Intransal administration of neuroactive peptides elicits robust fMRI responses in the mouse brain

Recent studies have highlighted the possibility of exploiting intranasal administration as non invasive method for direct delivery of large therapeutics and neuropeptides to the brain. However, the dynamics and neurofunctional substrates engaged upon intranasal administration of therapeutic agents remain unexplored. We used fMRI in the mouse to characterise the substrates activated by nasal administration of oxytocin and vasopressin, two neuroactive peptides with therapeutic potential. The two peptides elicited robust dicothomic functional responses, with significant cortico-hippocampal activation for oxytocin, and widespread cortical deactivation for vasopressin. These results support the use of fMRI to investigate the functional substrates recruited by intranasally-delivered biologicals.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.

Join Here