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01-02-2017 | Original Article

DNA damage after chronic oxytocin administration in rats: a safety yellow light?

Authors: Daniela D. Leffa, Francine Daumann, Adriani P. Damiani, Arlindo C. Afonso, Maria A. Santos, Thayara H. Pedro, Renan P. Souza, Vanessa M. Andrade

Published in: Metabolic Brain Disease | Issue 1/2017

Abstract

Adjuvant therapy is a common therapeutic strategy used for schizophrenia management. Oxytocin has shown promising results as antipsychotic adjuvant in patients with schizophrenia. Although short-term clinical studies have indicated tolerability and no major side-effect manifestation, long-term studies remain needed. In this study, we investigated whether oxytocin chronic administration in rats may lead to brain DNA damage by comet assay. Our results suggest that 21 and 56-day treatment with once daily intraperitoneal oxytocin (0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg) may cause substantial DNA damage in hippocampus. We have not found differences on body weight gain. Our findings also point that further clinical and preclinical studies evaluating oxytocin safety after chronic exposure are necessary.

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Title: DNA damage after chronic oxytocin administration in rats: a safety yellow light?
Authors: Daniela D. Leffa
Francine Daumann
Adriani P. Damiani
Arlindo C. Afonso
Maria A. Santos
Thayara H. Pedro
Renan P. Souza
Vanessa M. Andrade
Publication date: 01-02-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Metabolic Brain Disease / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 0885-7490
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7365
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-016-9885-z

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DNA damage after chronic oxytocin administration in rats: a safety yellow light?

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