Circadian rhythm of oxytocin in the cerebrospinal fluid of rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys: effects of castration and adrenalectomy and presence of a caudal-rostral gradient.

Oxytocin and vasopressin (AVP) were previously reported to have a diurnal rhythm in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected from the cervical cistern of chaired, intact male rhesus monkeys. In the present study, we continuously sampled CSF from temporary indwelling catheters placed in the spinal subarachnoid space of unanesthetized monkeys maintained on tether and swivel systems. CSF was collected from intact and castrate female rhesus monkeys and intact female and castrate, adrenalectomized male cynomolgus monkeys to determine if oxytocin and AVP rhythms are expressed in spinal subarachnoid CSF, if the magnitude of the CSF rhythm displays a rostral-caudal gradient, and if the rhythm is present in adrenalectomized and castrate monkeys, or is specific to the sex or species of macaque. Monkeys, maintained on a 12-hour light/dark cycle with lights on from 06.00 to 18.00 h, had 19-gauge epidural catheters introduced at the L4-L5 intervertebral space and advanced cephalad in the subarachnoid space. The proximal end of the catheter was connected to a peristaltic pump for continuous removal of CSF (0.5 ml/h) and hourly CSF samples were radioimmunoassayed for oxytocin and AVP. For rostral-caudal studies, the distal tip of the catheter was repositioned every few days to collect CSF from 3 levels of the spinal subarachnoid space: C5-6, T5-6, T12-L1. Each animal had a diurnal CSF oxytocin rhythm with peak and trough oxytocin levels during early light and dark periods, respectively. The magnitude of the oxytocin rhythm differed among animals, but was consistent in an animal from day to day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)