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Horn AJ, Cole S, Nazarloo HP, Nazarloo P, Davis JM, Carrier D, Bryan C, Carter CS. Severe PTSD is marked by reduced oxytocin and elevated vasopressin. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 19:100236. [PMID: 38764609 PMCID: PMC11101686 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine analyses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have generally focused on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis alterations. In the present analyses, we examine two additional neuroendocrine factors that have been previously implicated in biological stress responses: oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP). Here we examined basal neuropeptide status in military veterans clinically diagnosed with PTSD (n = 29) and in two non-traumatized comparison groups with previous stress exposure (n = 11 SWAT trainees and n = 21 ultramarathon runners). PTSD patients showed low levels of plasma OT and high levels of AVP. The ratio of AVP/OT robustly related to PTSD status, and emerged as a statistically plausible mediator of relationships between the number of personal traumatic experiences and subsequent PTSD symptom burden. Over the course of behavioral therapy for PTSD, measures of OT showed a significant but modest normalization. Plasma cortisol levels were not statistically different among the three groups. This study suggests that AVP/OT ratios may represent a neuroendocrine predictor of severe PTSD, as well as a potential treatment response biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve Cole
- UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - John M. Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David Carrier
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Craig Bryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - C. Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Ahmed M, Mahmud A, Mughal S, Shah HH. Dysphoric milk ejection reflex - call for future trials. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 310:627-630. [PMID: 38676742 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-024-07503-4] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Dysphoric milk ejection reflex is a condition that causes an abrupt emotional downturn during the initial moments of milk ejection in a breastfeeding mother. Depression, anxiety, hopelessness, anger, irritability, homesickness, and stomach hollowness are all possible symptoms. The exact cause of D-MER remains unknown. However, it is proposed that it is caused by an alteration in oxytocin signaling response where secretion of oxytocin upregulates the stress response instead of its downregulation. Activation of the defensive response of the mother by oxytocin during breastfeeding, disruption in dopamine levels, and activation of vasopressin-regulated pathways are other probable causes. Due to a lack of awareness, this phenomenon is easily misdiagnosed as postpartum depression and aversion by many healthcare professionals. Its prevalence in various populations of the world remains unknown due to the lack of research studies conducted in these populations. While no medically approved therapeutic strategy is available, supportive techniques such as maintaining a healthy diet, mental distraction, relaxation methods, and increasing skin-to-skin contact can help alleviate dysphoria during breastfeeding. However, due to a lack of D-MER research, specific challenges exist regarding early withdrawal from breastfeeding and women's help-seeking attitude toward perinatal mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marium Ahmed
- Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
| | - Amina Mahmud
- Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sanila Mughal
- Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hussain Haider Shah
- Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
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Atila C, Mekkattu S, Murugesu R, Gaisl O, Varghese N, Eckert A, Christ-Crain M. Plasma oxytocin levels in response to glucagon in patients with arginine vasopressin deficiency (central diabetes insipidus) and healthy controls. Endocrine 2024:10.1007/s12020-024-03920-2. [PMID: 38935296 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03920-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We recently demonstrated an additional oxytocin (OT) deficiency in patients with arginine vasopressin (AVP) deficiency (central diabetes insipidus) by using 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) as a novel provocation test. However, the implication of the MDMA provocation test in clinical practice might be challenging. Glucagon effectively stimulates vasopressinergic neurons with a strong increase in plasma copeptin. We therefore hypothesized that this provocation test might also stimulate OT. METHODS This is a predefined secondary analysis of a prospective double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over trial involving ten patients with AVP deficiency and ten sex- and body-mass index-matched healthy participants at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. Each participant underwent the glucagon test (s.c. injection of 1 mg glucagon) and placebo test (s.c. injection of 0.9% normal saline). Plasma OT levels were measured at baseline, 60, 120 and 180 min after injection. The primary objective was to determine whether glucagon stimulates OT and whether OT levels differ between patients with AVP deficiency and healthy participants. The primary outcome (maximum change in OT within 180 min) was compared between groups and conditions using a linear mixed effects model. RESULTS In healthy participants, the median OT at baseline was 82.7 pg/ml [62.3-94.3] and slightly increased to a maximum of 93.3 pg/ml [87.2-121.1] after injection of glucagon, resulting in a change increase of 24.9 pg/ml [5.1-27.8]. Similarly, in patients with AVP deficiency, the median OT at baseline was 73.9 pg/ml [65.3-81.6] and slightly increased after glucagon injection to 114.9 pg/ml [70.9-140.9], resulting in a change increase of 36.8 pg/ml [-2.2 to 51.2]. The results from the mixed model showed no effect between glucagon compared to placebo on OT (difference: -0.5 pg/ml; 95%-CI [-25, 24]; p = 0.97) and no significant treatment-by-group interaction effect between patients compared to healthy participants (interaction: 28 pg/ml; 95%-CI [-7, 62]; p = 0.13). CONCLUSION We found no effect of glucagon on plasma OT levels and no difference between patients with AVP deficiency and healthy participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cihan Atila
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shalini Mekkattu
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rakithan Murugesu
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Odile Gaisl
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nimmy Varghese
- Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Research Cluster, Molecular & Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Neurobiology, University of Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anne Eckert
- Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Research Cluster, Molecular & Cognitive Neuroscience, Division of Neurobiology, University of Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mirjam Christ-Crain
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Hu H, Zarate CA, Verbalis J. Arginine vasopressin in mood disorders: A potential biomarker of disease pathology and a target for pharmacologic intervention. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38923665 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.13703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Vasopressin or arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is a neuropeptide molecule known for its antidiuretic effects and serves to regulate plasma osmolality and blood pressure. The existing literature suggests that AVP plays a multifaceted-though less well-known-role in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in relation to the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders. Animal models have demonstrated that AVP is implicated in regulating social cognition, affiliative and prosocial behaviors, and aggression, often in conjunction with oxytocin. In humans, AVP is implicated in mood disorders through its effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as well as on the serotoninergic and glutamatergic systems. Measuring plasma AVP has yielded interesting but mixed results in mood and stress-related disorders. Recent advances have led to the development of copeptin as a stable and reliable surrogate biomarker for AVP. Another interesting but relatively unexplored issue is the interaction between the osmoregulatory system and mood disorder pathophysiology, given that psychotropic medications often cause dysregulation of AVP receptor expression or signaling that can subsequently lead to clinical syndromes like syndrome of inappropriate diuresis and diabetes insipidus. Finally, pharmaceutical trials of agents that act on V1a and V1b receptor antagonists are still underway. This narrative review summarizes: (1) the neurobiology of the vasopressinergic system in the CNS; (2) the interaction between AVP and the monoaminergic and glutamatergic pathways in the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders; (3) the iatrogenic AVP dysregulation caused by psychotropic medications; and (4) the pharmaceutical development of AVP receptor antagonists for the treatment of mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroe Hu
- Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Carlos A Zarate
- Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph Verbalis
- Department of Endocrinology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Zhang Z, Dong X, Liu Z, Liu N. Social status predicts physiological and behavioral responses to chronic stress in rhesus monkeys. iScience 2024; 27:110073. [PMID: 38883834 PMCID: PMC11176666 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Investigating the underlying factors that cause differential individual responses to chronic stress is crucial for developing personalized therapies, especially in the face of pandemics such as COVID-19. However, this question remains elusive, particularly in primates. In the present study, we aimed to address this question by utilizing monkeys as a model to examine the impacts of social rank on stress levels and physiological and behavioral responses to chronic stress primarily caused by social isolation at both the individual and group levels. Our results showed that high-ranking animals were more susceptible to chronic stress. After exposure to chronic stress, although social hierarchies remained the same, the colonies exhibited more harmonious group relationships (e.g., more prosocial behaviors), with notable contributions from low-ranking animals. Overall, this study deepens our understanding of how social status shapes responses to chronic stress and sheds light on developing tailored and personalized therapies for coping with chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xueda Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ning Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Sepp K, László A, Gálfi M, Radács M, Mózes M, Hausinger P, Pálföldi R, Veszelka M, Valkusz Z, Molnár Z. Study of endocrine disruptor effects in AVP and OT mediated behavioral and reproductive processes in female rat models. Physiol Behav 2024; 283:114597. [PMID: 38830445 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Environmental exposures may have endocrine disruptor (ED) effects, e.g., a role for halogenated hydrocarbon chlorobenzenes in increasing vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin (OT) secretion and, in association, anxiety and aggression in male rats has been shown. Our aim is to investigate whether 1,2,4-trichlorobenzenehexachlorobenzene= 1:1 (mClB) treatment of female rats also shows ED effects and reproductive biology differences, and whether AVP may have a mediator role in this? Female Wistar rats were treated (0.1; 1.0; 10.0 μg/bwkg/day) with mClB (by gastrictube) and then 30; 60; 90 days after treatment anxiety (open field test) and aggressive (resident intruder test) behaviors AVP, OT concentrations from blood plasma samples were detected by radioimmunoassay on 30; 60; 90 days. Treated female rats were mated with untreated males. Mating success, number of newborn and maternal aggression on the neonates were monitored. Results showed that AVP, OT levels; and anxiety, aggressive behaviors; and mothers' aggression towards their offspring increased significantly in relation to the duration and the dose of mClB treatment. But mating propensity and number of offspring decreased. Patterns of AVP, OT release and anxiety, aggression behaviors, and reproductive-related behaviors were correlated. Consistent with the literature, our studies confirmed the role of AVP and OT in different behavioral effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztián Sepp
- Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - Anna László
- Department of Applied Statistics, Institute of Mathematics and Basic Science, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márta Gálfi
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences and Environmental Education, Department of Environmental Biology and Education, Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Marianna Radács
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences and Environmental Education, Department of Environmental Biology and Education, Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Miklós Mózes
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences and Environmental Education, Department of Environmental Biology and Education, Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Hausinger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Regina Pálföldi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Deszk, Hungary
| | - Médea Veszelka
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsuzsanna Valkusz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Molnár
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences and Environmental Education, Department of Environmental Biology and Education, Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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Jiang ST, Lian SY, Sun YH, Pan MB, Wang B, Wang H, Hua J, Wang YC, Wang QL, Dong YF. The oxytocin receptor is essential for the protective effect of pair housing on post-stroke depression in mice. Exp Gerontol 2024; 190:112432. [PMID: 38614224 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112432] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
The beneficial effect of social interaction in mitigating the incidence of post-stroke depression (PSD) and ameliorating depressive symptoms has been consistently demonstrated through preclinical and clinical studies. However, the underlying relationship with oxytocin requires further investigation. In light of this, the present study aimed to explore the protective effect of pair housing on the development of PSD and the potential relationship with oxytocin receptors. The PSD model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 50 min, followed by 4-week isolated housing and restrained stress. Subsequently, each mouse in the pair-housing group (PH) was pair-housed with an isosexual healthy partner. Another group was continuously administrated fluoxetine (10 mg/Kg, i.p, once a day) for 3 weeks. To elucidate the potential role of oxytocin, we subjected pair-housed PSD mice to treatment with an oxytocin receptor (OXTR) antagonist (L368,889) (5 mg/Kg, i.p, once a day) for 3 weeks. At 31 to 32 days after MCAO, anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors were assessed using sucrose consumption, forced swim test, and tail-suspension test. The results showed that pair housing significantly improved post-stroke depression to an extent comparable to that of fluoxetine treatment. Furthermore, pair housing significantly decreased corticosterone in serum, increasing OXT mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. Treatment with L368,889 essentially reversed the effect of pair housing, with no discernible sex differences apart from changes in body weight. Pair housing increased hippocampal serotonin (5-HT), but treatment with L368,889 had no significant impact. Additionally, pair housing effectively reduced the number of reactive astrocytes and increased Nissl's body in the cortex and hippocampal CA3 regions. Correspondingly, treatment with L368,889 significantly reversed the changes in the Nissl's body and reactive astrocytes. Moreover, pair housing downregulated mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the cortex caused by PSD, which was also reversed by treatment with L368,889. In conclusion, pair housing protects against the development of PSD depending on OXT and OXTR in the brain, with no significant divergence based on sex. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of social interaction and oxytocin as therapeutic targets for PSD. Further research into the underlying mechanisms of these effects may contribute to the development of novel treatments for PSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Ting Jiang
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shu-Ying Lian
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yao-Huan Sun
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Mei-Bo Pan
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jun Hua
- Department of Neurology & Psychology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi-Chen Wang
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qiu-Ling Wang
- Department of Medical Care, School of Nursing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yin-Feng Dong
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
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Chen Z, Li X, Gao J, Liu Y, Zhang N, Guo Y, Wang Z, Dong Z. Effects of salinity on behavior and reproductive toxicity of BPA in adult marine medaka. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 357:142103. [PMID: 38653400 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Salinity is an important environmental factor influencing the toxicity of chemicals. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental endocrine disruptor with adverse effects on aquatic organisms, such as fish. However, the influence of salinity on the biotoxicity of BPA and the underlying mechanism are unclear. In this study, we exposed marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) to BPA at different salinities (0 psμ, 15 psμ, and 30 psμ) for 70days to investigate the toxic effects. At 0 psμ salinity, BPA had an inhibitory effect on the swimming behavior of female medaka. At 15 psμ salinity, exposure to BPA resulted in necrotic cells in the ovaries but not on the spermatozoa. In addition, BPA exposure changed the transcript levels of genes related to the nervous system (gap43, elavl3, gfap, mbpa, and α-tubulin) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis (fshr, lhr, star, arα, cyp11a, cyp17a1, cyp19a, and erα); the expression changes differed among salinity levels. These results suggest that salinity influences the adverse effects of BPA on the nervous system and reproductive system of medaka. These results emphasize the importance of considering the impact of environmental factors when carrying out ecological risk assessment of pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuchun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Xueyou Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Jiahao Gao
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Yusong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Zhongduo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China
| | - Zhongdian Dong
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture in South China Sea for Aquatic Economic Animal of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology and Epidemiology for Aquatic Economic Animals, College of Fishery, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China.
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Thompson RR, Price D, Burris D, Cloutier A, Rilling JK. Effects of arginine vasopressin on human anxiety and associations with sex, dose, and V1a-receptor genotype. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1177-1190. [PMID: 38358527 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06551-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has dose- and sex-specific effects on social behavior, and variation in social responses is related to variation in the V1a receptor gene in animals. Whether such complexity also characterizes AVP effects on anxiety in humans, or whether V1a genotype is related to anxiety and/or AVP's ability to affect it, remains to be determined. OBJECTIVE To test if AVP has dose-dependent effects on anxiety in men and/or women and if a particular allele within the RS3 promoter region of the V1a receptor gene is associated with anxiety and/or AVP effects on anxiety. METHOD Men and women self-administered 20 IU or 40 IU intranasal arginine vasopressin (AVP) and placebo in a double-blind, within-subjects design, and State (SA) and Trait (TA) anxiety were measured 60 min later. PCR was used to identify allelic variation within the RS3 region of the V1a receptor gene. RESULTS AVP decreased SA in men across both doses, whereas only the lower dose had the same effect, across sexes, in individuals who carry at least one copy of a previously identified "risk" allele in the RS3 promoter of the V1a receptor gene. Additionally, after placebo, women who carried a copy of the allele displayed lower TA than women who did not, and AVP acutely increased TA scores in those women. CONCLUSIONS Exogenous AVP has modest sex- and dose-dependent effects on anxiety/affect in humans. Further, allelic variation in the V1a promoter appears associated with responsiveness to AVP's effects and, at least in women, to stable levels of anxiety/affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- R R Thompson
- Division of Social Sciences, Oxford College of Emory University, Oxford, GA, 30054, USA.
- Neuroscience Program, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME, 04011, USA.
| | - D Price
- Department of Psychiatry, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - D Burris
- Department of Psychiatry, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - A Cloutier
- Department of Psychiatry, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME, USA
| | - J K Rilling
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atalanta, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atalanta, USA
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, Atalanta, USA
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atalanta, USA
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Emory University, Atalanta, USA
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10
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Baslam A, Kabdy H, Chait Y, Azraida H, El Yazouli L, Aboufatima R, Chait A, Baslam M. Gut Microbiome-Mediated Mechanisms in Alleviating Opioid Addiction with Aqueous Extract of Anacyclus pyrethrum. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1152. [PMID: 38927359 PMCID: PMC11200529 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The escalating rates of morbidity and mortality associated with opioid use disorder (OUD) have spurred a critical need for improved treatment outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of prolonged exposure to Fentanyl, a potent opioid, on behavior, biochemical markers, oxidative stress, and the composition of the gut microbiome. Additionally, we sought to explore the therapeutic potential of Anacyclus pyrethrum in mitigating the adverse effects of Fentanyl withdrawal. The study unveiled that chronic Fentanyl administration induced a withdrawal syndrome characterized by elevated cortisol levels (12.09 mg/mL, compared to 6.3 mg/mL for the control group). This was accompanied by heightened anxiety, indicated by a reduction in time spent and entries made into the open arm in the Elevated Plus Maze Test, as well as depressive-like behaviors, manifested through increased immobility time in the Forced Swim Test. Additionally, Fentanyl exposure correlated with decreased gut microbiome density and diversity, coupled with heightened oxidative stress levels, evidenced by elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced levels of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). However, both post- and co-administration of A. pyrethrum exhibited substantial improvements in these adverse effects, effectively alleviating symptoms associated with OUD withdrawal syndrome and eliciting positive influences on gut microbiota. In conclusion, this research underscores the therapeutic potential of A. pyrethrum in managing Fentanyl withdrawal symptoms. The findings indicate promising effects in alleviating behavioral impairments, reducing stress, restoring gut microbiota, and mitigating oxidative stress, offering valuable insights for addressing the challenges of OUD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelmounaim Baslam
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (A.B.); (H.A.)
| | - Hamid Kabdy
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (A.B.); (H.A.)
| | - Yassine Chait
- Agadir Souss Massa University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
| | - Hajar Azraida
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (A.B.); (H.A.)
| | - Loubna El Yazouli
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (A.B.); (H.A.)
| | - Rachida Aboufatima
- Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal 23000, Morocco
| | - Abderrahman Chait
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco; (A.B.); (H.A.)
| | - Marouane Baslam
- Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Research Unit Labelled CNRST (Centre AgroBiotech-URL-7 CNRST-05), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
- Laboratory of Agro-Food, Biotechnologies and Valorization of Plant Bioresources (AGROBIOVAL), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University (UCA), Marrakech 40000, Morocco
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Niigata, Niigata 950-2181, Japan
- GrowSmart, Seoul 07516, Republic of Korea
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11
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Zheng X, Wang J, Yang X, Xu L, Becker B, Sahakian BJ, Robbins TW, Kendrick KM. Oxytocin, but not vasopressin, decreases willingness to harm others by promoting moral emotions of guilt and shame. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02590-w. [PMID: 38769372 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02590-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Prosocial and moral behaviors have overlapping neural systems and can both be affected in a number of psychiatric disorders, although whether they involve similar neurochemical systems is unclear. In the current registered randomized placebo-controlled trial on 180 adult male and female subjects, we investigated the effects of intranasal administration of oxytocin and vasopressin, which play key roles in influencing social behavior, on moral emotion ratings for situations involving harming others and on judgments of moral dilemmas where others are harmed for a greater good. Oxytocin, but not vasopressin, enhanced feelings of guilt and shame for intentional but not accidental harm and reduced endorsement of intentionally harming others to achieve a greater good. Neither peptide influenced arousal ratings for the scenarios. Effects of oxytocin on guilt and shame were strongest in individuals scoring lower on the personal distress subscale of trait empathy. Overall, findings demonstrate for the first time that oxytocin, but not vasopressin, promotes enhanced feelings of guilt and shame and unwillingness to harm others irrespective of the consequences. This may reflect associations between oxytocin and empathy and vasopressin with aggression and suggests that oxytocin may have greater therapeutic potential for disorders with atypical social and moral behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Zheng
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiayuan Wang
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xi Yang
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Psychology, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Benjamin Becker
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Barbara J Sahakian
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Hills Rd., Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge, CB2 3EB, UK.
| | - Keith M Kendrick
- The Center of Psychosomatic Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
- The MOE Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
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12
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Rigney N, Campos-Lira E, Kirchner MK, Wei W, Belkasim S, Beaumont R, Singh S, Suarez SG, Hartswick D, Stern JE, de Vries GJ, Petrulis A. A vasopressin circuit that modulates mouse social investigation and anxiety-like behavior in a sex-specific manner. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2319641121. [PMID: 38709918 PMCID: PMC11098102 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2319641121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the largest sex differences in brain neurochemistry is the expression of the neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) within the vertebrate brain, with males having more AVP cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) than females. Despite the long-standing implication of AVP in social and anxiety-like behaviors, the circuitry underlying AVP's control of these behaviors is still not well defined. Using optogenetic approaches, we show that inhibiting AVP BNST cells reduces social investigation in males, but not in females, whereas stimulating these cells increases social investigation in both sexes, but more so in males. These cells may facilitate male social investigation through their projections to the lateral septum (LS), an area with the highest density of sexually differentiated AVP innervation in the brain, as optogenetic stimulation of BNST AVP → LS increased social investigation and anxiety-like behavior in males but not in females; the same stimulation also caused a biphasic response of LS cells ex vivo. Blocking the vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR) in the LS eliminated all these responses. Together, these findings establish a sexually differentiated role for BNST AVP cells in the control of social investigation and anxiety-like behavior, likely mediated by their projections to the LS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Rigney
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
| | - Elba Campos-Lira
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
| | | | - Wei Wei
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
| | - Selma Belkasim
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
| | - Rachael Beaumont
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
| | - Sumeet Singh
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
| | | | - Delenn Hartswick
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
| | - Javier E. Stern
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
| | | | - Aras Petrulis
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA30302
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13
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Dimcea DAM, Petca RC, Dumitrașcu MC, Șandru F, Mehedințu C, Petca A. Postpartum Depression: Etiology, Treatment, and Consequences for Maternal Care. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:865. [PMID: 38732283 PMCID: PMC11083152 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14090865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a disabling condition that has recently shown an increase in prevalence, becoming an essential public health problem. This study is a qualitative review summarizing the most frequent risk factors associated with PPD, evaluating molecular aspects of PPD and current approaches to detect and prevent PPD. The most prevalent risk factors were detected in the areas of economic and social factors, obstetrical history, lifestyle, and history of mental illness. Research on the genetic basis for PPD has taken place in recent years to identify the genes responsible for establishing targeted therapeutic methods and understanding its pathogenesis. The most frequently studied candidate gene was the serotonin transporter gene (SERT) associated with PPD. Among biological studies, antidepressants and psychological interventions provided the most evidence of successful intervention. The obstetrician can serve an essential role in screening for and treating PPD. Postpartum women with risk factors should be screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), but, at the moment, there are no prevention programs in Europe. In conclusion, data from this review increase concerns among this vulnerable population and can be used to design a screening tool for high-risk pregnant women and create a prevention program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiana Anne-Marie Dimcea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (D.A.-M.D.); (M.C.D.); (C.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Răzvan-Cosmin Petca
- Department of Urology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Urology, “Prof. Dr. Th. Burghele” Clinical Hospital, 050659 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihai Cristian Dumitrașcu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (D.A.-M.D.); (M.C.D.); (C.M.); (A.P.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Emergency Hospital, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Florica Șandru
- Department of Dermatology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania;
- Department of Dermatology, Elias University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Claudia Mehedințu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (D.A.-M.D.); (M.C.D.); (C.M.); (A.P.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Filantropia Clinical Hospital, 011171 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Aida Petca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (D.A.-M.D.); (M.C.D.); (C.M.); (A.P.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Elias University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
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14
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Lake AA, Trainor BC. Leveraging the unique social organization of California mice to study circuit-specific effects of oxytocin on behavior. Horm Behav 2024; 160:105487. [PMID: 38281444 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin is a versatile neuropeptide that modulates many different forms of social behavior. Recent hypotheses pose that oxytocin enhances the salience of rewarding and aversive social experiences, and the field has been working to identify mechanisms that allow oxytocin to have diverse effects on behavior. Here we review studies conducted on the California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) that shed light on how oxytocin modulates social behavior following stressful experiences. In this species, both males and females exhibit high levels of aggression, which has facilitated the study of how social stress impacts both sexes. We review findings of short- and long-term effects of social stress on the reactivity of oxytocin neurons. We also consider the results of pharmacological studies which show that oxytocin receptors in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and nucleus accumbens have distinct but overlapping effects on social approach behaviors. These findings help explain how social stress can have different behavioral effects in males and females, and how oxytocin can have such divergent effects on behavior. Finally, we consider how new technological developments and innovative research programs take advantage of the unique social organization of California mice to address questions that can be difficult to study in conventional rodent model species. These new methods and questions have opened new avenues for studying the neurobiology of social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa A Lake
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States of America.
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15
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Zhao Y, Wan J, Li Y. Genetically encoded sensors for in vivo detection of neurochemicals relevant to depression. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38468468 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16046] [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] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Depressive disorders are a common and debilitating form of mental illness with significant impacts on individuals and society. Despite the high prevalence, the underlying causes and mechanisms of depressive disorders are still poorly understood. Neurochemical systems, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, have been implicated in the development and perpetuation of depressive symptoms. Current treatments for depression target these neuromodulator systems, but there is a need for a better understanding of their role in order to develop more effective treatments. Monitoring neurochemical dynamics during depressive symptoms is crucial for gaining a better a understanding of their involvement in depressive disorders. Genetically encoded sensors have emerged recently that offer high spatial-temporal resolution and the ability to monitor neurochemical dynamics in real time. This review explores the neurochemical systems involved in depression and discusses the applications and limitations of current monitoring tools for neurochemical dynamics. It also highlights the potential of genetically encoded sensors for better characterizing neurochemical dynamics in depression-related behaviors. Furthermore, potential improvements to current sensors are discussed in order to meet the requirements of depression research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Jinxia Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
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16
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Tsomokos DI, Slavich GM. Bullying fosters interpersonal distrust and degrades adolescent mental health as predicted by Social Safety Theory. NATURE MENTAL HEALTH 2024; 2:328-336. [PMID: 38682098 PMCID: PMC11052587 DOI: 10.1038/s44220-024-00203-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Social Safety Theory predicts that socially threatening experiences such as bullying degrade mental health partly by fostering the belief that others cannot be trusted. Here we tested this prediction by examining how peer bullying in childhood impacted adolescent mental health, and whether this effect was mediated by interpersonal distrust and several other commonly studied mediators-namely diet, sleep and physical activity-in 10,000 youth drawn from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study. Youth bullied in childhood developed more internalizing, externalizing and total mental health problems in late adolescence, and this effect was partially mediated by interpersonal distrust during middle adolescence. Indeed, adolescents who developed greater distrust were approximately 3.5 times more likely to subsequently experience clinically significant mental health problems than those who developed less distrust. Individual and school-based interventions aimed at reducing the negative impact of bullying on mental health may thus benefit from bolstering youths' sense of trust in others.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - George M. Slavich
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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17
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Uvnäs-Moberg K. The physiology and pharmacology of oxytocin in labor and in the peripartum period. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024; 230:S740-S758. [PMID: 38462255 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin is a reproductive hormone implicated in the process of parturition and widely used during labor. Oxytocin is produced within the supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary lobe into the circulation. Oxytocin is released in pulses with increasing frequency and amplitude in the first and second stages of labor, with a few pulses released in the third stage of labor. During labor, the fetus exerts pressure on the cervix of the uterus, which activates a feedforward reflex-the Ferguson reflex-which releases oxytocin. When myometrial contractions activate sympathetic nerves, it decreases oxytocin release. When oxytocin binds to specific myometrial oxytocin receptors, it induces myometrial contractions. High levels of circulating estrogen at term make the receptors more sensitive. In addition, oxytocin stimulates prostaglandin synthesis and release in the decidua and chorioamniotic membranes by activating a specific type of oxytocin receptor. Prostaglandins contribute to cervical ripening and uterine contractility in labor. The oxytocin system in the brain has been implicated in decreasing maternal levels of fear, pain, and stress, and oxytocin release and function during labor are stimulated by a social support. Moreover, studies suggest, but have not yet proven, that labor may be associated with long-term, behavioral and physiological adaptations in the mother and infant, possibly involving epigenetic modulation of oxytocin production and release and the oxytocin receptor. In addition, infusions of synthetic oxytocin are used to induce and augment labor. Oxytocin may be administered according to different dose regimens at increasing rates from 1 to 3 mIU/min to a maximal rate of 36 mIU/min at 15- to 40-minute intervals. The total amount of synthetic oxytocin given during labor can be 5 to 10 IU, but lower and higher amounts of oxytocin may also be given. High-dose infusions of oxytocin may shorten the duration of labor by up to 2 hours compared with no infusion of oxytocin; however, it does not lower the frequency of cesarean delivery. When synthetic oxytocin is administered, the plasma concentration of oxytocin increases in a dose-dependent way: at infusion rates of 20 to 30 mIU/min, plasma oxytocin concentration increases approximately 2- to 3-fold above the basal level. Synthetic oxytocin administered at recommended dose levels is not likely to cross the placenta or maternal blood-brain barrier. Synthetic oxytocin should be administered with caution as high levels may induce tachystole and uterine overstimulation, with potentially negative consequences for the fetus and possibly the mother. Of note, 5 to 10 IU of synthetic oxytocin is often routinely given as an intravenous or intramuscular bolus administration after delivery to induce uterine contractility, which, in turn, induces uterine separation of the placenta and prevents postpartum hemorrhage. Furthermore, it promotes the expulsion of the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agriculture, Uppsala, Sweden.
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18
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Aygün O, Mohr E, Duff C, Matthew S, Schoenberg P. Oxytocin Modulation in Mindfulness-Based Pain Management for Chronic Pain. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:253. [PMID: 38398763 PMCID: PMC10890287 DOI: 10.3390/life14020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In the context of chronic pain management, opioid-based treatments have been heavily relied upon, raising concerns related to addiction and misuse. Non-pharmacological approaches, such as Mindfulness-Based Pain Management, offer alternative strategies. We conducted a mechanistic clinical study to investigate the impact of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Pain Management intervention on chronic pain, the modulation of inflammatory markers, stress physiology, and oxytocin, and their interplay with clinical pain symptoms and perception, in comparison to a patient wait-list active control. A total of 65 participants, including 50 chronic pain patients and 15 healthy controls, underwent salivary assays to assess endocrine markers, oxytocin, interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S). Psychological assessments were also conducted to evaluate aspects of pain perception, mindfulness, mood, and well-being. Findings revealed significant differences between chronic pain patients and healthy controls in various clinical metrics, highlighting the psychological distress experienced by patients. Following Mindfulness-Based Pain Management, oxytocin levels significantly increased in chronic pain patients, that was not observed in the patient wait-list control group. In contrast, cytokine and DHEA-S levels decreased (not to statistically significant margins) supporting anti-inflammatory effects of Mindfulness-Based Pain Management. The fact DHEA-S levels, a marker of stress, did attenuate but not to statistically meaningful levels, suggests that pain reduction was not solely related to stress reduction, and that oxytocin pathways may be more salient than previously considered. Psychological assessments demonstrated substantial improvements in pain perception and mood in the intervention group. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in chronic pain management and underscore oxytocin's potential role as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oytun Aygün
- Laboratoire DysCo, Université Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis, 93526 Saint-Denis, France;
| | - Emily Mohr
- Osher Center for Integrative Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
| | - Colin Duff
- Breathworks Foundation, Manchester M4 1DZ, UK
| | | | - Poppy Schoenberg
- Osher Center for Integrative Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
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19
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Beaulieu M. Capturing wild animal welfare: a physiological perspective. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1-22. [PMID: 37635128 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Affective states, such as emotions, are presumably widespread across the animal kingdom because of the adaptive advantages they are supposed to confer. However, the study of the affective states of animals has thus far been largely restricted to enhancing the welfare of animals managed by humans in non-natural contexts. Given the diversity of wild animals and the variable conditions they can experience, extending studies on animal affective states to the natural conditions that most animals experience will allow us to broaden and deepen our general understanding of animal welfare. Yet, this same diversity makes examining animal welfare in the wild highly challenging. There is therefore a need for unifying theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches that can guide researchers keen to engage in this promising research area. The aim of this article is to help advance this important research area by highlighting the central relationship between physiology and animal welfare and rectify its apparent oversight, as revealed by the current scientific literature on wild animals. Moreover, this article emphasises the advantages of including physiological markers to assess animal welfare in the wild (e.g. objectivity, comparability, condition range, temporality), as well as their concomitant limitations (e.g. only access to peripheral physiological markers with complex relationships with affective states). Best-practice recommendations (e.g. replication and multifactorial approaches) are also provided to allow physiological markers to be used most effectively and appropriately when assessing the welfare of animals in their natural habitat. This review seeks to provide the foundation for a new and distinct research area with a vast theoretical and applied potential: wild animal welfare physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Beaulieu
- Wild Animal Initiative, 5123 W 98th St, 1204, Minneapolis, MN, 55437, USA
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20
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Zhan S, Qi Z, Cai F, Gao Z, Xie J, Hu J. Oxytocin neurons mediate stress-induced social memory impairment. Curr Biol 2024; 34:36-45.e4. [PMID: 38103551 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.037] [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: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin has long been thought to play a substantial role in social behaviors, such as social attachment and parenting behavior. However, how oxytocin neurons respond to social and non-social stimuli is largely unknown, especially in high temporal resolution. Here, we recorded the in vivo real-time responses of oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in freely behaving mice. Our results revealed that oxytocin neurons were activated more significantly by stressors than social stimuli. The activation of oxytocin neurons was precisely correlated with struggling behavior during stress. Furthermore, we found that oxytocin mediated stress-induced social memory impairment. Our results reveal an important role of PVN oxytocin neurons in stress-induced social amnesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulu Zhan
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Huaxia Middle Road, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhenhua Qi
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Fang Cai
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Huaxia Middle Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Zilong Gao
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing (CIBR), Bldg. 3, No. 9, YIKE Rd, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Changping District, Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Jingdun Xie
- Department of Anesthesiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Ji Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Huaxia Middle Road, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China.
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21
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Zhao Y, Peng X, Wang Q, Zhang Z, Wang L, Xu Y, Yang H, Bai J, Geng D. Crosstalk Between the Neuroendocrine System and Bone Homeostasis. Endocr Rev 2024; 45:95-124. [PMID: 37459436 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnad025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The homeostasis of bone microenvironment is the foundation of bone health and comprises 2 concerted events: bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. In the early 21st century, leptin, an adipocytes-derived hormone, was found to affect bone homeostasis through hypothalamic relay and the sympathetic nervous system, involving neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine. This discovery has provided a new perspective regarding the synergistic effects of endocrine and nervous systems on skeletal homeostasis. Since then, more studies have been conducted, gradually uncovering the complex neuroendocrine regulation underlying bone homeostasis. Intriguingly, bone is also considered as an endocrine organ that can produce regulatory factors that in turn exert effects on neuroendocrine activities. After decades of exploration into bone regulation mechanisms, separate bioactive factors have been extensively investigated, whereas few studies have systematically shown a global view of bone homeostasis regulation. Therefore, we summarized the previously studied regulatory patterns from the nervous system and endocrine system to bone. This review will provide readers with a panoramic view of the intimate relationship between the neuroendocrine system and bone, compensating for the current understanding of the regulation patterns of bone homeostasis, and probably developing new therapeutic strategies for its related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhu Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Orthopedics Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
| | - Xiaole Peng
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Orthopedics Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Orthopedics Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
| | - Zhiyu Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
| | - Liangliang Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213000, China
| | - Yaozeng Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Orthopedics Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
| | - Huilin Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Orthopedics Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
| | - Jiaxiang Bai
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Orthopedics Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
- Department of Orthopedics, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Dechun Geng
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University; Orthopedics Institute, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China
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22
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Lyu Y, Xie F, Chen B, Shin WS, Chen W, He Y, Leung KT, Tse GMK, Yu J, To KF, Kang W. The nerve cells in gastrointestinal cancers: from molecular mechanisms to clinical intervention. Oncogene 2024; 43:77-91. [PMID: 38081962 PMCID: PMC10774121 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02909-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is a formidable malignancy with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Recent studies have shed light on the complex interplay between the nervous system and the GI system, influencing various aspects of GI tumorigenesis, such as the malignance of cancer cells, the conformation of tumor microenvironment (TME), and the resistance to chemotherapies. The discussion in this review first focused on exploring the intricate details of the biological function of the nervous system in the development of the GI tract and the progression of tumors within it. Meanwhile, the cancer cell-originated feedback regulation on the nervous system is revealed to play a crucial role in the growth and development of nerve cells within tumor tissues. This interaction is vital for understanding the complex relationship between the nervous system and GI oncogenesis. Additionally, the study identified various components within the TME that possess a significant influence on the occurrence and progression of GI cancer, including microbiota, immune cells, and fibroblasts. Moreover, we highlighted the transformation relationship between non-neuronal cells and neuronal cells during GI cancer progression, inspiring the development of strategies for nervous system-guided anti-tumor drugs. By further elucidating the deep mechanism of various neuroregulatory signals and neuronal intervention, we underlined the potential of these targeted drugs translating into effective therapies for GI cancer treatment. In summary, this review provides an overview of the mechanisms of neuromodulation and explores potential therapeutic opportunities, providing insights into the understanding and management of GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lyu
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fuda Xie
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bonan Chen
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wing Sum Shin
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, Digestive Diseases Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yulong He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, Digestive Diseases Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kam Tong Leung
- Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gary M K Tse
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Kang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
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23
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Tenne Y, Kahalon R, Daari L, Preis H, Eisner M, Chen R, Mor P, Grisaru Granovsky S, Samueloff A, Benyamini Y. Is Oxytocin Administration During Childbirth Associated With Increased Risk for Postpartum Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms?: A Preliminary Investigation. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2023:00005237-990000000-00026. [PMID: 38050984 DOI: 10.1097/jpn.0000000000000760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Synthetic oxytocin is one of the most regularly administered medications to facilitate labor induction and augmentation. The present study examined the associations between oxytocin administration during childbirth and postpartum posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). MATERIALS AND METHODS In a multicenter longitudinal study, women completed questionnaires during pregnancy and at 2 months postpartum (N = 386). PTSS were assessed with the Impact of Event Scale. Logistic regression was used to examine the difference in PTSS at Time 2 between women who received oxytocin and women who did not. RESULTS In comparison with women who did not receive oxytocin, women who received oxytocin induction were 3.20 times as likely to report substantial PTSS (P = .036, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-9.52), and women who received oxytocin augmentation were 3.29 times as likely to report substantial PTSS (P = .036, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-10.03), after controlling for being primiparous, preeclampsia, prior mental health diagnosis, mode of birth, postpartum hemorrhage, and satisfaction with staff. DISCUSSION Oxytocin administration was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of PTSS. The findings may reflect biological and psychological mechanisms related to postpartum mental health and call for future research to establish the causation of this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaara Tenne
- Department of Pediatrics, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel (Dr Tenne); The Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (Drs Tenne, Preis, and Benyamini and Ms Daari); The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Zefat, Israel (Dr Kahalon); Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York (Dr Preis); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital, and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (Drs Eisner and Chen); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Genetics Institute, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, and Hebrew University Medical School of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (Dr Mor); and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, and Hebrew University Medical School of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (Drs Grisaru Granovsky and Samueloff)
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24
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Menon R, Neumann ID. Detection, processing and reinforcement of social cues: regulation by the oxytocin system. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:761-777. [PMID: 37891399 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00759-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Many social behaviours are evolutionarily conserved and are essential for the healthy development of an individual. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is crucial for the fine-tuned regulation of social interactions in mammals. The advent and application of state-of-the-art methodological approaches that allow the activity of neuronal circuits involving OXT to be monitored and functionally manipulated in laboratory mammals have deepened our understanding of the roles of OXT in these behaviours. In this Review, we discuss how OXT promotes the sensory detection and evaluation of social cues, the subsequent approach and display of social behaviour, and the rewarding consequences of social interactions in selected reproductive and non-reproductive social behaviours. Social stressors - such as social isolation, exposure to social defeat or social trauma, and partner loss - are often paralleled by maladaptations of the OXT system, and restoring OXT system functioning can reinstate socio-emotional allostasis. Thus, the OXT system acts as a dynamic mediator of appropriate behavioural adaptations to environmental challenges by enhancing and reinforcing social salience and buffering social stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohit Menon
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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25
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Rigney N, Campos-Lira E, Kirchner MK, Wei W, Belkasim S, Beaumont R, Singh S, de Vries GJ, Petrulis A. A vasopressin circuit that modulates sex-specific social interest and anxiety-like behavior in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.06.564847. [PMID: 37986987 PMCID: PMC10659331 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.06.564847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
One of the largest sex differences in brain neurochemistry is the male-biased expression of the neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP) within the vertebrate social brain. Despite the long-standing implication of AVP in social and anxiety-like behavior, the precise circuitry and anatomical substrate underlying its control are still poorly understood. By employing optogenetic manipulation of AVP cells within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), we have unveiled a central role for these cells in promoting social investigation, with a more pronounced role in males relative to females. These cells facilitate male social investigation and anxiety-like behavior through their projections to the lateral septum (LS), an area with the highest density of sexually-dimorphic AVP fibers. Blocking the vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR) in the LS eliminated stimulation-mediated increases in these behaviors. Together, these findings establish a distinct BNST AVP → LS V1aR circuit that modulates sex-specific social interest and anxiety-like behavior.
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26
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Varian BJ, Weber KT, Erdman SE. Oxytocin and the microbiome. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2023; 16:100205. [PMID: 38108027 PMCID: PMC10724733 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian host microbiome affects many targets throughout the body, at least in part through an integrated gut-brain-immune axis and neuropeptide hormone oxytocin. It was discovered in animal models that microbial symbionts, such as Lactobacillus reuteri, leverage perinatal niches to promote multigenerational good health and reproductive fitness. While roles for oxytocin were once limited to women, such as giving birth and nurturing offspring, oxytocin is now also proposed to have important roles linking microbial symbionts with overall host fitness and survival throughout the evolutionary journey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard J. Varian
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Katherine T. Weber
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Susan E. Erdman
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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27
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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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28
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Neumann ID. Monitoring oxytocin signaling in the brain: More than a love story. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2023; 16:100206. [PMID: 38108033 PMCID: PMC10724740 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
More than any other neuropeptide, oxytocin (OXT) is attracting the attention of neurobiologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, evolutionary biologists and even economists. It is often called a "love hormone" due to its many prosocial functions described in vertebrates including mammals and humans, especially its ability to support "bonding behaviour". Oxytocin plays an important role in female reproduction, as it promotes labour during parturition, enables milk ejection in lactation and is essential for related reproductive behaviours. Therefore, it particularly attracts the interest of many female researchers. In this short narrative review I was invited to provide a personal overview on my scientific journey closely linked to my research on the brain OXT system and the adventures associated with starting my research career behind the Iron Curtain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga D. Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Centre of Neurosciences, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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29
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Pandamooz S, Salehi MS, Jurek B, Meinung CP, Azarpira N, Dianatpour M, Neumann ID. Oxytocin Receptor Expression in Hair Follicle Stem Cells: A Promising Model for Biological and Therapeutic Discovery in Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2023; 19:2510-2524. [PMID: 37548806 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10603-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The intricate nature of the human brain and the limitations of existing model systems to study molecular and cellular causes of neuropsychiatric disorders represent a major challenge for basic research. The promising progress in patient-derived stem cell technology and in our knowledge on the role of the brain oxytocin (OXT) system in health and disease offer new possibilities in that direction. In this study, the rat hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) were isolated and expanded in vitro. The expression of oxytocin receptors (OXTR) was evaluated in these cells. The cellular viability was assessed 12 h post stimulation with OXT. The activation of OXTR-coupled intracellular signaling cascades, following OXT treatment was determined. Also, the influence of OXT on neurite outgrowth and cytoskeletal rearrangement were defined. The assessment of OXTR protein expression revealed this receptor is expressed abundantly in HFSCs. As evidenced by the cell viability assay, no adverse or cytotoxic effects were detected following 12 h treatment with different concentrations of OXT. Moreover, OXTR stimulation by OXT resulted in ERK1/2, CREB, and eEF2 activation, neurite length alterations, and cytoskeletal rearrangements that reveal the functionality of this receptor in HFSCs. Here, we introduced the rat HFSCs as an easy-to-obtain stem cell model that express functional OXTR. This cell-based model can contribute to our understanding of the progression and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders with oxytocinergic system deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sareh Pandamooz
- Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mohammad Saied Salehi
- Department of Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
- Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Benjamin Jurek
- Department of Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
| | - Carl-Philipp Meinung
- Department of Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Negar Azarpira
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Dianatpour
- Stem Cells Technology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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30
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Servin-Barthet C, Martínez-García M, Pretus C, Paternina-Die M, Soler A, Khymenets O, Pozo ÓJ, Leuner B, Vilarroya O, Carmona S. The transition to motherhood: linking hormones, brain and behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:605-619. [PMID: 37612425 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00733-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
We are witnessing a stark increase in scientific interest in the neurobiological processes associated with pregnancy and maternity. Convergent evidence suggests that around the time of labour, first-time mothers experience a specific pattern of neuroanatomical changes that are associated with maternal behaviour. Here we provide an overview of the human neurobiological adaptations of motherhood, focusing on the interplay between pregnancy-related steroid and peptide hormones, and neuroplasticity in the brain. We discuss which brain plasticity mechanisms might underlie the structural changes detected by MRI, which hormonal systems are likely to contribute to such neuroanatomical changes and how these brain mechanisms may be linked to maternal behaviour. This Review offers an overarching framework that can serve as a roadmap for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Servin-Barthet
- Unitat de Recerca en Neurociència Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Magdalena Martínez-García
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Pretus
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Psicobiologia i de Metodologia de els Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Paternina-Die
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Soler
- Unitat de Recerca en Neurociència Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Óscar J Pozo
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benedetta Leuner
- Psychology Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Oscar Vilarroya
- Unitat de Recerca en Neurociència Cognitiva, Departament de Psiquiatria i Medicina Legal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Susana Carmona
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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31
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Liu S, Huang R, Li A, Yu S, Yao S, Xu J, Tang L, Li W, Gan C, Cheng H. The role of the oxytocin system in the resilience of patients with breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1187477. [PMID: 37781188 PMCID: PMC10534028 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1187477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a grave traumatic experience that can profoundly compromise patients' psychological resilience, impacting their overall quality of life. The oxytocin system represents one of the essential neurobiological bases of psychological resilience and plays a critical role in regulating resilience in response to social or traumatic events during adulthood. Oxytocin, through its direct interaction with peripheral or central oxytocin receptors, has been found to have a significant impact on regulating social behavior. However, the precise mechanism by which the activation of peripheral oxytocin receptors leads to improved social is still not completely comprehended and requires additional research. Its activation can modulate psychological resilience by influencing estrogen and its receptors, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, thyroid function, 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism levels, and arginine pressure release in breast cancer patients. Various interventions, including psychotherapy and behavioral measures, have been employed to improve the psychological resilience of breast cancer patients. The potential effectiveness of such interventions may be underpinned by their ability to modulate oxytocin release levels. This review provides an overview of the oxytocin system and resilience in breast cancer patients and identifies possible future research directions and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaochun Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Runze Huang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Anlong Li
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Sheng Yu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Senbang Yao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lingxue Tang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chen Gan
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Huaidong Cheng
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Shenzhen Clinical Medical School of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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32
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Schimmer J, Patwell R, Küppers S, Grinevich V. The Relationship Between Oxytocin and Alcohol Dependence. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37697074 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is well known for its prosocial, anxiolytic, and ameliorating effects on various psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this chapter, we will first introduce the basic neurophysiology of the OT system and its interaction with other neuromodulatory and neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Next, we provide an overview over the current state of research examining the effects of acute and chronic alcohol exposure on the OT system as well as the effects of OT system manipulation on alcohol-related behaviors in rodents and humans. In rodent models of AUD, OT has been repeatedly shown to reduce ethanol consumption, particularly in models of acute alcohol exposure. In humans however, the results of OT administration on alcohol-related behaviors are promising but not yet conclusive. Therefore, we further discuss several physiological and methodological limitations to the effective application of OT in the clinic and how they may be mitigated by the application of synthetic OT receptor (OTR) agonists. Finally, we discuss the potential efficacy of cutting-edge pharmacology and gene therapies designed to specifically enhance endogenous OT release and thereby rescue deficient expression of OT in the brains of patients with severe forms of AUD and other incurable mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Schimmer
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ryan Patwell
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie Küppers
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
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Yoshida M, Momita K, Kuwahara M, Kasuya E, Sutoh M, Yayou KI. Behavior and heart rate variability after intranasal administration of oxytocin in Holstein steers. J Vet Med Sci 2023; 85:956-963. [PMID: 37495517 PMCID: PMC10539827 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.22-0323] [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] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) is a neuropeptide that regulates memory, emotion, stress response, and behavior in the brain. In our previous study with cattle, we demonstrated the anti-stress effect of intracerebroventricularly administered OXT on the central nervous system. However, it is important to investigate the effects of this peptide after intranasal administration, as it offers convenience and non-invasiveness for practical use. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of intranasal OXT on the behavior and autonomic nervous system of Holstein steers. The experiment followed a within-subjects design, including a total of six steers. Each steer received intranasal administration of either 1 mL of saline (SAL), 100 µg OXT (OXT100), or 200 µg OXT (OXT200). However, due to some issues, the sample size for the OXT200 group was reduced to five. After these treatments, we conducted electrocardiography recordings to analyze heart rate variability (HRV) and also made behavioral observations for 90 min. OXT200 tended to increase the time spent ruminating while lying down (Steel's multiple comparison test; P=0.053). In contrast, OXT treatment did not affect HRV indices. In conclusion, the current OXT dosage did not significantly affects behavior or the autonomic nervous system. However, the observed tendency to increase rumination may suggest a central effect of OXT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masumi Yoshida
- Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Chiba Prefecture Agricultural Mutual Aid Union Federation, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kosuke Momita
- School of Agriculture, Tokai University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Megmilk Snow Brand, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Kuwahara
- Department of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Etsuko Kasuya
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Madoka Sutoh
- College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Yayou
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan
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Wright KA, Polk R, Lin T, Feifel D, Ebner NC. Four-week intranasal oxytocin administration reduces attachment avoidance in older women. Horm Behav 2023; 155:105413. [PMID: 37659357 PMCID: PMC10961710 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) serves as a critical modulator of social cognition and social behavior. Adult attachment is an affiliative process crucial for social interaction across adulthood. Insecure adult attachment comprises two broad dimensions, attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Both these dimensions of attachment are currently understudied regarding OT modulation, and especially in older adults. The present study determined the effects of chronic intranasal OT administration on adult attachment in generally healthy older women and men (aged 55-95 years). Embedded in a larger project, participants were randomly assigned to self-administer 24 international units of either OT or a placebo (P) intranasally twice daily for four weeks. The Experiences in Close Relationships Scale assessed adult attachment (anxiety and avoidance) pre- and post-treatment. There was no significant pre- to post-treatment change in attachment avoidance overall, but the treatment x timepoint x sex interaction was significant, in that women (but not men) in the OT (vs. P) group reported decreased attachment avoidance. No comparable effects were observed for attachment anxiety. Results suggest that older women may benefit from chronic intranasal OT treatment by experiencing less attachment avoidance in their adult relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie A Wright
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
| | - Rebecca Polk
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Tian Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - David Feifel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Natalie C Ebner
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America; Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America; Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America.
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Kareklas K, Teles MC, Nunes AR, Oliveira RF. Social zebrafish: Danio rerio as an emerging model in social neuroendocrinology. J Neuroendocrinol 2023; 35:e13280. [PMID: 37165563 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The fitness benefits of social life depend on the ability of animals to affiliate with others and form groups, on dominance hierarchies within groups that determine resource distribution, and on cognitive capacities for recognition, learning and information transfer. The evolution of these phenotypes is coupled with that of neuroendocrine mechanisms, but the causal link between the two remains underexplored. Growing evidence from our research group and others demonstrates that the tools available in zebrafish, Danio rerio, can markedly facilitate progress in this field. Here, we review this evidence and provide a synthesis of the state-of-the-art in this model system. We discuss the involvement of generalized motivation and cognitive components, neuroplasticity and functional connectivity across social decision-making brain areas, and how these are modulated chiefly by the oxytocin-vasopressin neuroendocrine system, but also by reward-pathway monoamine signaling and the effects of sex-hormones and stress physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Magda C Teles
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Rui F Oliveira
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisbon, Portugal
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Gryksa K, Schmidtner AK, Masís-Calvo M, Rodríguez-Villagra OA, Havasi A, Wirobski G, Maloumby R, Jägle H, Bosch OJ, Slattery DA, Neumann ID. Selective breeding of rats for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviour: A unique model for comorbid depression and social dysfunctions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105292. [PMID: 37353047 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Animal models of selective breeding for extremes in emotionality are a strong experimental approach to model psychopathologies. They became indispensable in order to increase our understanding of neurobiological, genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, and environmental mechanisms contributing to anxiety disorders and their association with depressive symptoms or social deficits. In the present review, we extensively discuss Wistar rats selectively bred for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behaviour on the elevated plus-maze. After 30 years of breeding, we can confirm the prominent differences between HAB and LAB rats in trait anxiety, which are accompanied by consistent differences in depressive-like, social and cognitive behaviours. We can further confirm a single nucleotide polymorphism in the vasopressin promotor of HAB rats causative for neuropeptide overexpression, and show that low (or high) anxiety and fear levels are unlikely due to visual dysfunctions. Thus, HAB and LAB rats continue to exist as a reliable tool to study the multiple facets underlying the pathology of high trait anxiety and its comorbidity with depression-like behaviour and social dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Gryksa
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Anna K Schmidtner
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Marianella Masís-Calvo
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Odir A Rodríguez-Villagra
- Centro de Investigación en Neurosciencias, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Andrea Havasi
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Gwendolyn Wirobski
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Rodrigue Maloumby
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Herbert Jägle
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - Oliver J Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
| | - David A Slattery
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Heinrich-Hoffmann-Straße 10, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstr. 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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Becker HC, Lopez MF, King CE, Griffin WC. Oxytocin Reduces Sensitized Stress-Induced Alcohol Relapse in a Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder Comorbidity. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 94:215-225. [PMID: 36822933 PMCID: PMC10247903 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is high comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder with few effective treatment options. Animal models of PTSD have shown increases in alcohol drinking, but effects of stress history on subsequent vulnerability to alcohol relapse have not been examined. Here we present a mouse model of PTSD involving chronic multimodal stress exposure that resulted in long-lasting sensitization to stress-induced alcohol relapse, and this sensitized stress response was blocked by oxytocin (OT) administration. METHODS Male and female mice trained to self-administer alcohol were exposed to predator odor (TMT) + yohimbine over 5 consecutive days or left undisturbed. After reestablishing stable alcohol responding/intake, mice were tested under extinction conditions, and then all mice were exposed to TMT or context cues previously associated with TMT before a reinstatement test session. Separate studies examined messenger RNA expression of Oxt and Oxtr in hypothalamus following chronic stress exposure. A final study examined the effects of systemic administration of OT on stress-induced alcohol relapse in mice with and without a history of chronic stress experience. RESULTS Chronic stress exposure produced long-lasting sensitization to subsequent stress-induced alcohol relapse that also generalized to stress-related context cues and transcriptional changes in hypothalamic OT system. OT injected before the reinstatement test session completely blocked the sensitized stress-induced alcohol relapse effect. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, these results provide support for the therapeutic potential of OT, along with highlighting the value of utilizing this model in evaluating other pharmacological interventions for treatment of PTSD/alcohol use disorder comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard C Becker
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Ralph H. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina.
| | - Marcelo F Lopez
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Courtney E King
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - William C Griffin
- Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
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Qian T, Wang H, Wang P, Geng L, Mei L, Osakada T, Wang L, Tang Y, Kania A, Grinevich V, Stoop R, Lin D, Luo M, Li Y. A genetically encoded sensor measures temporal oxytocin release from different neuronal compartments. Nat Biotechnol 2023; 41:944-957. [PMID: 36593404 PMCID: PMC11182738 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01561-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT), a peptide hormone and neuromodulator, is involved in diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes in the central nervous system and the periphery. However, the regulation and functional sequences of spatial OT release in the brain remain poorly understood. We describe a genetically encoded G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based (GRAB) OT sensor called GRABOT1.0. In contrast to previous methods, GRABOT1.0 enables imaging of OT release ex vivo and in vivo with suitable sensitivity, specificity and spatiotemporal resolution. Using this sensor, we visualize stimulation-induced OT release from specific neuronal compartments in mouse brain slices and discover that N-type calcium channels predominantly mediate axonal OT release, whereas L-type calcium channels mediate somatodendritic OT release. We identify differences in the fusion machinery of OT release for axon terminals versus somata and dendrites. Finally, we measure OT dynamics in various brain regions in mice during male courtship behavior. Thus, GRABOT1.0 provides insights into the role of compartmental OT release in physiological and behavioral functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongrui Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Medical Center for Human Reproduction, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lan Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Long Mei
- Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Takuya Osakada
- Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Peking University-Tsinghua University-National Institute of Biological Sciences Joint Graduate Program, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Tang
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alan Kania
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ron Stoop
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital Center (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dayu Lin
- Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Minmin Luo
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research (TIMBR), Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China.
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- National Biomedical Imaging Center, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Evenepoel M, Moerkerke M, Daniels N, Chubar V, Claes S, Turner J, Vanaudenaerde B, Willems L, Verhaeghe J, Prinsen J, Steyaert J, Boets B, Alaerts K. Endogenous oxytocin levels in children with autism: Associations with cortisol levels and oxytocin receptor gene methylation. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:235. [PMID: 37391413 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02524-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the brain's oxytocinergic system have been suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but insights from pediatric populations are sparse. Here, salivary oxytocin was examined in the morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) in school-aged children with (n = 80) and without (n = 40) ASD (boys/girls 4/1), and also characterizations of DNA methylation (DNAm) of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) were obtained. Further, cortisol levels were assessed to examine links between the oxytocinergic system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis signaling. Children with ASD displayed altered (diminished) oxytocin levels in the morning, but not in the afternoon, after a mildly stress-inducing social interaction session. Notably, in the control group, higher oxytocin levels at AM were associated with lower stress-induced cortisol at PM, likely reflective of a protective stress-regulatory mechanism for buffering HPA stress activity. In children with ASD, on the other hand, a significant rise in oxytocin levels from the morning to the afternoon was associated with a higher stress-induced cortisol release in the afternoon, likely reflective of a more reactive stress regulatory release of oxytocin for reactively coping with heightened HPA activity. Regarding epigenetic modifications, no overall pattern of OXTR hypo- or hypermethylation was evident in ASD. In control children, a notable association between OXTR methylation and levels of cortisol at PM was evident, likely indicative of a compensatory downregulation of OXTR methylation (higher oxytocin receptor expression) in children with heightened HPA axis activity. Together, these observations bear important insights into altered oxytocinergic signaling in ASD, which may aid in establishing relevant biomarkers for diagnostic and/or treatment evaluation purposes targeting the oxytocinergic system in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Evenepoel
- KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group for Neurorehabilitation, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthijs Moerkerke
- KU Leuven, Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicky Daniels
- KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group for Neurorehabilitation, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Stephan Claes
- University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Turner
- Luxembourg Institute of Health, Department of Infection and Immunity, Esch sur Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Bart Vanaudenaerde
- KU Leuven, Department of Chronic Illness and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lynn Willems
- KU Leuven, Department of Chronic Illness and Metabolism, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Verhaeghe
- KU Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Research Group Woman and Child, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jellina Prinsen
- KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group for Neurorehabilitation, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean Steyaert
- KU Leuven, Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Boets
- KU Leuven, Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Center for Developmental Psychiatry, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaat Alaerts
- KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group for Neurorehabilitation, Leuven, Belgium.
- KU Leuven, Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Leuven, Belgium.
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40
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Jin Y, Song D, Yan Y, Quan Z, Qing H. The Role of Oxytocin in Early-Life-Stress-Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10430. [PMID: 37445607 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life stress during critical periods of brain development can have long-term effects on physical and mental health. Oxytocin is a critical social regulator and anti-inflammatory hormone that modulates stress-related functions and social behaviors and alleviates diseases. Oxytocin-related neural systems show high plasticity in early postpartum and adolescent periods. Early-life stress can influence the oxytocin system long term by altering the expression and signaling of oxytocin receptors. Deficits in social behavior, emotional control, and stress responses may result, thus increasing the risk of anxiety, depression, and other stress-related neuropsychiatric diseases. Oxytocin is regarded as an important target for the treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we describe the history of oxytocin and its role in neural circuits and related behaviors. We then review abnormalities in the oxytocin system in early-life stress and the functions of oxytocin in treating stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Da Song
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Zhenzhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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Liu Y, Li A, Bair-Marshall C, Xu H, Jee HJ, Zhu E, Sun M, Zhang Q, Lefevre A, Chen ZS, Grinevich V, Froemke RC, Wang J. Oxytocin promotes prefrontal population activity via the PVN-PFC pathway to regulate pain. Neuron 2023; 111:1795-1811.e7. [PMID: 37023755 PMCID: PMC10272109 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can provide top-down regulation of sensory-affective experiences such as pain. Bottom-up modulation of sensory coding in the PFC, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we examined how oxytocin (OT) signaling from the hypothalamus regulates nociceptive coding in the PFC. In vivo time-lapse endoscopic calcium imaging in freely behaving rats showed that OT selectively enhanced population activity in the prelimbic PFC in response to nociceptive inputs. This population response resulted from the reduction of evoked GABAergic inhibition and manifested as elevated functional connectivity involving pain-responsive neurons. Direct inputs from OT-releasing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus are crucial to maintaining this prefrontal nociceptive response. Activation of the prelimbic PFC by OT or direct optogenetic stimulation of oxytocinergic PVN projections reduced acute and chronic pain. These results suggest that oxytocinergic signaling in the PVN-PFC circuit constitutes a key mechanism to regulate cortical sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaling Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chloe Bair-Marshall
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Helen Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyun Jung Jee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elaine Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mengqi Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qiaosheng Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arthur Lefevre
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Zhe Sage Chen
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Robert C Froemke
- Skirball Institute for Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care and Pain Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Interdisciplinary Pain Research Program, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Trigo S, Silva PA, Cardoso GC, Soares MC. Effects of mesotocin manipulation on the behavior of male and female common waxbills. Physiol Behav 2023; 267:114226. [PMID: 37150430 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The oxytocin family of neuropeptides is implicated in the regulation of sociality across vertebrates. Non-mammalian homologs of oxytocin, such as isotocin in fish and mesotocin in amphibians, reptiles and birds, all play crucial roles modulating social and reproductive behavior. In this study, we exogenously manipulated the mesotocinergic system in a highly social bird, the common waxbill Estrild astrild, and tested the effects on affiliative and aggressive behavior by performing tests of competition over food. Birds treated with mesotocin showed a sedative state, decreasing almost all the behaviors we studied (movement, feeding, allopreening), while birds treated with an oxytocin antagonist showed a decrease only in social behaviors (aggressions and allopreening). We also found two sex-specific effects: mesotocin reduced allopreening more in males than females, and the oxytocin antagonist reduced aggressiveness only in females. Our results suggest sex-specific effects in the modulation of affiliative and aggressive behaviors via mesotocinergic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Trigo
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Paulo A Silva
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Gonçalo C Cardoso
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Marta C Soares
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre / ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Institute for Research and Advanced Training (IIFA), University of Évora, 7002-554, Évora, Portugal.
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43
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Wang FG, Sun Y, Cao J, Shen XR, Liu FW, Song SS, Hou XQ, Yin L. Effects of Danggui-Shaoyao-San on central neuroendocrine and pharmacokinetics in female ovariectomized rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023:116609. [PMID: 37150422 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The traditional Chinese medicine formula Danggui-Shaoyao-San (DSS) has been reported to have estrogen-like effects and therapeutic effects on the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AIM OF THE STUDY To explore whether the central oxytocin and neuroendocrine system is involved in the modulating effects of DSS on the cognition and neuropsychiatric hebaviors in female AD rats, and to investigate the pharmacokinetics of paeoniflorin and ferulic acid in female AD rats with DSS treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS DSS (1.2, 3.2, 8.6g/kg/day) was orally administered to ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and saline was orally administered to sham operation rats as control group. The Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, and passive avoidance test were conducted for evaluation of learning and memory abilities, while elevated plus maze test and forced swim test were performed to assess anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. ELISA kits were used to detect the levels of estrogen (E), estrogen receptor α (ERα), oxytocin (OT), oxytocin receptor (OTR), acetylcholine (Ach), acetylcholin esterase (AchE), and choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) in the cortex. The concentrations of Ach, glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) in the hippocampus were assessed by HPLC-MS. The changes of neuronal morphology in the hippocampus were observed by Nissl staining. The pharmacokinetics of paeoniflorin and ferulic acid in OVX rats with DSS treatment were studied by HPLC. RESULTS In the Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, and passive avoidance test, OVX rats showed cognitive impairment. In the elevated plus maze test and forced swim test, the anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors of OVX rats were significant as compared to the control group. Treatment of DSS significantly imporved the cognitive deficits, and ameliorated anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors of OVX rats. The expression of E, ERα, OT, OTR, AchE and ChAT in the cortex of model group were significantly decreased, and DSS significantly reversed these changes. The concentrations of Ach, Glu, GABA, 5-HT and NE in the hippocampus of OVX rats were significantly decreased, whereas DSS significantly increased the levels of Ach, Glu, GABA, 5-HT and NE. There was no significant difference in the concentration of DA in the hippocampus among groups. Degenerating neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region were observed in OVX rats, and the number of neurons was decreased. DSS treatment reduced the degenerating neurons, and incresed the number of neurons. The MRT (0 - ∞), AUC (0 - ∞), Cmax and t1/2z values of paeoniflorin, and the AUC 0-∞ and Cmax value of ferulic acid were higher in DSS-treated OVX rats than those in the DSS-treated control rats. CONCLUSIONS DSS improves the learning and memory ability, and attenuates anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors of OVX rats. The mechanism may be through increasing estrogen, reducing cholinergic damage, and modulating neurotransmitters. The increase in absorption and elimination time of paeoniflorin and ferulic acid in OVX rats may enhance the efficacy of DSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Guang Wang
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, 271016, PR China
| | - Yi Sun
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, 271016, PR China
| | - Juan Cao
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, 271016, PR China
| | - Xu-Ri Shen
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, 271016, PR China
| | - Fu-Wang Liu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, 271016, PR China
| | - Shuang-Shuang Song
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, 271016, PR China
| | - Xue-Qin Hou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, 271016, PR China.
| | - Lei Yin
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, 271000, PR China.
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Azari AE, Peeri M, Masrour FF. The role of the oxytocinergic system in the antidepressant-like effect of swimming training in male mice. Behav Brain Res 2023; 449:114474. [PMID: 37148917 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that higher physical activity such as running and swimming exercises is associated with decreased depression-related symptoms. However, underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate whether oxytocinergic system can mediate the antidepressant effect of swimming exercises in mice. First, male NMRI mice were subjected to swimming training for eight weeks, then animals intraperitoneally received oxytocin antagonist (L-368899) 1hour before behavioral tests. We assessed anhedonia and social behavior and behavioral despair using the sucrose preference test, social interaction test, and tail suspension test. Oxytocin levels in the brain and serum were also measured. The results showed that swimming training decreased anhedonia and behavioral despair, whereas it increased social behavior and oxytocin levels in male mice. On the other hand, a subthreshold dose of oxytocin antagonist treatment in exercised mice prevented the antidepressant effect of swimming exercise via increased anhedonia and behavioral despair and decreased social behavior compared to the swimming training group. However, the blockade of oxytocin receptors did not affect oxytocin levels in exercised mice. Overall, these findings suggest that oxytocinergic system can play a role in mediating the antidepressant-like effect of swimming training in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Emad Azari
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maghsoud Peeri
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Forouzan Fattahi Masrour
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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45
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Fricker BA, Roshko VC, Jiang J, Kelly AM. Partner separation rescues pair bond-induced decreases in hypothalamic oxytocin neural densities. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4835. [PMID: 36964221 PMCID: PMC10037388 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) have shown that although formation of the pair bond is accompanied by a suite of behavioral changes, a bond between two voles can dissolve and individuals can form new pair bonds with other conspecifics. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this behavioral flexibility have not been well-studied. Here we examine plasticity of nonapeptide, vasopressin (VP) and oxytocin (OT), neuronal populations in relation to bonding and the dissolution of bonds. Using adult male and female prairie voles, animals were either pair bonded, co-housed with a same-sex sibling, separated from their pair bond partner, or separated from their sibling. We examined neural densities of VP and OT cell groups and observed plasticity in the nonapeptide populations of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Voles that were pair bonded had fewer PVN OT neurons, suggesting that PVN OT neural densities decrease with pair bonding, but increase and return to a pre-pair bonded baseline after the dissolution of a pair bond. Our findings suggest that the PVN nonapeptide cell groups are particularly plastic in adulthood, providing a mechanism by which voles can exhibit context-appropriate behavior related to bond status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon A Fricker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Venezia C Roshko
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Jinrun Jiang
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Aubrey M Kelly
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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46
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Berry MH, Moldavan M, Garrett T, Meadows M, Cravetchi O, White E, Leffler J, von Gersdorff H, Wright KM, Allen CN, Sivyer B. A melanopsin ganglion cell subtype forms a dorsal retinal mosaic projecting to the supraoptic nucleus. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1492. [PMID: 36932080 PMCID: PMC10023714 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36955-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual input to the hypothalamus from intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) influences several functions including circadian entrainment, body temperature, and sleep. ipRGCs also project to nuclei such as the supraoptic nucleus (SON), which is involved in systemic fluid homeostasis, maternal behavior, social behaviors, and appetite. However, little is known about the SON-projecting ipRGCs or their relationship to well-characterized ipRGC subtypes. Using a GlyT2Cre mouse line, we show a subtype of ipRGCs restricted to the dorsal retina that selectively projects to the SON. These ipRGCs tile a dorsal region of the retina, forming a substrate for encoding ground luminance. Optogenetic activation of their axons demonstrates they release the neurotransmitter glutamate in multiple regions, including the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and SON. Our results challenge the idea that ipRGC dendrites overlap to optimize photon capture and suggests non-image forming vision operates to sample local regions of the visual field to influence diverse behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Berry
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Michael Moldavan
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Tavita Garrett
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Marc Meadows
- Neuroscience Graduate program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Olga Cravetchi
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Elizabeth White
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Joseph Leffler
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Henrique von Gersdorff
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kevin M Wright
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Charles N Allen
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Benjamin Sivyer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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Fang Q, Cai H, Jiang P, Zhao H, Song Y, Zhao W, Yu Y, Zhu J. Transcriptional substrates of brain structural and functional impairments in drug-naive first-episode patients with major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2023; 325:522-533. [PMID: 36657492 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite remarkable success in identifying genetic risk factors for depression, there are still open questions about the exact genetic mechanisms underlying certain disease phenotypes, such as brain structural and functional impairments. METHODS Comprehensive multi-modal neuroimaging meta-analyses were conducted to examine changes in brain structure and function in drug-naive first-episode patients with major depressive disorder (DF-MDD). Combined with the Allen Human Brain Atlas, transcriptome-neuroimaging spatial association analyses were performed to identify genes whose expression related to these brain structural and functional changes, followed by a range of gene functional signature analyses. RESULTS Meta-analyses revealed gray matter atrophy in the insula, temporal pole, cerebellum and postcentral gyrus, and a complex pattern of hyper-function in the temporal pole and hypo-function in the cuneus/precuneus, angular gyrus and lingual gyrus in DF-MDD. Moreover, these brain structural and functional changes were spatially associated with the expression of 1194 and 1733 genes, respectively. Importantly, there were commonalities and differences in the two gene sets and their functional signatures including functional enrichment, specific expression, behavioral relevance, and constructed protein-protein interaction networks. LIMITATIONS The results merit further verification using a large sample of DF-MDD. CONCLUSIONS Our findings not only corroborate the polygenic nature of depression, but also suggest common and distinct genetic modulations of brain structural and functional impairments in this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Fang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Huanhuan Cai
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ping Jiang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Han Zhao
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yu Song
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Wenming Zhao
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yongqiang Yu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Jiajia Zhu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; Research Center of Clinical Medical Imaging, Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, Hefei 230032, China.
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48
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Exploring a Possible Interplay between Schizophrenia, Oxytocin, and Estrogens: A Narrative Review. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030461. [PMID: 36979271 PMCID: PMC10046503 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterized by symptoms of psychosis and sociocognitive deficits. Considering oxytocin’s antipsychotic and prosocial properties, numerous clinical, and preclinical studies have explored the neuropeptide’s therapeutic efficacy. Sex differences in the clinical course of schizophrenia, as well as in oxytocin-mediated behaviors, indicate the involvement of gonadal steroid hormones. The current narrative review aimed to explore empirical evidence on the interplay between schizophrenia psychopathology and oxytocin’s therapeutic potential in consideration of female gonadal steroid interactions, with a focus on estrogens. The review was conducted using the PubMed and PsychINFO databases and conforms to the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) guidelines. The results suggest a potential synergistic effect of the combined antipsychotic effect of oxytocin and neuroprotective effect of estrogen on schizophrenia. Consideration of typical menstrual cycle-related hormonal changes is warranted and further research is needed to confirm this assumption.
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49
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Hou W, Huang S, Li L, Guo X, He Z, Shang S, Jia Z, Zhang L, Qu Y, Huang C, Li Y, Li Y, Lv Z, Tai F. Oxytocin treatments or activation of the paraventricular nucleus-the shell of nucleus accumbens pathway reduce adverse effects of chronic social defeat stress on emotional and social behaviors in Mandarin voles. Neuropharmacology 2023; 230:109482. [PMID: 36893984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Chronic social stress can cause psychological disease. Although oxytocin (OT) has been showed to modulate effects of chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) on emotional and social behaviors, however, how OT circuits mediate effects of CSDS on emotional and social abnormalities remains unclear. Here, we found that repeated intraperitoneal OT administration in the process of CSDS buffered adverse effects of CSDS on emotional and social behaviors in mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus) of both sexes except no effect on depression-like behavior of males. Repeated OT treatments during CSDS prevented decrease of oxytocin receptors in nucleus accumbens (NAc) in females, but produced no effects on males. Furthermore, using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs)-based chemogenetic tools, we determined that the activation of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN)-the shell of NAc (NAcs) projections before social defeat during CSDS process significantly prevented the increase of the anxiety-like behaviors and social avoidance induced by CSDS in both sexes, and reversed the depressive-like behaviors induced by CSDS only in females. Besides, optogenetic activation of PVN-NAcs projections after CSDS reduced anxiety-like behaviors and increased levels of sociality. Collectively, we suggest that PVN-NAcs projections modulate emotional and social behaviors during or after the process of CSDS sex-specifically, although AAV viruses did not specifically infect OT neurons. These findings offer potential targets for preventing or treating emotional and social disorders induced by chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Hou
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Shuying Huang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Lu Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zhixiong He
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Shufeng Shang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China; College of Bioscience and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong, 723000, China
| | - Ziyan Jia
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Lizi Zhang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yishan Qu
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Caihong Huang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yin Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Yitong Li
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Zijian Lv
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Fadao Tai
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China.
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Ng H, Ohmura N, Miyazawa E, Yoshihara C, Okuma L, Kuroda KO. Effects of oxytocin ablation on pup rescue, nursing behaviors and response to pup separation in early-to-mid postpartum mice. J Neuroendocrinol 2023:e13247. [PMID: 36973234 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin, a neuropeptide hormone, is indispensable for milk ejection during nursing and is important for uterine contractions during parturition. The exact functions of oxytocin in postpartum maternal behaviors and motivations require further investigation. To this end, we characterized the role of oxytocin in components of maternal motivations during the mid-postpartum period, which has not been previously studied. To maintain suckling stimuli, postpartum oxytocin knockout (Oxt-/- ) and heterozygous (Oxt+/- ) littermates were co-housed with a wild-type lactating mother and its litter, and were examined for their ability to retrieve pups under standard or high-risk conditions, nursing behavior, maternal aggression towards an unfamiliar intruder, and motivation to regain contact with separated pups. One-third of Oxt-/- mothers exhibited prolonged parturition but were otherwise grossly healthy. Despite their inability to eject milk, Oxt-/- mothers displayed nursing behaviors for similar durations to Oxt+/- mothers during the second postpartum week. In addition, Oxt-/- mothers were essentially intact for pup retrieval under standard conditions and were motivated to stay close to pups, although they showed a mild decrease in maternal care under high-risk conditions and increased anxiety-like behaviors in pup-related contexts. The present findings indicate that oxytocin is dispensable for nursing behavior and maternal motivations, yet suggest that oxytocin may be relevant for stress resilience in the postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Ng
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
- Real Chemistry, London, UK
| | - Nami Ohmura
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Eri Miyazawa
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Chihiro Yoshihara
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Lana Okuma
- Laboratory for Human Cognition and Learning, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
| | - Kumi O Kuroda
- Laboratory for Affiliative Social Behavior, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Saitama, Japan
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