Oxytocin neurons signal state-dependent transitions from rest to thermogenesis and behavioral arousal in social and non-social settings

Abstract Core body temperature (Tb) is defended within narrow limits through thermoregulatory behaviors like huddling, nesting, and physical activity as well as autonomic responses like brown fat thermogenesis and peripheral vasodilation. While Tb displays regulated fluctuations across different behavioral states and rest/arousal cycles, the neural control of these transitions is poorly understood. Here, we investigate the relationship between oxytocin neurons of the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVNOT) and behavioral and autonomic thermoeffector pathways across physiological states in mice. First, we show that PVNOT neurons are activated during social thermoregulation. We then demonstrate that—in both social and nonsocial contexts—in vivo PVNOT calcium dynamics align with transitions from rest to thermogenesis and behavioral arousal. Using a computer vision model to track thermoeffector pathways, we demonstrate that precisely timed stimulation of PVNOT neurons during low-Tb resting states increases thermogenesis followed by behavioral arousal. We therefore suggest a model in which PVNOT neurons facilitate state-dependent transitions in thermo-behavioral states.