Single transcript level atlas of oxytocin and the oxytocin receptor in the mouse brain

  1. Vitaly Ryu  Is a corresponding author
  2. Anisa Azatovna Gumerova
  3. Georgii Pevnev
  4. Funda Korkmaz
  5. Hasni Kannangara
  6. Liam Cullen
  7. Farhath Sultana
  8. Ronit Witztum
  9. Steven Lee Sims
  10. Tal Frolinger
  11. Ofer Moldavski
  12. Orly Barak
  13. Emily Weiss
  14. Jay J Cao
  15. Daria Lizneva
  16. Ki A Goosens
  17. Tony Yuen
  18. Mone Zaidi  Is a corresponding author
  1. Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMaP), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States
  2. Departments of Medicine and of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States
  3. United States Department of Agriculture, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND 58203, United States
4 figures, 1 table and 1 additional file

Figures

Figure 1 with 1 supplement
Oxtr expression in the male brain.

(A) RNAscope revealed Oxtr-positive transcripts in the epididymis, but not in the liver (positive and negative controls, respectively). Also shown are representative micrographs of the posteromedial part of the amygdalohippocampal area (AHiPM) of the hypothalamus, pyramidal cell layer (Py) of the hippocampus, and the third ventricle (3V) of the ventricular regions. Scale bar: 50 µm. (B) Oxtr transcript density in the brain regions detected by RNAscope. (C) Oxtr transcript density in nuclei, sub-nuclei, and regions of the ventricular system, hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, medulla, midbrain and pons, forebrain, thalamus, and cerebellum.

Figure 1—source data 1

Oxtr densities in brain nuclei, subnuclei and regions.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/95215/elife-95215-fig1-data1-v2.xlsx
Figure 1—figure supplement 1
Oxtr expression in the male brain.

Oxtr transcript number in brain regions and in nuclei, sub-nuclei, and regions of the hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, midbrain and pons, thalamus, medulla, forebrain, cerebellum, and ventricular system detected by RNAscope. Also shown are representative RNAscope images of several hypothalamic regions, including lateral hypothalamus (LH), tuber cinereum (TC), anterior part of the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BLA), dorsomedial hypothalamus (DM), and central part of ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHC). Note that LH and DM send SNS outflow to both bone and fat tissue. Scale bar: 20 µm.

Figure 1—figure supplement 1—source data 1

Oxtr transcript numbers in brain nuclei, subnuclei and regions.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/95215/elife-95215-fig1-figsupp1-data1-v2.xlsx
Figure 2 with 1 supplement
Oxtr expression in the female brain.

(A) Representative micrographs of the supraoptic nucleus (SO) of the hypothalamus, the pyramidal cell layer (Py) of the hippocampus, and anterior olfactory nucleus, dorsal part (AOD) of the olfactory bulb are shown. Ovary and liver served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Scale bar: 50 µm. (B) Oxtr transcript density in the brain regions detected by RNAscope. (C) Oxtr transcript density in nuclei, sub-nuclei, and regions of the hippocampus, olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, ventricular system, forebrain, medulla, thalamus, midbrain and pons, and cerebellum.

Figure 2—source data 1

Oxtr densities in brain nuclei, subnuclei and regions.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/95215/elife-95215-fig2-data1-v2.xlsx
Figure 2—figure supplement 1
Oxtr expression in the female brain.

Oxtr transcript number in brain regions and in nuclei, sub-nuclei, and regions of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, cerebellum, medulla, thalamus, forebrain, midbrain, and pons, and ventricular system detected by RNAscope. Representative RNAscope images of the lateral hypothalamus (LH), tuber cinereum (TC), anterior part of the basolateral amygdaloid nucleus (BLA), dorsomedial hypothalamus (DM), and central part of ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMHC) are shown. Scale bar: 20 µm.

Figure 2—figure supplement 1—source data 1

Oxtr trancript numbers in brain nuclei, subnuclei and regions.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/95215/elife-95215-fig2-figsupp1-data1-v2.xlsx
Sex differences in Oxt expression in the mouse brain.

(A) The neurohypophysial hormone OXT is synthesized by magnocellular neurons primarily located in the PVH and SON hypothalamic nuclei. The magnocellular neurons send extended axonal projections into the neurohypophysis where OXT is released into the circulation in response to physiological demands. Therefore, PVH and SON served as positive controls for OXT expression in the brain. MPA: medial preoptic area; LPO: lateral preoptic area of the forebrain. Scale bar: 50 µm. (B) Sex differences in the numbers of Oxt-expressing neurons in nuclei, sub-nuclei, and regions of the hypothalamus and forebrain detected by RNAscope. (C) Total numbers of Oxt-expressing neurons in nuclei, sub-nuclei, and regions of the hypothalamus and forebrain of male and female mice. (D) Oxt transcript density in nuclei, sub-nuclei, and regions of the hypothalamus and forebrain of male and female mice. N = 3, values are shown as means ± SE. Student’s t-test.

Figure 3—source data 1

Numbers of OXT-positive cells in the hypothalamus and forebrain.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/95215/elife-95215-fig3-data1-v2.xlsx
Sex differences in Oxtr expression in the pituitary gland.

(A) Representative photomicrographs showing sex differences in Oxtr expression in anterior (AP) and posterior (PP) lobes of the pituitary gland detected by RNAscope. Scale bar: 25 µm. (B) Quantification of Oxtr transcript density in the pituitary gland of female and male mice (n=3).

Figure 4—source data 1

Sex-specific Oxtr densities in the pituitary gland.

https://cdn.elifesciences.org/articles/95215/elife-95215-fig4-data1-v2.xlsx

Tables

Appendix 1—table 1
Glossary of the brain nuclei, sub-nuclei, and regions.
Olfactory bulb
AOBaccessory olfactory bulb
AODanterior olfactory nucleus, dorsal part
AOEanterior olfactory nucleus, external part
AOLanterior olfactory nucleus, lateral part
AOManterior olfactory nucleus, medial part
AOVanterior olfactory nucleus, ventral part
EPIexternal plexiform layer of the olfactory bulb
EPIAexternal plexiform layer of the accessory olfactory bulb
GIAglomerular layer of the accessory olfactory bulb
GrAgranule cell layer of the accessory olfactory bulb
GrOgranular cell layer of the olfactory bulb
lolateral olfactory tract
LOTnucleus of the lateral olfactory tract
Mimitral cell layer of the olfactory bulb
MiAmitral cell layer of the accessory olfactory bulb
ONolfactory nerve layer
vnvomeronasal nerve
Cerebral cortex
AIPagranular insular cortex, posterior part
Au1primary auditory cortex
AuDsecondary auditory cortex, dorsal area
AuVsecondary auditory cortex, ventral area
Clclaustrum
Cg/RScingular/retrosplenial cortex
DEndorsal endopiriform nucleus
DIdysgranular insular cortex
DLOdorsolateral orbital cortex
Ectectorhinal cortex
FrAfrontal association cortex
GIgranular insular cortex
LEntlateral entorhinal cortex
LOlateral orbital cortex
LPtAlateral parietal association cortex
M1primary motor cortex
M2secondary motor cortex
MEntmedial entorhinal cortex
MOmedial orbital cortex
MPtAmedial parietal association cortex
Pirpiriform cortex
PRhperirhinal cortex
PrLprelimbic cortex
RSAretrosplenial agranular cortex
RSGretrosplenial granular cortex
S1primary somatosensory cortex
S1BFprimary somatosensory cortex, barrel field
S1DZprimary somatosensory cortex, dysgranular region
S1FLprimary somatosensory cortex, forelimb region
S1HLprimary somatosensory cortex, hindlimb region
S1ShNcprimary somatosensory cortex, shoulder/neck region
S1Trprimary somatosensory cortex, trunk region
S2secondary somatosensory cortex
TeAtemporal association cortex
V1primary visual cortex
V2Lsecondary visual cortex, lateral area
V2MLsecondary visual cortex, mediolateral area
V2MMsecondary visual cortex, mediomedial area
VEnventral endopiriform nucleus
VOventral orbital cortex
Forebrain
ACanterior commissural nucleus
acianterior commissure, intrabulbar part
BSTIAbed nucleus of the stria terminalis, intraamygdaloid division
BSTMPLbed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial division, posterolateral part
BSTMVbed nucleus of the stria terminalis, medial division, ventral part
BSTSbed nucleus of stria terminalis, supracapsular part
IPACinterstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure
LPOlateral preoptic area
LSVlateral septal nucleus, ventral part
MCPOmagnocellular preoptic nucleus
MPAmedial preoptic area
MPOCmedial preoptic nucleus, central part
MPOMmedial preoptic nucleus, medial part
SFOsubfornical organ
ststria terminalis
VLPOventrolateral preoptic nucleus
Hippocampus
CA1field ca1 of hippocampus
CA2field ca2 of hippocampus
CA3field CA3 of hippocampus
DGdentate gyrus
ffornix
fifimbria of the hippocampus
GrDGgranular layer of the dentate gyrus
LMollacunosum moleculare layer of the hippocampus
Molmolecular layer of the dentate gyrus
Ororiens layer of the hippocampus
PoDGpolymorph layer of the dentate gyrus
Pypyramidal tract
Ssubiculum
SLustratum lucidum, hippocampus
vhcventral hippocampal commissure
Thalamus
ADanterodorsal thalamic nucleus
AManteromedial thalamic nucleus
AMVanteromedial thalamic nucleus, ventral part
Angangular thalamic nucleus
APTDanterior pretectal nucleus, dorsal part
APTVanterior pretectal nucleus, ventral part
AVDManteroventral thalamic nucleus, dorsomedial part
AVVLanteroventral thalamic nucleus, ventrolateral part
CLcentrolateral thalamic nucleus
CMcentral medial thalamic nucleus
DLGdorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
emlexternal medullary lamina
Ethethmoid thalamic nucleus
Fnucleus of the fields of Forel
frfasciculus retroflexus
IADinteranterodorsal thalamic nucleus
IAMinteranteromedial thalamic nucleus
icinternal capsule
IGLintergeniculate leaf
IMAintramedullary thalamic area
IMDintermediodorsal thalamic nucleus
LDDMlaterodorsal thalamic nucleus, dorsomedial part
LDVLlaterodorsal thalamic nucleus, ventrolateral part
LGPlateral globus pallidus
LHblateral habenular nucleus
LPLRlateral posterior thalamic nucleus, laterorostral part
LPMClateral posterior thalamic nucleus, mediocaudal part
LPMRlateral posterior thalamic nucleus, mediorostral part
MDmediodorsal thalamic nucleus
MDCmediodorsal thalamic nucleus, central part
MDLmediodorsal thalamic nucleus, lateral part
MDMmediodorsal thalamic nucleus, medial part
MGPmedial globus pallidus (entopeduncular nucleus)
MHbmedial habenular nucleus
MPTmedial pretectal nucleus
OPTolivary pretectal nucleus
PCparacentral thalamic nucleus
PFparafascicular thalamic nucleus
Poposterior thalamic nuclear group
PPTposterior pretectal nucleus
PRprerubral field
PrCprecommissural nucleus
PTparatenial thalamic nucleus
pvperiventricular fiber system
PVparaventricular thalamic nucleus
PVAparaventricular thalamic nucleus, anterior part
PVPparaventricular thalamic nucleus, posterior part
Rereuniens thalamic nucleus
REthretroethmoid nucleus
Rhrhomboid thalamic nucleus
RIrostral interstitial nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus
Rtreticular thalamic nucleus
Scscaphoid thalamic nucleus
smstria medullaris of the thalamus
SPFsubparafascicular thalamic nucleus
SPFPCsubparafascicular thalamic nucleus, parvicellular part
SThsubthalamic nucleus
strsuperior thalamic radiation
Subsubmedius thalamic nucleus
SubGsubgeniculate nucleus
VAventral anterior thalamic nucleus
VLventrolateral thalamic nucleus
VLGventral lateral geniculate nucleus
VLGMCventral lateral geniculate nucleus, magnocellular part
VLGPCventral lateral geniculate nucleus, parvicellular part
VMventromedial thalamic nucleus
VPLventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus
VPMventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus
VReventral reuniens thalamic nucleus
Xixiphoid thalamic nucleus
Hypothalamus
AADanterior amygdaloid area, dorsal part
ACoanterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus
AHAanterior hypothalamic area, anterior part
AHCanterior hypothalamic area, central part
AHiALamygdalohippocampal area, anterolateral part
AHiPMamygdalohippocampal area, posteromedial part
AHPanterior hypothalamic area, posterior part
APiramygdalopiriform transition area
Arcarcuate hypothalamic nucleus
ArcMParcuate hypothalamic nucleus, medial posterior part
AStramygdalostriatal transition area
BLAbasolateral amygdaloid nucleus, anterior part
BLPbasolateral amygdaloid nucleus, posterior part
BLVbasolateral amygdaloid nucleus, ventral part
BMAbasolateral amygdaloid nucleus, anterior part
BMPbasomedial amygdaloid nucleus, posterior part
CeCcentral amygdaloid nucleus, capsular part
CeLcentral amygdaloid nucleus, lateral division
CeMcentral amygdaloid nucleus, medial division
CeMPVcentral amygdaloid nucleus, medial posteroventral part
cpcerebral peduncle, basal part
CxAcortex-amygdala transition zone
DMdorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus
FFfields of Forel
Iintercalated nuclei of the amygdala
IMintercalated amygdaloid nucleus, main part
LAlateroanterior hypothalamic nucleus
Lalateral amygdaloid nucleus
LaDLlateral amygdaloid nucleus, dorsolateral part
LaVLlateral amygdaloid nucleus, ventrolateral part
LaVMlateral amygdaloid nucleus, ventromedial part
LHlateral hypothalamic area
LMlateral mammillary nucleus
MCLHmagnocellular nucleus of the lateral hypothalamus
MEmedian eminence
MeAmedial amygdaloid nucleus, anterior part
MeADmedial amygdaloid nucleus, anteriodorsal part
MePDmedial amygdaloid nucleus, posterodorsal part
MePVmedial amygdaloid nucleus, posteroventral part
MLmedial mammillary nucleus, lateral part
MMmedial mammillary nucleus, medial part
MMnmedial mammillary nucleus, median part
mtmammillothalamic tract
mtgmammillotegmental tract
nsnigrostriatal bundle
optoptic tract
PaAPparaventricular hypothalamic nucleus, anterior parvicellular part
PaDCparaventricular hypothalamic nucleus, dorsal cap
PaLMparaventricular hypothalamic nucleus, lateral magnocellular part
PaMMparaventricular hypothalamic nucleus, medial magnocellular part
PaMPparaventricular hypothalamic nucleus, medial parvicellular part
PaPoparaventricular hypothalamic nucleus, posterior part
PHposterior hypothalamic area
PLCoposterolateral cortical amygdaloid nucleus
pmprincipal mammillary tract
PMCoposteromedial cortical amygdaloid nucleus (C3)
PMDpremammillary nucleus, dorsal part
PRprerubral field
PSThparasubthalamic nucleus
SChsuprachiasmatic nucleus
SLEACsublenticular extended amygdala, central part
SLEAMsublenticular extended amygdala, medial part
SOsupraoptic nucleus
SORsupraoptic nucleus, retrochiasmatic part
SPasubparaventricular zone of the hypothalamus
Sublsubincertal nucleus
SuMLsupramammillary nucleus, lateral part
SuMMsupramammillary nucleus, medial part
sumxsupramammillary decussation
TCtuber cinereum area
VMHCventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, central part
VMHDMventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, dorsomedial part
VMHVLventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, ventrolateral part
VTMventral tuberomammillary nucleus
ZIzona incerta
ZIDzona incerta, dorsal part
ZIVzona incerta, ventral part
Midbrain and pons
Acs5accessory trigeminal nucleus
CICcentral nucleus of the inferior colliculus
CnFcuneiform nucleus
DCICdorsal cortex of the inferior colliculus
DMPAGdorsomedial periaqueductal gray
DMTgdorsomedial tegmental area
DpMedeep mesencephalic nucleus
DRCdorsal raphe nucleus, caudal part
DRDdorsal raphe nucleus, dorsal part
DRIdorsal raphe nucleus, interfascicular part
DRVdorsal raphe nucleus, ventral part
DTgCdorsal tegmental nucleus, central part
DTgPdorsal tegmental nucleus, pericentral part
ECICexternal cortex of the inferior colliculus
EMiepimicrocellular nucleus
I5intertrigeminal nucleus
InCointercollicular nucleus
IPFinterpeduncular fossa
IPIinterpeduncular nucleus, intermediate subnucleus
KFKo¨lliker-Fuse nucleus
LDTglaterodorsal tegmental nucleus
LDTgVlaterodorsal tegmental nucleus, ventral part
LPAGlateral periaqueductal gray
LPBClateral parabrachial nucleus, central part
LPBDlateral parabrachial nucleus, dorsal part
LPBElateral parabrachial nucleus, external part
LPBSlateral parabrachial nucleus, superior part
LPBVlateral parabrachial nucleus, ventral part
MCPCmagnocellular nucleus of the posterior commissure
Me5mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus
MGVmedial geniculate nucleus, ventral part
MiTgmicrocellular tegmental nucleus
mlmedial lemniscus
mlfmedial longitudinal fasciculus
MnRmedian raphe nucleus
Mo5motor trigeminal nucleus
MPBmedial parabrachial nucleus
P5peritrigeminal zone
PAGperiaqueductal gray
PC5parvicellular motor trigeminal nucleus
pcposterior commissure
PComnucleus of the posterior commissure
PMnRparamedian raphe nucleus
PnCpontine reticular nucleus, caudal part
PnOpontine reticular nucleus, oral part
PnRpontine raphe nucleus
PnVpontine reticular nucleus, ventral part
PPTgpedunculopontine tegmental nucleus
RCraphe cap
RPFretroparafascicular nucleus
RtTgreticulotegmental nucleus of the pons
RtTgPreticulotegmental nucleus of the pons, pericentral part
Sagsagulum nucleus
scpsuperior cerebellar peduncle (brachium conjunctivum)
SNCsubstantia nigra, compact part
SNRsubstantia nigra, reticular part
SPTgsubpedencular tegmental nucleus
Su5supratrigeminal nucleus
SubCDsubcoeruleus nucleus, dorsal part
SubCVsubcoeruleus nucleus, ventral part
tstectospinal tract
Tznucleus of the trapezoid body
VLPAGventrolateral periaqueductal gray
VTAventral tegmental area
VTgventral tegmental nucleus
xscpdecussation of the superior cerebellar peduncle
Medulla
7Nfacial nucleus
10Ndorsal motor nucleus of vagus
12Nhypoglossal nucleus
Ambambiguus nucleus
AParea postrema
Cucuneate nucleus
DLLdorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus
DMSp5dorsomedial spinal trigeminal nucleus
DPOdorsal periolivary region
ECuexternal cuneate nucleus
Gigigantocellular reticular nucleus
icpinferior cerebellar peduncle (restiform body)
ILLintermediate nucleus of the lateral lemniscus
Inintercalated nucleus of the medulla
IOBeinferior olive, subnucleus B of medial nucleus
IOCinferior olive, subnucleus C of medial nucleus
IODinferior olive, dorsal nucleus
IOKinferior olive, cap of Kooy of the medial nucleus
IRtintermediate reticular nucleus
lfplongitudinal fasciculus of the pons
LPGilateral paragigantocellular nucleus
LRtlateral reticular nucleus
LSOlateral superior olive
LVPOlateroventral periolivary nucleus
MdDmedullary reticular nucleus, dorsal part
MdVmedullary reticular nucleus, ventral part
mlmedial lemniscus
MVemedial vestibular nucleus
MVPOmedioventral periolivary nucleus
PCRtparvicellular reticular nucleus
PLparalemniscal nucleus
PMnparamedian reticular nucleus
Prprepositus nucleus
Pr5principal sensory trigeminal nucleus
Pr5DMprincipal sensory trigeminal nucleus, dorsomedial part
Pr5VLprincipal sensory trigeminal nucleus, ventrolateral part
PSolparasolitary nucleus
pypyramidal tract
RMgraphe magnus nucleus
RParaphe pallidus nucleus
RPOrostral periolivary region
RVLrostroventrolateral reticular nucleus
s5sensory root of the trigeminal nerve
SolCnucleus of the solitary tract, commissural part
SolCenucleus of the solitary tract, central part
SolDLsolitary nucleus, dorsolateral part
SolDMnucleus of the solitary tract, dorsomedial part
SolGnucleus of the solitary tract, gelatinous part
SolInucleus of the solitary tract, interstitial part
SolIMnucleus of the solitary tract, intermediate part
SolMnucleus of the solitary tract, medial part
SolVsolitary nucleus, ventral part
SolVLnucleus of the solitary tract, ventrolateral part
sp5spinal trigeminal tract
Sp5Ispinal trigeminal nucleus, interpolar part
SPOsuperior paraolivary nucleus
SpVespinal vestibular nucleus
VCAventral cochlear nucleus, anterior part
vscventral spinocerebellar tract
Cerebellum
6Cb6th Cerebellar lobule
7Cb7th Cerebellar lobule
9Cb9th Cerebellar lobule
Antanterior lobe cerebellum
Crus1crus 1 of the ansiform lobule
Crus2crus 2 of the ansiform lobule
FIflocculus
mcpmiddle cerebellar peduncle
PFIparaflocculus
PMparamedian lobule
Simsimple lobule
Ventricular zones
3V3rd ventricle
OVolfactory ventricle (olfactory part of lateral ventricle)

Additional files

Download links

A two-part list of links to download the article, or parts of the article, in various formats.

Downloads (link to download the article as PDF)

Open citations (links to open the citations from this article in various online reference manager services)

Cite this article (links to download the citations from this article in formats compatible with various reference manager tools)

  1. Vitaly Ryu
  2. Anisa Azatovna Gumerova
  3. Georgii Pevnev
  4. Funda Korkmaz
  5. Hasni Kannangara
  6. Liam Cullen
  7. Farhath Sultana
  8. Ronit Witztum
  9. Steven Lee Sims
  10. Tal Frolinger
  11. Ofer Moldavski
  12. Orly Barak
  13. Emily Weiss
  14. Jay J Cao
  15. Daria Lizneva
  16. Ki A Goosens
  17. Tony Yuen
  18. Mone Zaidi
(2026)
Single transcript level atlas of oxytocin and the oxytocin receptor in the mouse brain
eLife 15:e95215.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.95215