Comparison of Intranasal Oxytocin Effects Using Co-administration With a Vasoconstrictor
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2019-11-30
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This study aims to dissociate direct from indirectly mediated effects of intranasal oxytocin
administration by using treatment with or without prior intranasal administration of a
vasoconstrictor to reduce peripheral increases in peptide concentrations. Primary outcomes of
the randomized placebo-controlled double-blind experiment are blood oxytocin concentration
and oxytocin-associated responses in central and peripheral systems.
Intranasal application of the neuropeptide oxytocin has been reported to produce a number of
neural, physiological and behavior effects which may be of potential therapeutic relevance,
but it is unclear the extent to which they are mediated directly via the peptide entering the
brain or indirectly as a result of increased peripheral concentrations. In the current
placebo-controlled, double blind experiment on healthy adult male subjects the investigators
will measure the effects of a single dose of intranasal oxytocin (24IU) on brain activity
(using electroencephaolography - EEG) as well as on cardiac (heart-rate and heart-rate
variablility) and gastric (electrogastrogram - EGG) activity and physiological arousal (skin
conductance response - SCR). The pattern of functional effects observed will be compared with
subjects receiving intranasal pretreatment with a vasoconstrictor prior to oxytocin in order
to reduce the amount of oxytocin entering the peripheral circulation. The investigators
hypothesize that prior administration of the vasoconstrictor will greatly reduce blood
oxytocin concentrations following intranasal oxytocin treatment. Where neural/physiological
effects are also affected, this will indicate an indirectly mediated action of intranasally
administered oxytocin whereas if they are not this will indicate a directly mediated action.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China