# Refining Oxytocin Therapy for Pain: Context is Key

> **NIH NS R01** · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · 2026 · $495,247

## Abstract

Intrathecal oxytocin (OT) is in clinical trials as an opioid alternative for chronic pain treatment. Our work in mice
suggests that coupling intrathecal oxytocin with manual therapies (i.e. massage) optimizes the analgesic
properties of oxytocin. This project provides the framework to support this combination therapy by concentrating
on the spinal cord circuit mechanisms by which oxytocin alleviates pain. Our preliminary studies suggest that
oxytocin-specific spinal cord circuits are embedded within a previously uncharacterized dorsal horn
nociceptive/affective touch circuit. We will carry out three complementary sets of experiments to test the overall
hypothesis that oxytocin alleviates pain by balancing excitation, inhibition, nociception, and affective touch to
sculpt the activity of spinal projections systems that carry both negative valences (associated with noxious
stimuli), and signals associated with positive valence (like the pleasurable properties of touch). Pharmacological
and behavioral studies in rodents suggest that spinal cord oxytocin receptors (OTRs) mediate intrathecal
oxytocin-induced analgesia. In Aim 1 we map the distribution of OTR+ interneurons within the dorsal horn of
female and male mice, rats, and humans. In Aim 2, we map the specific input/output profiles of OTR+INs. Here
we test the hypothesis that inhibitory and excitatory OTR+INs integrate peripheral nociceptive/affective touch
information with OT to differentially regulate the activity of molecularly defined Lamina I projection neurons. In
Aim 3 we assay the contribution of OT spinal cord circuits to both sensory-evoked reflexes and affective-
motivational pain. For Aim 3 we implement our recently developed computational approaches to scale sensory-
reflexive and affective-motivational pain. Results from our human tissue studies will inform how our
interpretations of our rodent studies may be applied to human therapies. Based on our unique expertise in touch-
specific spinal cord circ

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11248320
- **Project number:** 5R01NS124799-04
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J.
- **Principal Investigator:** Victoria Eugenia Guadalupe Abraira
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NS
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $495,247
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-01-01T00:00:00 → 2027-12-31T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11248320

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11248320, Refining Oxytocin Therapy for Pain: Context is Key (5R01NS124799-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-20 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11248320. Licensed CC0.

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