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Dale II J, Harberson MT, Hill JW. From Parental Behavior to Sexual Function: Recent Advances in Oxytocin Research. CURRENT SEXUAL HEALTH REPORTS 2024; 16:119-130. [PMID: 39224135 PMCID: PMC11365839 DOI: 10.1007/s11930-024-00386-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Oxytocin plays many diverse roles in physiological and behavioral processes, including social activity, parental nurturing, stress responses, and sexual function. In this narrative review, we provide an update on the most noteworthy recent findings in this fascinating field. Recent Findings The development of techniques such as serial two-photon tomography and fiber photometry have provided a window into oxytocin neuroanatomy and real-time neuronal activity during social interactions. fMRI and complementary mapping techniques offer new insights into oxytocin's influence on brain activity and connectivity. Indeed, oxytocin has recently been found to influence the acquisition of maternal care behaviors and to mediate the influence of social touch on brain development and social interaction. Additionally, oxytocin plays a crucial role in male sexual function, affecting erectile activity and ejaculation, while its role in females remains controversial. Recent studies also highlight oxytocin's interaction with other neuropeptides, such as melanin-concentrating hormone, serotonin, and arginine vasopressin, influencing social and affective behaviors. Finally, an update is provided on the status of clinical trials involving oxytocin as a therapeutic intervention. Summary The exploration of oxytocin's complexities and its interplay with other neuropeptides holds promise for targeted treatment in various health and disease contexts. Overall, these findings contribute to the discovery of new and specific pathways to allow therapeutic targeting of oxytocin to treat disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Dale II
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
- Department of Biology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
| | - Mitchell T. Harberson
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
| | - Jennifer W. Hill
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
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2
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Makita Y, Asahina M, Fujinawa R, Yukitake H, Suzuki T. Intranasal oxytocin suppresses seizure-like behaviors in a mouse model of NGLY1 deficiency. Commun Biol 2024; 7:460. [PMID: 38649481 PMCID: PMC11035592 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06131-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
NGLY1 deficiency is a genetic disease caused by biallelic mutations of the Ngly1 gene. Although epileptic seizure is one of the most severe symptoms in patients with NGLY1 deficiency, preclinical studies have not been conducted due to the lack of animal models for epileptic seizures in NGLY1 deficiency. Here, we observed the behaviors of male and female Ngly1-/- mice by video monitoring and found that these mice exhibit spontaneous seizure-like behaviors. Gene expression analyses and enzyme immunoassay revealed significant decreases in oxytocin, a well-known neuropeptide, in the hypothalamus of Ngly1-/- mice. Seizure-like behaviors in Ngly1-/- mice were transiently suppressed by a single intranasal administration of oxytocin. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of oxytocin for epileptic seizure in patients with NGLY1 deficiency and contribute to the clarification of the disease mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukimasa Makita
- Takeda-CiRA Joint Program, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
- Global Advanced Platform, R&D Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Makoto Asahina
- Takeda-CiRA Joint Program, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
- Global Advanced Platform, R&D Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Reiko Fujinawa
- Global Advanced Platform, R&D Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
- Glycometabolic Biochemistry Laboratory, Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yukitake
- Takeda-CiRA Joint Program, 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
- Global Advanced Platform, R&D Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan
| | - Tadashi Suzuki
- Global Advanced Platform, R&D Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 251-8555, Japan.
- Glycometabolic Biochemistry Laboratory, Cluster for Pioneering Research, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako Saitama, 351-0198, Japan.
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3
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Winter J, Meyer M, Berger I, Royer M, Bianchi M, Kuffner K, Peters S, Stang S, Langgartner D, Hartmann F, Schmidtner AK, Reber SO, Bosch OJ, Bludau A, Slattery DA, van den Burg EH, Jurek B, Neumann ID. Chronic oxytocin-driven alternative splicing of Crfr2α induces anxiety. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4742-4755. [PMID: 34035479 PMCID: PMC10914602 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01141-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has generated considerable interest as potential treatment for psychiatric disorders, including anxiety and autism spectrum disorders. However, the behavioral and molecular consequences associated with chronic OXT treatment and chronic receptor (OXTR) activation have scarcely been studied, despite the potential therapeutic long-term use of intranasal OXT. Here, we reveal that chronic OXT treatment over two weeks increased anxiety-like behavior in rats, with higher sensitivity in females, contrasting the well-known anxiolytic effect of acute OXT. The increase in anxiety was transient and waned 5 days after the infusion has ended. The behavioral effects of chronic OXT were paralleled by activation of an intracellular signaling pathway, which ultimately led to alternative splicing of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 2α (Crfr2α), an important modulator of anxiety. In detail, chronic OXT shifted the splicing ratio from the anxiolytic membrane-bound (mCRFR2α) form of CRFR2α towards the soluble CRFR2α (sCRFR2α) form. Experimental induction of alternative splicing mimicked the anxiogenic effects of chronic OXT, while sCRFR2α-knock down reduced anxiety-related behavior of male rats. Furthermore, chronic OXT treatment triggered the release of sCRFR2α into the cerebrospinal fluid with sCRFR2α levels positively correlating with anxiety-like behavior. In summary, we revealed that the shifted splicing ratio towards expression of the anxiogenic sCRFR2α underlies the adverse effects of chronic OXT treatment on anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Winter
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Meyer
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ilona Berger
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Royer
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marta Bianchi
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Kuffner
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Peters
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Simone Stang
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Finn Hartmann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Anna K Schmidtner
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Oliver J Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Anna Bludau
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - David A Slattery
- Laboratory of Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Erwin H van den Burg
- Center for Psychiatric Neurosciences, University Hospital Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Jurek
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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Baracz SJ, Robinson KJ, Wright AL, Turner AJ, McGregor IS, Cornish JL, Everett NA. Oxytocin as an adolescent treatment for methamphetamine addiction after early life stress in male and female rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1561-1573. [PMID: 35581382 PMCID: PMC9206013 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01336-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Early life stress (ELS) is associated with perturbed neural development and augmented vulnerability to mental health disorders, including addiction. How ELS changes the brain to increase addiction risk is poorly understood, and there are no therapies which target this ELS-induced vulnerability. ELS disrupts the oxytocin system, which can modulate addiction susceptibility, suggesting that targeting the oxytocin system may be therapeutic in this ELS-addiction comorbidity. Therefore, we determined whether adolescent oxytocin treatment after ELS could: (1) reduce vulnerability to anxiety, social deficits, and methamphetamine-taking and reinstatement; and (2) restore hypothalamic oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing factor expressing neurons and peripheral oxytocin and corticosterone levels. Long Evans pups underwent maternal separation (MS) for either 15 min or 360 min on postnatal days (PND) 1-21. During adolescence (PNDs 28-42), rats received a daily injection of either oxytocin or saline. In Experiment 1, adult rats were assessed using the elevated plus-maze, social interaction procedure, and methamphetamine self-administration procedure, including extinction, and cue-, methamphetamine- and yohimbine-induced reinstatement. In Experiment 2, plasma for enzyme immunoassays and brain tissue for immunofluorescence were collected from adult rats after acute stress exposure. Adolescent oxytocin treatment ameliorated ELS-induced anxiety and reduced methamphetamine- and yohimbine-induced reinstatement in both sexes, and suppressed methamphetamine intake and facilitated extinction in males only. Additionally, adolescent oxytocin treatment after ELS restored oxytocin-immunoreactive cells and stress-induced oxytocin levels in males, and attenuated stress-induced corticosterone levels in both sexes. Adolescent oxytocin treatment reverses some of the ELS effects on later-life psychopathology and vulnerability to addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Baracz
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Katherine J Robinson
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Amanda L Wright
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Anita J Turner
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Iain S McGregor
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Lambert Initiative of Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Cornish
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Everett
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
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5
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Takayanagi Y, Onaka T. Roles of Oxytocin in Stress Responses, Allostasis and Resilience. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010150. [PMID: 35008574 PMCID: PMC8745417 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin has been revealed to work for anxiety suppression and anti-stress as well as for psychosocial behavior and reproductive functions. Oxytocin neurons are activated by various stressful stimuli. The oxytocin receptor is widely distributed within the brain, and oxytocin that is released or diffused affects behavioral and neuroendocrine stress responses. On the other hand, there has been an increasing number of reports on the role of oxytocin in allostasis and resilience. It has been shown that oxytocin maintains homeostasis, shifts the set point for adaptation to a changing environment (allostasis) and contributes to recovery from the shifted set point by inducing active coping responses to stressful stimuli (resilience). Recent studies have suggested that oxytocin is also involved in stress-related disorders, and it has been shown in clinical trials that oxytocin provides therapeutic benefits for patients diagnosed with stress-related disorders. This review includes the latest information on the role of oxytocin in stress responses and adaptation.
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6
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Plemeniti Tololeski B, Suhodolčan Grabner A, Kumperscak HG. Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa Comorbidity: Common Features and Treatment Possibilities With Cognitive Remediation Therapy and Oxytocin. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:686030. [PMID: 34413796 PMCID: PMC8369034 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.686030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Autistic traits or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be found in 4% to 52% of anorexic patients, which makes the treatment of these patients very challenging. In this review, possible ways to treat ASD and anorexia nervosa (AN) comorbidity in children and adolescents are summarized. Over recent years, the focus has shifted from searching for the evidence of connections between these two disorders, which have started with Gillberg's study in 1983, to searching for more effective and holistic treatment of this comorbidity. The latter is known to contribute to more severe courses and worse prognosis, which is probably related to the obstacles in both diagnosing and treating. Since AN usually starts in early adolescence and high-functioning ASD children seem to begin struggling with increased pressure in adolescence, while various comorbidities can occur, it is important to improve the treatment of this comorbidity in young patients and to tailor it specifically in terms of diagnosing. In this paper, a literature review is conducted on common features and promising treatment possibilities. We describe cognitive remediation therapy and the promising pharmacotherapeutic candidate oxytocin with a special focus on adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Plemeniti Tololeski
- Centre for Mental Health, Unit for Adolescent Psychiatry, University Psychiatric Hospital Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Hojka Gregoric Kumperscak
- Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Medical Centre, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty for Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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7
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Ellis BJ, Horn AJ, Carter CS, van IJzendoorn MH, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. Developmental programming of oxytocin through variation in early-life stress: Four meta-analyses and a theoretical reinterpretation. Clin Psychol Rev 2021; 86:101985. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.101985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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8
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González-Hernández A, Condés-Lara M, García-Boll E, Villalón CM. An outlook on the trigeminovascular mechanisms of action and side effects concerns of some potential neuropeptidergic antimigraine therapies. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2021; 17:179-199. [DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2021.1856366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Miguel Condés-Lara
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, México
| | - Enrique García-Boll
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, México
| | - Carlos M. Villalón
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Cinvestav-Coapa, Ciudad de México, México
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9
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Quintana DS, Lischke A, Grace S, Scheele D, Ma Y, Becker B. Advances in the field of intranasal oxytocin research: lessons learned and future directions for clinical research. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:80-91. [PMID: 32807845 PMCID: PMC7815514 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00864-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Reports on the modulatory role of the neuropeptide oxytocin on social cognition and behavior have steadily increased over the last two decades, stimulating considerable interest in its psychiatric application. Basic and clinical research in humans primarily employs intranasal application protocols. This approach assumes that intranasal administration increases oxytocin levels in the central nervous system via a direct nose-to-brain route, which in turn acts upon centrally-located oxytocin receptors to exert its behavioral effects. However, debates have emerged on whether intranasally administered oxytocin enters the brain via the nose-to-brain route and whether this route leads to functionally relevant increases in central oxytocin levels. In this review we outline recent advances from human and animal research that provide converging evidence for functionally relevant effects of the intranasal oxytocin administration route, suggesting that direct nose-to-brain delivery underlies the behavioral effects of oxytocin on social cognition and behavior. Moreover, advances in previously debated methodological issues, such as pre-registration, reproducibility, statistical power, interpretation of non-significant results, dosage, and sex differences are discussed and integrated with suggestions for the next steps in translating intranasal oxytocin into psychiatric applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Quintana
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Alexander Lischke
- Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sally Grace
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Dirk Scheele
- Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Yina Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Clinical Hospital of the Chengdu Brain Science Institute, Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation, School of Life Science and Technology, Center for Information in Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
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Brain oxytocin: how puzzle stones from animal studies translate into psychiatry. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:265-279. [PMID: 32514104 PMCID: PMC7278240 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0802-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin has attracted great attention of the general public, basic neuroscience researchers, psychologists, and psychiatrists due to its profound pro-social, anxiolytic, and "anti-stress" behavioral and physiological effects, and its potential application for treatment of mental diseases associated with altered socio-emotional competence. During the last decade, substantial progress has been achieved in understanding the complex neurobiology of the oxytocin system, including oxytocinergic pathways, local release patterns, and oxytocin receptor distribution in the brain, as well as intraneuronal oxytocin receptor signaling. However, the picture of oxytocin actions remains far from being complete, and the central question remains: "How does a single neuropeptide exert such pleotropic actions?" Although this phenomenon, typical for many of about 100 identified neuropeptides, may emerge from the anatomical divergence of oxytocin neurons, their multiple central projections, distinct oxytocin-sensitive cell types in different brain regions, and multiple intraneuronal signaling pathways determining the specific cellular response, further basic studies are required. In conjunction, numerous reports on positive effects of intranasal application of oxytocin on human brain networks controlling socio-emotional behavior in health and disease require harmonic tandems of basic researchers and clinicians. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, oxytocin research seems central as question of social isolation-induced inactivation of the oxytocin system, and buffering effects of either activation of the endogenous system or intranasal application of synthetic oxytocin need to be thoroughly investigated.
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Martins D, Davies C, De Micheli A, Oliver D, Krawczun-Rygmaczewska A, Fusar-Poli P, Paloyelis Y. Intranasal oxytocin increases heart-rate variability in men at clinical high risk for psychosis: a proof-of-concept study. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:227. [PMID: 32655132 PMCID: PMC7354990 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-00890-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction (i.e., increased sympathetic and/or decreased parasympathetic activity) has been proposed to contribute to psychosis vulnerability. Yet, we still lack directed therapeutic strategies that improve ANS regulation in psychosis or at-risk states. The oxytocin system constitutes a potential therapeutic target, given its role in ANS regulation. However, whether intranasal oxytocin ameliorates autonomic regulation during emerging psychosis is currently unknown. We pooled together two datasets, one of 30 men at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P), and another of 17 healthy men, who had participated in two double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, crossover MRI studies with similar protocols. All participants self-administered 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin or placebo using a nasal spray. We recorded pulse plethysmography during a period of 8 min at about 1 h post dosing and estimated heart rate (HR) and high-frequency HR variability (HF-HRV), an index of cardio-parasympathetic activity. CHR-P and healthy men did not differ at resting HR or HF-HRV under placebo. We found a significant condition × treatment effect for HF-HRV, showing that intranasal oxytocin, compared with placebo, increased HF-HRV in CHR-P but not in healthy men. The main effects of treatment and condition were not significant. In this proof-of-concept study, we show that intranasal oxytocin increases cardio-parasympathetic activity in CHR-P men, highlighting its therapeutic potential to improve autonomic regulation in this clinical group. Our findings support the need for further research on the preventive and therapeutic potential of intranasal oxytocin during emerging psychosis, where we lack effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Martins
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Cathy Davies
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical detection (EPIC) lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Andrea De Micheli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical detection (EPIC) lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Dominic Oliver
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical detection (EPIC) lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Alicja Krawczun-Rygmaczewska
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical detection (EPIC) lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- OASIS Service, South London and the Maudsley NHS National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Yannis Paloyelis
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
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Verhees MWFT, van IJzendoorn MH, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Ceulemans E, de Winter S, Santens T, Alaerts K, Casteels K, Salemink E, Verhaeghe J, Bosmans G. Combining oxytocin and cognitive bias modification training in a randomized controlled trial: Effects on trust in maternal support. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2020; 66:101514. [PMID: 31610435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.101514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Research on the social effects of intranasal oxytocin in children is scarce. Oxytocin has been proposed to have clearer beneficial effects when added to social learning paradigms. The current study tested this proposition in middle childhood by assessing effects of cognitive bias modification (CBM) training and oxytocin on trust in maternal support. METHODS Children (N = 100, 8-12 years) were randomly assigned to one of two training conditions: CBM training aimed at increasing trust or neutral placebo training. Within each training condition, half the participants received oxytocin and half a placebo. Main and interaction effects were assessed on measures of trust-related interpretation bias and trust. We explored whether child characteristics moderated intervention effects. RESULTS Children in the CBM training were faster to interpret maternal behaviour securely versus insecurely. Effects did not generalize to interpretation bias measures or trust. There were no main or interaction effects of oxytocin. Exploratory moderation analyses indicated that combining CBM training with oxytocin had less positive effects on trust for children with more internalizing problems. LIMITATIONS As this was the first study combining CBM and oxytocin, replication of the results is needed. CONCLUSIONS This study combined a social learning paradigm with oxytocin in children. CBM training was effective at an automatic level of processing. Oxytocin did not enhance CBM effects or independently exert effects. Research in larger samples specifying when oxytocin might have beneficial effects is necessary before oxytocin can be used as intervention option in children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marinus H van IJzendoorn
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Primary Care Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Eva Ceulemans
- Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Simon de Winter
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tara Santens
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaat Alaerts
- Research Group for Neuromotor Rehabilitation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristina Casteels
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elske Salemink
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johan Verhaeghe
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Bosmans
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Clinical Psychology Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Fathers today: design of a randomized controlled trial examining the role of oxytocin and vasopressin in behavioral and neural responses to infant signals. BMC Psychol 2019; 7:81. [PMID: 31843012 PMCID: PMC6915978 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-019-0356-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous research has mostly focused on the hormonal, behavioral and neural correlates of maternal caregiving. We present a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled within-subject design to examine the effects of intranasal administration of oxytocin and vasopressin on parenting behavior and the neural and behavioral responses to infant cry sounds and infant threat. In addition, we will test whether effects of oxytocin and vasopressin administration are moderated by fathers’ early childhood experiences. Methods Fifty-five first-time fathers of a child between two and seven months old will participate in three experimental sessions with intervening periods of one to two weeks. Participants self-administer oxytocin, vasopressin or a placebo. Infant-father interactions and protective parenting responses are observed during play. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is used to examine the neural processing of infant cry sounds and infant threat. A handgrip dynamometer is used to measure use of handgrip force when listening to infant cry sounds. Participants report on their childhood experiences of parental love-withdrawal and abuse and neglect. Discussion The results of this study will provide important insights into the hormonal, behavioral and neural correlates of fathers’ parenting behavior during the early phase of fatherhood. Trial registration Dutch Trial Register: NTR (ID: NL8124); Date registered: October 30, 2019.
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Baracz SJ, Everett NA, Cornish JL. The impact of early life stress on the central oxytocin system and susceptibility for drug addiction: Applicability of oxytocin as a pharmacotherapy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 110:114-132. [PMID: 30172802 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Early life trauma is strongly associated with an increased vulnerability to abuse illicit drugs and the impairment of neural development. This includes alterations to the development of the oxytocin system, which plays a pivotal role in the regulation of social behaviours and emotion. Dysregulation of this important system also contributes to increased susceptibility to develop drug addiction. In this review, we provide an overview of the animal models of early life stress that are widely used, and discuss the impact that early life stress has on drug-taking behaviour in adolescence and adulthood in both sexes. We link this to the changes that early life stress has on the endogenous oxytocin system, and how exogenously administered oxytocin may help to re-establish functioning of the system, and in turn, reduce drug-taking behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Baracz
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Nicholas A Everett
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jennifer L Cornish
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia
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