POMC and infectious otitis media: Given that depletion of Oxt neurons elevated anxiety level in mice, and that the dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis can elicit stress, next, we assessed the circulating adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and corticosterone levels in OxtCre and OxtCre;DTA mice with AOM/DSS-induced CAC.