How the brain’s oxytocin system protects early brain development after injury

Brain injury in early life, whether caused by preterm birth or traumatic brain injury (TBI), often triggers harmful brain inflammation that disrupts normal brain development and can lead to long-term cognitive and social difficulties. In two complementary mouse studies, Prof. Olivier Baud’s team showed that stimulating the brain’s own oxytocin-producing neurons reduces this inflammation by calming microglia, the brain’s immune cells. This early intervention improved brain wiring, protected white matter, restored normal brain connectivity, and rescued social behaviours later in life.

Importantly, the protective effects lasted long after the stimulation ended. Benefits were stronger in females in the preterm birth model, reflecting natural sex differences in oxytocin signalling. Together, these findings provide a biological explanation for why non-invasive neonatal care interventions, such as skin-to-skin contact, music therapy, and developmental care, can support brain development. Harnessing the brain’s own oxytocin system may offer a safe, non-drug strategy to protect the developing brain after early-life injury.

Read the full articles:

Knoop M, Possovre ML, Trak E, Pitetti JL, van de Looij Y, Sanches E, Tsartsalis S, Pansiot J, Schirmbeck G, Baud O. Chemogenetic activation of oxytocinergic neurons rescues neural correlates of encephalopathy of prematurity in mice. Neurobiol Dis. 2026 Jan;218:107250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2025.107250

Knoop M, Trak E, Possovre ML, van de Looij Y, Schirmbeck G, Ceyzériat K, Pitetti JL, Sanches E, Musardo S, Millet P, Tsartsalis S, Tournier BB, Bellone C, Sizonenko SV, Jacquens A, Baud O. Chemogenetic activation of oxytocinergic neurons modulates acute neuroinflammation and improves brain development after pediatric traumatic brain injury. Brain Behav Immun. 2026 Jan 16;133:106293. https://doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2026.106293

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