxytocin induces preservation of social recognition in male rats by activating alpha-adrenoceptors of the olfactory bulb

In this report, a series of four experiments was performed to evaluate the relationship between the olfactory bulb norepinephrine system and intra-olf actory bulb infusion of oxytocin in the preservation of social memory respo nses. The present data indicate that oxytocin exerts this preservation of s ocial recognition through a specific, receptor-mediated mechanism within th e olfactory bulb (experiment 1). The involvement of the olfactory bulb nore pinephrine system is revealed by the demonstration that retrodialysis of ox ytocin into the olfactory bulb increases norepinephrine release (experiment 4). Our data suggest that the increased output of olfactory bulb norepinep hrine resulting from oxytocin appears to activate alpha-adrenoceptors to pr oduce this preservation in recognition because infusions of clonidine into the olfactory bulb preserve recognition responses in a manner similar to th at observed with oxytocin (experiment 2). In addition, a co-infusion of oxy tocin with phentolamine abolishes recognition responses (experiment 3). Acc ordingly, this model affords the opportunity to study neuropeptide-catechol amine interactions, link these interactions with a specific behavioural out come and identify a novel function/site of action for oxytocin in the male.