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Oxytocin interference in the effects induced by inhalation of 7.5% CO 2 in healthy volunteers
Author(s) -
Oliveira Danielle Chaves Gomes,
Chagas Marcos Hortes N.,
Garcia Luis Vicente,
Crippa José Alexandre S.,
Zuardi Antonio W
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2237
Subject(s) - inhalation , oxytocin , anesthesia , anxiety , medicine , placebo , heart rate , blood pressure , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology
Objective The objective of this study was to assess the acute effect of intranasally administered oxytocin (OT) on subjective states, cardiovascular, and endocrine parameters in healthy volunteers who inhaled 7.5% CO 2 . Methods Forty‐five subjects were allocated into three matched groups of subjects who received 24 international units (IU) of OT, 2 mg of lorazepam (LZP), or placebo (PL). The challenge consisted of medical air inhalation for 20 min, 10 min of rest, and CO 2 7.5% inhalation for 20 min. Subjective effects were evaluated by self‐assessment scales; heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, and salivary cortisol were also measured. Assessments were performed at four time points: (i) baseline (−15 min); (ii) post‐air inhalation (90 min); (iii) post‐CO 2 inhalation (120 min), and (iv) post‐test (160 min). Results CO 2 inhalation significantly increased the anxiety score in the PL group compared with the post‐air measurement but not in the OT or LZP groups. The LZP reduced anxiety after medical air inhalation. Other parameters evaluated were not affected by OT. Conclusion OT, as well as LZP, prevented CO 2 ‐induced anxiety, suggesting that this hormone has anxiolytic properties. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.