The Effect of Intranasal Oxytocin on Pain Sensitivity and Threshold

The Effect of Intranasal Oxytocin on Pain Sensitivity and Threshold: A Randomized, Double Blinded, Crossover Volunteer Study

Oxytocin is neurohypophysial peptide that acts mainly as a neuromodulator in the brain.The vast majority of basic science studies suggested a large effect of oxytocin in minimizing acute pain.Few studies have demonstrated an association between plasma levels of oxytocin and pain in humans. Since addictive properties of oxytocin have not been described, the drug may have important application in the management of acute and chronic pain. No studies have examined the effect of intranasal oxytocin on pain sensitivity and threshold.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Intervention 1; Behavioral: Washout Period; Procedure: Intervention 2

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy males and females volunteers, English speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy, lactation, allergy to preservatives, mental disease, any chronic pain and any current use of analgesics, anxiety or depression.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Oxytocin, then Normal Saline; Each subject will receive nasal spray(s) into each nostril of 4 Units up to 32 units of Oxytocin prior to Thermal Evaluation System Testing on intervention 1 (day 1). Following a wash-out period of 13 days the same subject will then receive a nasal spray(s) into each nostril of 4 Units up to 32 units of Normal Saline prior to Thermal Evaluation System Testing on intervention 2 (day 14).	Procedure: Intervention 1; Each subject will receive nasal spray(s) into each nostril of 4 Units up to 32 units of study drug prior to Thermal Evaluation System Testing on intervention 1 (Day 1).; Other Names: Day 1; Behavioral: Washout Period; The wash-out period will be between intervention 1 and intervention 2. 13 days in length.; Procedure: Intervention 2; Each subject will receive nasal spray(s) into each nostril of 4 Units up to 32 units of study drug prior to Thermal Evaluation System Testing on intervention 2 (Day 14).; Other Names: Day 14
Experimental: Normal Saline, then Oxytocin; Each subject will receive nasal spray(s) into each nostril of 4 Units up to 32 units of Normal Saline prior to Thermal Evaluation System Testing on intervention 1 (day 1). Following a wash-out period of 14 to 15 days the same subject will then receive nasal spray(s) into each nostril of 4 Units up to 32 units of Oxytocin prior to Thermal Evaluation System Testing on intervention 2 (day 14).	Procedure: Intervention 1; Each subject will receive nasal spray(s) into each nostril of 4 Units up to 32 units of study drug prior to Thermal Evaluation System Testing on intervention 1 (Day 1).; Other Names: Day 1; Behavioral: Washout Period; The wash-out period will be between intervention 1 and intervention 2. 13 days in length.; Procedure: Intervention 2; Each subject will receive nasal spray(s) into each nostril of 4 Units up to 32 units of study drug prior to Thermal Evaluation System Testing on intervention 2 (Day 14).; Other Names: Day 14

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Hot and Cold Thermal Sensory Threshold for Pain at Baseline in Degrees Celsius.	Thermal Sensory Threshold for Pain at baseline prior to study drug administration. Evaluation of subjects baseline responses of perception of hot and cold stimuli utilizing the Medoc Pathway Pain &Sensory Evaluation System (Medoc Ltd, Israel). The baseline response variable was estimated by averaging the subjects response over three trials, with an interval of 30 seconds. A thermode was attached to the subjects hand and the subject was asked to press a mouse button when they perceive the sensation of heat pain or cold pain. The temperature range was 51C to 0C.	Baseline
Hot and Cold Thermal Sensory Threshold for Pain at 45 Minutes in Degrees Celsius.	Thermal Sensory Threshold for Pain at 45 minutes after study drug administration. Evaluation of subjects responses of perception of hot and cold stimuli utilizing the Medoc Pathway Pain &Sensory Evaluation System (Medoc Ltd, Israel). The response variable was estimated by averaging the subjects response over three trials, with an interval of 30 seconds. A thermode was attached to the subjects hand and the subject was asked to press a mouse button when they perceive the sensation of heat pain or cold pain. The temperature range was 51C to 0C.	45 minutes
Hot and Cold Thermal Sensory Threshold for Pain at 90 Minutes in Degrees Celsius.	Thermal Sensory Threshold for Pain at 90 minutes after study drug administration. Evaluation of subjects responses of perception of hot and cold stimuli utilizing the Medoc Pathway Pain &Sensory Evaluation System (Medoc Ltd, Israel). The response variable was estimated by averaging the subjects response over three trials, with an interval of 30 seconds. A thermode was attached to the subjects hand and the subject was asked to press a mouse button when they perceive the sensation of heat pain or cold pain. The temperature range was 51C to 0C.	90 minutes
Mechanical Pain Threshold for Pain at Baseline in Grams.	Mechanical pain threshold for pain at baseline utilizing a digital electrovonfrey anesthesiometer (IITC model Alemo 2290-4; Woodland Hills, CA, USA). The subjects response to painful stimulus was recorded in grams. Each variable was estimated by averaging a participant's responses over 3 trials, with an intertrial interval of 30 s. The lower amount in grams the more sensitive you are to pain.	Baseline
Mechanical Pain Threshold for Pain at 45 Minutes in Grams.	Mechanical pain threshold for pain at 45 minutes utilizing a digital electrovonfrey anesthesiometer (IITC model Alemo 2290-4; Woodland Hills, CA, USA). The subjects response to painful stimulus was recorded in grams. Each variable was estimated by averaging a participant's responses over 3 trials, with an intertrial interval of 30 s. The lower amount in grams the more sensitive you are to pain.	45 minutes
Mechanical Pain Threshold for Pain at 90 Minutes in Grams.	Mechanical pain threshold for pain at 90 minutes utilizing a digital electrovonfrey anesthesiometer (IITC model Alemo 2290-4; Woodland Hills, CA, USA). The subjects response to painful stimulus was recorded in grams. Each variable was estimated by averaging a participant's responses over 3 trials, with an intertrial interval of 30 s. The lower amount in grams the more sensitive you are to pain.	90 minutes
Suprathreshold Magnitude for Pain at Baseline Measured in Visual Analog Pain Scores.	Supra-threshold magnitude for pain was assessed utilizing the Medoc Pathway System with contact heat evoked potential simulator at 49 degrees Celsius. Visual analog pain score ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).	Baseline
Suprathreshold Magnitude for Pain at 45 Minutes Measured in Visual Analog Pain Scores.	Supra-threshold magnitude for pain was assessed utilizing the Medoc Pathway System with contact heat evoked potential simulator at 49 degrees Celsius. Visual analog pain score ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).	45 minutes
Suprathreshold Magnitude for Pain at 90 Minutes Measured in Visual Analog Pain Scores.	Supra-threshold magnitude for pain was assessed utilizing the Medoc Pathway System with contact heat evoked potential simulator at 49 degrees Celsius. Visual analog pain score ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).	90 minutes
Thermal Wind-up Pain Assessment at Baseline	Using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) subjects will be asked to rate the painfulness of the stimulus for thermal wind-up pain utilizing the medoc pathway system. Each VAS score was recorded over 10 trials, with an interval of 3s. The average VAS score was reported. Visual analog scale ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).	Baseline
Thermal Wind-up Pain at 45 Minutes	Using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) subjects will be asked to rate the painfulness of the stimulus for thermal wind-up pain utilizing the medoc pathway system. Each VAS score was recorded over 10 trials, with an interval of 3s. The average VAS score was reported. Visual analog scale ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).	45 minutes
Thermal Wind-up Pain at 90 Minutes	Using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) subjects will be asked to rate the painfulness of the stimulus for thermal wind-up pain utilizing the medoc pathway system. Each VAS score was recorded over 10 trials, with an interval of 3s. The average VAS score was reported. Visual analog scale ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable).	90 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwestern University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David R Walega, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• MacDonald E, Dadds MR, Brennan JL, Williams K, Levy F, Cauchi AJ. A review of safety, side-effects and subjective reactions to intranasal oxytocin in human research. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2011 Sep;36(8):1114-26. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.02.015. Epub 2011 Mar 23.
• Yamasue H, Yee JR, Hurlemann R, Rilling JK, Chen FS, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Tost H. Integrative approaches utilizing oxytocin to enhance prosocial behavior: from animal and human social behavior to autistic social dysfunction. J Neurosci. 2012 Oct 10;32(41):14109-17. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3327-12.2012.
• Fewtrell MS, Loh KL, Blake A, Ridout DA, Hawdon J. Randomised, double blind trial of oxytocin nasal spray in mothers expressing breast milk for preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2006 May;91(3):F169-74. doi: 10.1136/adc.2005.081265. Epub 2005 Oct 13.
• Rash JA, Aguirre-Camacho A, Campbell TS. Oxytocin and pain: a systematic review and synthesis of findings. Clin J Pain. 2014 May;30(5):453-62. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e31829f57df.
• Wang YL, Yuan Y, Yang J, Wang CH, Pan YJ, Lu L, Wu YQ, Wang DX, Lv LX, Li RR, Xue L, Wang XH, Bi JW, Liu XF, Qian YN, Deng ZK, Zhang ZJ, Zhai XH, Zhou XJ, Wang GL, Zhai JX, Liu WY. The interaction between the oxytocin and pain modulation in headache patients. Neuropeptides. 2013 Apr;47(2):93-7. doi: 10.1016/j.npep.2012.12.003. Epub 2013 Jan 30.
• Singer T, Snozzi R, Bird G, Petrovic P, Silani G, Heinrichs M, Dolan RJ. Effects of oxytocin and prosocial behavior on brain responses to direct and vicariously experienced pain. Emotion. 2008 Dec;8(6):781-91. doi: 10.1037/a0014195.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 16, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 11, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): September 15, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 16, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 12, 2022
• Last Verified: May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Volunteers
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU86297

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No