Repeated exposure to kairomone-containing coffee odor improves abnormal olfactory behaviors in heterozygous oxytocin receptor knock-in mice

• DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.983421
• Publication Date: 2023-02-01T05:24:37Z
• Authors: Kazumi Osada; Riyuki Kujirai; Akira Hosono; Masato Tsuda; Motoko Ohata; Tohru Ohta; Katsuhiko Nishimori
• Keywords: Oxytocin receptor; Kairomone

The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) knockout mouse is a model of autism spectrum disorder, characterized by abnormalities in social and olfactory behaviors learning. Previously, we demonstrated that OXTR plays crucial role regulating aversive behavior to butyric acid odor. In this study, attempted determine whether coffee aroma affects the abnormal OXTR-Venus knock-in heterozygous mice [heterozygous (±) mice] using set behavioral molecular experiments. Four-week repeated exposures odor, containing three kairomone alkylpyrazines, rescued compared with non-exposed wild-type or mice. Increased Oxtr mRNA expression bulb amygdala coincided rescue behaviors. addition, despite compounds, both exhibited preference for odor no stress-like increase corticotropin-releasing hormone, instead kairomone-associated avoidance response. did not change estrogen synthetase/receptors as regulator gonadotropic hormone. These data suggest due exposure-induced expression.