Adolescent Neurochemical Plasticity of Oxytocin Receptors in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis

Abstract

Adolescence has become an intriguing key period in neurodevelopment when different types of neuroplasticity occur. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a part of the limbic system involved in the generation of anxiety, control of social behaviour, and aggression. Because of the increasing frequency of these conditions in adolescence, we set it as a goal to investigate the BNST for neurochemical plasticity during that period. The oxytocin receptor was studied due to its known function in neurodevelopment, anxiety-related behaviours, and social activity. Its expression in preadolescent 20-days-old rats both male and female was compared with adult 60-days-old rats from both sexes too. We found that during adolescence there was a significant down-regulation of these receptors in some subnuclei of BNST. The expression of oxytocin receptors did not differ between sexes. Our results suggest that such a down-regulation in the pubertal period could have effects on the aggressive behaviour and the shifts in the social conduct. The observed neuroplasticity can serve as a fundamental paradigm for further pharmacological research.