Fig 2: ErbB4+ cells in the PVH were positive for OXT. A–C, ErbB4+ cells in the PVH were not positive for TH (A) or AVP (B), but for OXT (C). Brain slices of ErbB4-tdTomato mice were stained with respective antibodies that were visualized by Alexa488-conjugated secondary antibody (green). D, Reduced serum levels of OXT in AAV-Cre mice, compared with AAV-GFP. E, Quantification of immunostaining data. Data are presented as mean ± SEM; *p < 0.05.

Fig 3: OXT receptors (OXTR and V1aR) expression in L4 DRGs (sham and after UVB radiation). (a and c) UVB-induced changes in the expression of OXTR and V1aR on the skin using Western blot analysis. (b and d) Data represents OXTR and V1aR/GAPDH ratio (left panel) and normalized ipsilateral/contralateral ratio (right panel). Data are presented as median (numbers and horizontal lines) with boxes representing the 25 and 75 percentiles. * = p < .05, ** = p < .01, *** = p < .001.

Fig 4: Effect of LTCSIS in OXT in different regions of brain degus across the treatments. Absolute values from ELISAs of (A) hypothalamus lysates (B) hippocampal lysates (C) prefrontal cortex lysates. ELISA assay used the same protein extract that for western blot analyses: 90 μL/well (1 μg/μL). Standards and samples were run in duplicate. The data were analysed statistically using two-way ANOVA followed by Fisher's LSD post-hoc test. The statistical effect of stress treatment, sex and the interaction between the two factors are indicated in the top of the figure. Each symbol corresponds to data from a single-sex stress treatment group, represented as the mean ± SEM (n = 3). As is showed in Figures for two-way ANOVA crossing lines indicate the interaction between both factors: stress treatment and sex.

Fig 5: Effect of injury and OXT on physiologically characterized afferents. (a) Effects of UVB radiation on reflexive paw withdrawal threshold (PWT). Data are presented on Log10 scale at baseline, 24 h after UVB radiation, and 30 min after IP OXT (6 mg/Kg) or vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF). Values are mean ± SE. ** = p < .01; *** = p < .001. n = 8 (per group). (b) Proportion of L4 recorded afferents. Pre (30 min) and post (30 min) IP OXT (6 mg/Kg) in Sham (left two columns) and UVB irradiated (right two columns). (c) Mechanical threshold (MT) of subtypes of afferents Pre (30 min, solid box) and Pos (30 min open box) per mechanosensitive type (LTMR: black, AHTMR: blue, CHTMR: red). Values are medians presented in Log10 scale (horizontal bars, values at the bottom) with boxes representing the 25 and 75 percentiles and outliners (crossed circles: maximal and minimal). * = p < .05, ** = p < .01. (d) Conduction velocity of the afferents reported on (c) Values are means presented in Log10 scale (horizontal bars, values at the bottom) with boxes representing the 25 and 75 percentiles and outliners (crossed circles: maximal and minimal). Color code the same as (b).