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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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Mishra S, Grewal J, Wal P, Bhivshet GU, Tripathi AK, Walia V. Therapeutic potential of vasopressin in the treatment of neurological disorders. Peptides 2024; 174:171166. [PMID: 38309582 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171166] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Vasopressin (VP) is a nonapeptide made of nine amino acids synthesized by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. VP acts as a neurohormone, neuropeptide and neuromodulator and plays an important role in the regulation of water balance, osmolarity, blood pressure, body temperature, stress response, emotional challenges, etc. Traditionally VP is known to regulate the osmolarity and tonicity. VP and its receptors are widely expressed in the various region of the brain including cortex, hippocampus, basal forebrain, amygdala, etc. VP has been shown to modulate the behavior, stress response, circadian rhythm, cerebral blood flow, learning and memory, etc. The potential role of VP in the regulation of these neurological functions have suggested the therapeutic importance of VP and its analogues in the management of neurological disorders. Further, different VP analogues have been developed across the world with different pharmacotherapeutic potential. In the present work authors highlighted the therapeutic potential of VP and its analogues in the treatment and management of various neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Mishra
- SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, India
| | - Jyoti Grewal
- Maharisi Markandeshwar University, Sadopur, India
| | - Pranay Wal
- Pranveer Singh Institute of Pharmacy, Kanpur, India
| | | | | | - Vaibhav Walia
- SGT College of Pharmacy, SGT University, Gurugram, India.
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3
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Biosca-Brull J, Ona G, Alarcón-Franco L, Colomina MT. A transcriptomic analysis in mice following a single dose of ibogaine identifies new potential therapeutic targets. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:41. [PMID: 38242896 PMCID: PMC10798990 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02773-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Ibogaine (IBO) is an atypical psychedelic with a complex mechanism of action. To date, the mechanisms that may underlie its anti-addictive effects are still not defined. This study aims to identify changes in gene expression induced by a single oral dose of IBO in the cortex of mice by means of a transcriptomic analysis for the first time. Our results showed significant alterations in gene expression in mouse frontal cortex samples 4 h after a single oral dose of IBO. Specifically, genes involved in hormonal pathways and synaptogenesis exhibited upregulation, while genes associated with apoptotic processes and endosomal transports showed downregulation. The findings were further corroborated through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. However, the validation of gene expression related to hormonal pathways did not entirely align with the transcriptomic analysis results, possibly due to the brain region from which tissue was collected. Sex differences were observed, with female mice displaying more pronounced alterations in gene expression after IBO treatment. High variability was observed across individual animals. However, this study represents a significant advancement in comprehending IBO's molecular actions. The findings highlight the influence of IBO on gene expression, particularly on hormonal pathways, synaptogenesis, apoptotic processes, and endosomal transports. The identification of sex differences underscores the importance of considering sex as a potential factor influencing IBO's effects. Further research to assess different time points after IBO exposure is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judit Biosca-Brull
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Research Group in Neurobehavior and Health (NEUROLAB), Tarragona, Spain
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Psychology and Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Tarragona, Spain
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TECNATOX), Reus, Spain
| | - Genis Ona
- ICEERS-International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Services, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Anthropology, Philosophy and Social Work, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Lineth Alarcón-Franco
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Research Group in Neurobehavior and Health (NEUROLAB), Tarragona, Spain
- Grupo de Investigación Infetarre, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Maria Teresa Colomina
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Research Group in Neurobehavior and Health (NEUROLAB), Tarragona, Spain.
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Psychology and Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Tarragona, Spain.
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology (TECNATOX), Reus, Spain.
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Liebrand M, Rebsamen M, Nakamura-Utsunomiya A, von den Driesch L, Köck P, Caccia J, Hamann C, Wiest R, Kaess M, Walther S, Tschumi S, Hiyama TY, Kindler J. Case report: Psychosis and catatonia in an adolescent patient with adipsic hypernatremia and autoantibodies against the subfornical organ. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1206226. [PMID: 37539324 PMCID: PMC10396436 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1206226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This is the first description of a patient in which adipsic hypernatremia, a rare autoimmune encephalitis, presented in combination with complex psychiatric symptomatology, including psychosis and catatonia. Adipsic hypernatremia is characterized by autoantibodies against the thirst center of the brain. These autoantibodies cause inflammation and apoptosis in key regions of water homeostasis, leading to lack of thirst and highly increased serum sodium. To date, the symptoms of weakness, fatigue and drowsiness have been associated with adipsic hypernatremia, but no psychiatric symptomatology. Here, we showcase the first description of an adolescent patient, in which severe and complex psychiatric symptoms presented along with adipsic hypernatremia. The patient experienced delusion, hallucinations, restlessness and pronounced depression. Further, he showed ritualized, aggressive, disinhibited and sexualized behavior, as well as self-harm and psychomotor symptoms. Due to his severe condition, he was hospitalized on the emergency unit of the child and adolescent psychiatry for 8 months. Key symptoms of the presented clinical picture are: childhood-onset complex and treatment-resistant psychosis/catatonia, pronounced behavioral problems, fatigue, absent thirst perception, hypernatremia and elevated prolactin levels. This case report renders first evidence speaking for a causal link between the autoimmune adipsic hypernatremia and the psychotic disorder. Moreover, it sheds light on a new form of autoimmune psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Liebrand
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Rebsamen
- Support Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Akari Nakamura-Utsunomiya
- Department of Medical Genetics and Pediatrics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Luisa von den Driesch
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Köck
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julien Caccia
- Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Hamann
- Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roland Wiest
- Support Center for Advanced Neuroimaging (SCAN), University Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Kaess
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Walther
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sibylle Tschumi
- Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Takeshi Y. Hiyama
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan
| | - Jochen Kindler
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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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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Sennfelt D, Conus P, Elowe J. The impact of aversive personality traits on the psychotic-spectrum of disorders. Encephale 2022; 48:563-570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2022.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Rubin LH, Bhattacharya D, Fuchs J, Matthews A, Abdellah S, Veenhuis RT, Langenecker SA, Weber KM, Nazarloo HP, Keating SM, Carter CS, Maki PM. Early Life Trauma and Social Processing in HIV: The Role of Neuroendocrine Factors and Inflammation. Psychosom Med 2022; 84:874-884. [PMID: 36044606 PMCID: PMC9553269 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early life trauma (ELT) and HIV are associated with social processing deficits. In people with HIV (PWH), we examined whether facial emotion identification accuracy differs by ELT and whether neuroendocrine factors including cortisol, oxytocin (OT), and arginine vasopressin, and/or immune system measures play a role in the ELT-performance association. METHODS We used secondary data from the placebo condition of a pharmacologic challenge study in PWH. Presence of ELT was measured with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (at least moderate experiences of sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse). Social processing was measured with the Facial Emotion Perception Test (FEPT). Salivary immune system measures and cortisol were sampled across a 5-hour study session. Blood was collected at study session start (12 pm ) to measure OT and arginine vasopressin. We examined the association of ELT with FEPT and five biological moderators (from principal components analysis of 12 biomarkers) of ELT-FEPT associations. RESULTS Of 58 PWH (42 men; mean [standard deviation] age = 33.7 [8.9] years), 50% endorsed ELT. ELT-exposed PWH demonstrated lower identification accuracy across all emotional expressions (unstandardized β [ B ] = 0.13; standard error [SE] = 0.05; p = .021, d = 0.63) and had higher OT levels compared with ELT-unexposed PWH ( t(1,56) = 2.12, p = .039; d = 0.57). For total accuracy, an OT/C-reactive protein factor moderated the ELT-FEPT association ( B = 0.14; SE = 0.05; p = .014); accuracy was lower in ELT-exposed PWH versus ELT-unexposed PWH when the factor was low but not when high. Similar results were obtained for fearful, neutral, and happy faces ( p values < .05). Regardless of ELT, a myeloid migration (MCP-1/MMP-9) factor was associated with reduced accuracy ( p values < .05). CONCLUSIONS Our pilot findings suggest that ELT may alter social processing in PWH, and OT and C-reactive protein may be a target for improving social processing in ELT-exposed PWH, and myeloid migration markers may be a target in PWH more generally.
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Regional and Sex-Specific Alterations in the Visual Cortex of Individuals With Psychosis Spectrum Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:396-406. [PMID: 35688762 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impairments of the visual system are implicated in psychotic disorders. However, studies exploring visual cortex (VC) morphology in this population are limited. Using data from the Bipolar-Schizophrenia Network on Intermediate Phenotypes consortium, we examined VC structure in psychosis probands and their first-degree relatives (RELs), sex differences in VC measures, and their relationships with cognitive and peripheral inflammatory markers. METHODS Cortical thickness, surface area, and volume of the primary (Brodmann area 17/V1) and secondary (Brodmann area 18/V2) visual areas and the middle temporal (V5/MT) region were quantified using FreeSurfer version 6.0 in psychosis probands (n = 530), first-degree RELs (n = 544), and healthy control subjects (n = 323). Familiality estimates were determined for probands and RELs. General cognition, response inhibition, and emotion recognition functions were assessed. Systemic inflammation was measured in a subset of participants. RESULTS Psychosis probands demonstrated significant area, thickness, and volume reductions in V1, V2, and MT, and their first-degree RELs demonstrated area and volume reductions in MT compared with control subjects. There was a higher degree of familiality for VC area than thickness. Area and volume reductions in V1 and V2 were sex dependent, affecting only female probands in a regionally specific manner. Reductions in some VC regions were correlated with poor general cognition, worse response inhibition, and increased C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSIONS The visual cortex is a site of significant pathology in psychotic disorders, with distinct patterns of area and thickness changes, sex-specific and regional effects, potential contributions to cognitive impairments, and association with C-reactive protein levels.
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Marazziti D, Diep PT, Carter S, Carbone MG. Oxytocin: An Old Hormone, A Novel Psychotropic Drug And Possible Use In Treating Psychiatric Disorders. Curr Med Chem 2022; 29:5615-5687. [PMID: 35894453 DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220727120646] [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: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin is a nonapeptide synthesized in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. Historically, this molecule has been involved as a key factor in the formation of infant attachment, maternal behavior and pair bonding and, more generally, in linking social signals with cognition, behaviors and reward. In the last decades, the whole oxytocin system has gained a growing interest as it was proposed to be implicated in etiopathogenesis of several neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. METHODS With the main goal of an in-depth understanding of the oxytocin role in the regulation of different functions and complex behaviors as well as its intriguing implications in different neuropsychiatric disorders, we performed a critical review of the current state of art. We carried out this work through PubMed database up to June 2021 with the search terms: 1) "oxytocin and neuropsychiatric disorders"; 2) "oxytocin and neurodevelopmental disorders"; 3) "oxytocin and anorexia"; 4) "oxytocin and eating disorders"; 5) "oxytocin and obsessive-compulsive disorder"; 6) "oxytocin and schizophrenia"; 7) "oxytocin and depression"; 8) "oxytocin and bipolar disorder"; 9) "oxytocin and psychosis"; 10) "oxytocin and anxiety"; 11) "oxytocin and personality disorder"; 12) "oxytocin and PTSD". RESULTS Biological, genetic, and epigenetic studies highlighted quality and quantity modifications in the expression of oxytocin peptide or in oxytocin receptor isoforms. These alterations would seem to be correlated with a higher risk of presenting several neuropsychiatric disorders belonging to different psychopathological spectra. Collaterally, the exogenous oxytocin administration has shown to ameliorate many neuropsychiatric clinical conditions. CONCLUSION Finally, we briefly analyzed the potential pharmacological use of oxytocin in patient with severe symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and immunoregulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Marazziti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Pisa, Italy.,Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, Rome, Italy
| | - Phuoc-Tan Diep
- Department of Histopathology, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Carter
- Director Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Manuel G Carbone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Division of Psychiatry, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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Peripheral oxytocin concentrations in psychiatric disorders - A systematic review and methanalysis: Further evidence. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 117:110561. [PMID: 35461971 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Increased interest in understanding how changes in the oxytocinergic system are associated with the etiology and progression of psychiatric disorders has currently boosted the publication of studies. We present a systematic literature review followed by meta-analyses assessing whether peripheral oxytocin (OXT) levels among psychiatric patients differ from healthy controls, considering the moderating role of methodological aspects and samples' characteristics. The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, SciELO, LILACS, and Scopus. Fifty-five papers were included in the analysis, and nine independent meta-analyses were performed according to the different diagnoses. Lower OXT concentrations were found in groups of specific disorders (i.e., schizophrenia, restricting and binge-eating/purging subtypes of anorexia nervosa, and borderline personality disorder) with medium to large effect sizes. Great heterogeneity was found among the studies, so that caution is needed to interpret the results. High OXT levels with an effect size of the same magnitude were found for bipolar disorder - type I and obsessive disorder. In contrast, no differences were found for bulimia, autism spectrum, depression, or social anxiety. No meta-analyses were performed for body dysmorphic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or trichotillomania because only one study was identified for each of these disorders. Altered endogenous OXT concentrations are found in several disorders addressed and must be analyzed according to each disorder's specificities.
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Florea T, Palimariciuc M, Cristofor AC, Dobrin I, Chiriță R, Bîrsan M, Dobrin RP, Pădurariu M. Oxytocin: Narrative Expert Review of Current Perspectives on the Relationship with Other Neurotransmitters and the Impact on the Main Psychiatric Disorders. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58070923. [PMID: 35888641 PMCID: PMC9318841 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58070923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Is a cyclic neuropeptide produced primarily in the hypothalamus and plays an important neuromodulatory role for other neurotransmitter systems, with an impact on behavior, response to danger, stress, and complex social interactions, such as pair bonding and child care. This narrative expert review examines the literature on oxytocin as a brain hormone. We focused on oxytocin structure, distribution, genetics, and the oxytocin receptor system, as well as the relationship of oxytocin with other neurotransmitters and the resulting impacts on the main psychiatric disorders. Oxytocin levels have been correlated over time with mental illness, with numerous studies focusing on oxytocin and the pathophysiology of the main psychiatric disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, personality disorders, mood, and eating disorders. We highlight the role oxytocin plays in improving symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and social behavior, as the literature suggests. Risk factors and causes for psychiatric disorders range from genetic to environmental and social factors. Oxytocin could impact the latter, being linked with other neurotransmitter systems that are responsible for integrating different situations during the development phases of individuals. Also, these systems have an important role in how the body responds to stressors or bonding with others, helping with the creation of social support groups that could speed up recovery in many situations. Oxytocin has the potential to become a key therapeutic agent for future treatment and prevention strategies concerning the main psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tudor Florea
- Department of Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 16 Universității Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (T.F.); (M.P.); (A.C.C.); (I.D.); (R.C.)
| | - Matei Palimariciuc
- Department of Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 16 Universității Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (T.F.); (M.P.); (A.C.C.); (I.D.); (R.C.)
- Institute of Psychiatry “Socola”, 36 Bucium Street, 700282 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Ana Caterina Cristofor
- Department of Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 16 Universității Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (T.F.); (M.P.); (A.C.C.); (I.D.); (R.C.)
- Institute of Psychiatry “Socola”, 36 Bucium Street, 700282 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Irina Dobrin
- Department of Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 16 Universității Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (T.F.); (M.P.); (A.C.C.); (I.D.); (R.C.)
- Institute of Psychiatry “Socola”, 36 Bucium Street, 700282 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Roxana Chiriță
- Department of Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 16 Universității Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (T.F.); (M.P.); (A.C.C.); (I.D.); (R.C.)
- Institute of Psychiatry “Socola”, 36 Bucium Street, 700282 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Magdalena Bîrsan
- Department of Drug Industry and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iaşi, 16 Universităţii Street, 700115 Iaşi, Romania;
| | - Romeo Petru Dobrin
- Department of Medicine III, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iasi, 16 Universității Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania; (T.F.); (M.P.); (A.C.C.); (I.D.); (R.C.)
- Institute of Psychiatry “Socola”, 36 Bucium Street, 700282 Iasi, Romania;
- Correspondence:
| | - Manuela Pădurariu
- Institute of Psychiatry “Socola”, 36 Bucium Street, 700282 Iasi, Romania;
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Spilka MJ, Keller WR, Buchanan RW, Gold JM, Koenig JI, Strauss GP. Endogenous oxytocin levels are associated with facial emotion recognition accuracy but not gaze behavior in individuals with schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2022; 145:494-506. [PMID: 35243618 PMCID: PMC9007857 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Difficulties in social cognition are common in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) and are not ameliorated by antipsychotic treatment. Intranasal oxytocin (OT) administration has been explored as a potential intervention to improve social cognition; however, results are inconsistent, suggesting potential individual difference variables that may influence treatment response. Less is known about the relationship between endogenous OT and social cognition in SZ, knowledge of which may improve the development of OT-focused therapies. We examined plasma OT in relationship to facial emotion recognition and visual attention to salient facial features in SZ and controls. METHODS Forty-two individuals with SZ and 23 healthy controls viewed photographs of facial expressions of varying emotional intensity and identified the emotional expression displayed. Participants' gaze behavior during the task was recorded via eye tracking. Plasma oxytocin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS SZ were less accurate than controls at identifying high-intensity fearful facial expressions and low-intensity sad expressions. Lower overall and high-intensity facial emotion recognition accuracy was associated with lower plasma OT levels in SZ but not controls. OT was not associated with visual attention to salient facial features; however, SZ had reduced visual attention to the nose region compared to controls. CONCLUSION Individual differences in endogenous OT predict facial emotion recognition ability in SZ but are not associated with visual attention to salient facial features. Increased understanding of the association between endogenous OT and social cognitive abilities in SZ may help improve the design and interpretation of OT-focused clinical trials in SZ.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William R. Keller
- Dartmouth College, Geisel School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, USA
| | - Robert W. Buchanan
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, USA
| | - James M. Gold
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, USA
| | - James I. Koenig
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Multiple Aspects of Inappropriate Action of Renin-Angiotensin, Vasopressin, and Oxytocin Systems in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11040908. [PMID: 35207180 PMCID: PMC8877782 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11040908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The cardiovascular system and the central nervous system (CNS) closely cooperate in the regulation of primary vital functions. The autonomic nervous system and several compounds known as cardiovascular factors, especially those targeting the renin–angiotensin system (RAS), the vasopressin system (VPS), and the oxytocin system (OTS), are also efficient modulators of several other processes in the CNS. The components of the RAS, VPS, and OTS, regulating pain, emotions, learning, memory, and other cognitive processes, are present in the neurons, glial cells, and blood vessels of the CNS. Increasing evidence shows that the combined function of the RAS, VPS, and OTS is altered in neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative diseases, and in particular in patients with depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, and schizophrenia. The altered function of the RAS may also contribute to CNS disorders in COVID-19. In this review, we present evidence that there are multiple causes for altered combined function of the RAS, VPS, and OTS in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as genetic predispositions and the engagement of the RAS, VAS, and OTS in the processes underlying emotions, memory, and cognition. The neuroactive pharmaceuticals interfering with the synthesis or the action of angiotensins, vasopressin, and oxytocin can improve or worsen the effectiveness of treatment for neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative diseases. Better knowledge of the multiple actions of the RAS, VPS, and OTS may facilitate programming the most efficient treatment for patients suffering from the comorbidity of neuropsychiatric/neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.
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Hernández-Díaz Y, González-Castro TB, Tovilla-Zárate CA, López-Narváez ML, Genis-Mendoza AD, Castillo-Avila RG, Ramos-Méndez MÁ, Juárez-Rojop IE. Oxytocin levels in individuals with schizophrenia are high in cerebrospinal fluid but low in serum: A systematic review and meta-analysis : Oxytocin and Schizophrenia. Metab Brain Dis 2021; 36:2415-2424. [PMID: 34495462 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00836-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness. Levels of oxytocin have been proposed as a biomarker of schizophrenia; however, the observed levels of oxytocin in individuals with schizophrenia have been inconsistent across studies. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate oxytocin levels in plasma, serum and cerebrospinal fluid to see if there are statistically different concentrations between individuals with schizophrenia and the comparison group. The meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The quality of the study was evaluated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). A random-effects model was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-analysis software with the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Serum oxytocin levels in individuals with schizophrenia were significantly lower than that in comparison group (SMD = - 1.74, 95% CI = - 3.22 to - 0.26, p = 0.02) but cerebrospinal fluid oxytocin levels in individuals with schizophrenia were significantly higher than those in the comparison group (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.05 to 1.04, p = 0.03). Our results suggest that oxytocin levels in cerebrospinal fluid are increased in individuals with schizophrenia but decreased in serum. Therefore, the oxytocin system dysregulation may play a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and it should be measured in more populations for a possible implementation as a biomarker of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazmín Hernández-Díaz
- División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Jalpa de Méndez, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Jalpa de Méndez, Tabasco, México
| | - Thelma Beatriz González-Castro
- División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Jalpa de Méndez, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Jalpa de Méndez, Tabasco, México
| | - Carlos Alfonso Tovilla-Zárate
- División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Comalcalco, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Comalcalco, Tabasco, México.
| | | | - Alma Delia Genis-Mendoza
- Laboratorio de Genómica de Enfermedades Psiquiátricas y Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Rosa Giannina Castillo-Avila
- División Académica de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México
| | - Miguel Ángel Ramos-Méndez
- División Académica de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México
| | - Isela Esther Juárez-Rojop
- División Académica de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México
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15
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Ellis BJ, Horn AJ, Carter CS, van IJzendoorn MH, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ. Developmental programming of oxytocin through variation in early-life stress: Four meta-analyses and a theoretical reinterpretation. Clin Psychol Rev 2021; 86:101985. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.101985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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16
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Kiss A, Osacka J. The effect of amisulpride, olanzapine, quetiapine, and aripiprazole single administration on c-Fos expression in vasopressinergic and oxytocinergic neurons of the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Neuropeptides 2021; 87:102148. [PMID: 33887540 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Antipsychotics, including amisulpride (AMI), quetiapine (QUE), aripiprazole (ARI), and olanzapine (OLA), are used to treat mental illnesses associated with psychotic symptoms. The effect of these drugs on c-Fos expression in vasopressinergic (AVP) and oxytocinergic (OXY) neurons was studied in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of rats. The presence of c-Fos in AVP and OXY perikarya was investigated in seven PVN cells segregations: the anterior (Ant), dorsal cup (Dc), wing-shaped (Wi), periventricular zone (Pe), circle-shaped core (Co) and shell of core (Sh), and the posterior (pPVN) after an acute treatment with AMI-20 mg/kg, QUE-15 mg/kg, ARI-10 mg/kg, and OLA-5 mg/kg/bw in rats. Ninety min after treatments, the animals were sacrificed by transcardial perfusion with fixative and the PVN area sliced into 35 μm thick coronal sections for immunohistochemistry. The c-Fos was processed by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex intensified with nickel-enhanced 3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride. Visualization of AVP- and OXY-synthesizing neurons was achieved by a fluorescent marker Alexa Flour 568. The c-Fos-AVP and c-Fos-OXY colocalizations were evaluated from c-Fos stained sections merged with AVP or OXY ones. AMI, QUE, ARI, and OLA, single administration distinctly increased the c-Fos expression in each of the PVN cells segregations. QUE induced the highest magnitude of activation of AVP and OXY neurons, while OLA and AMI had only moderate effects. Incontestable variabilities detected in c-Fos expression in PVN AVP and OXY neurons extend the knowledge of selected antipsychotics extra-striatal actions and may also be helpful in a presumption of their possible functional impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kiss
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Jana Osacka
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia
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17
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Oxytocin in Schizophrenia: Pathophysiology and Implications for Future Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042146. [PMID: 33670047 PMCID: PMC7926349 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a form of mental disorder that is behaviorally characterized by abnormal behavior, such as social function deficits or other behaviors that are disconnected from reality. Dysregulation of oxytocin may play a role in regulating the expression of schizophrenia. Given oxytocin’s role in social cognition and behavior, a variety of studies have examined the potential clinical benefits of oxytocin in improving the psychopathology of patients with schizophrenia. In this review, we highlight the evidence for the role of endogenous oxytocin in schizophrenia, from animal models to human studies. We further discuss the potential of oxytocin as a therapeutic agent for schizophrenia and its implication in future treatment.
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18
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Carter CS, Kenkel WM, MacLean EL, Wilson SR, Perkeybile AM, Yee JR, Ferris CF, Nazarloo HP, Porges SW, Davis JM, Connelly JJ, Kingsbury MA. Is Oxytocin "Nature's Medicine"? Pharmacol Rev 2021; 72:829-861. [PMID: 32912963 PMCID: PMC7495339 DOI: 10.1124/pr.120.019398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a pleiotropic, peptide hormone with broad implications for general health, adaptation, development, reproduction, and social behavior. Endogenous oxytocin and stimulation of the oxytocin receptor support patterns of growth, resilience, and healing. Oxytocin can function as a stress-coping molecule, an anti-inflammatory, and an antioxidant, with protective effects especially in the face of adversity or trauma. Oxytocin influences the autonomic nervous system and the immune system. These properties of oxytocin may help explain the benefits of positive social experiences and have drawn attention to this molecule as a possible therapeutic in a host of disorders. However, as detailed here, the unique chemical properties of oxytocin, including active disulfide bonds, and its capacity to shift chemical forms and bind to other molecules make this molecule difficult to work with and to measure. The effects of oxytocin also are context-dependent, sexually dimorphic, and altered by experience. In part, this is because many of the actions of oxytocin rely on its capacity to interact with the more ancient peptide molecule, vasopressin, and the vasopressin receptors. In addition, oxytocin receptor(s) are epigenetically tuned by experience, especially in early life. Stimulation of G-protein–coupled receptors triggers subcellular cascades allowing these neuropeptides to have multiple functions. The adaptive properties of oxytocin make this ancient molecule of special importance to human evolution as well as modern medicine and health; these same characteristics also present challenges to the use of oxytocin-like molecules as drugs that are only now being recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - William M Kenkel
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Evan L MacLean
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Steven R Wilson
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Allison M Perkeybile
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Jason R Yee
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Craig F Ferris
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Hossein P Nazarloo
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Stephen W Porges
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - John M Davis
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
| | - Marcy A Kingsbury
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (C.S.C., W.M.K., A.M.P., H.P.N., S.W.P.); School of Anthropology, Department of Psychology, and College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (E.L.M.); Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (S.R.W.); Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria (J.R.Y.); Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (C.F.F.); Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (J.M.D.); Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (J.J.C.); and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charleston, Massachusetts (M.A.K.)
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Sparapani S, Millet-Boureima C, Oliver J, Mu K, Hadavi P, Kalostian T, Ali N, Avelar CM, Bardies M, Barrow B, Benedikt M, Biancardi G, Bindra R, Bui L, Chihab Z, Cossitt A, Costa J, Daigneault T, Dault J, Davidson I, Dias J, Dufour E, El-Khoury S, Farhangdoost N, Forget A, Fox A, Gebrael M, Gentile MC, Geraci O, Gnanapragasam A, Gomah E, Haber E, Hamel C, Iyanker T, Kalantzis C, Kamali S, Kassardjian E, Kontos HK, Le TBU, LoScerbo D, Low YF, Mac Rae D, Maurer F, Mazhar S, Nguyen A, Nguyen-Duong K, Osborne-Laroche C, Park HW, Parolin E, Paul-Cole K, Peer LS, Philippon M, Plaisir CA, Porras Marroquin J, Prasad S, Ramsarun R, Razzaq S, Rhainds S, Robin D, Scartozzi R, Singh D, Fard SS, Soroko M, Soroori Motlagh N, Stern K, Toro L, Toure MW, Tran-Huynh S, Trépanier-Chicoine S, Waddingham C, Weekes AJ, Wisniewski A, Gamberi C. The Biology of Vasopressin. Biomedicines 2021; 9:89. [PMID: 33477721 PMCID: PMC7832310 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9010089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vasopressins are evolutionarily conserved peptide hormones. Mammalian vasopressin functions systemically as an antidiuretic and regulator of blood and cardiac flow essential for adapting to terrestrial environments. Moreover, vasopressin acts centrally as a neurohormone involved in social and parental behavior and stress response. Vasopressin synthesis in several cell types, storage in intracellular vesicles, and release in response to physiological stimuli are highly regulated and mediated by three distinct G protein coupled receptors. Other receptors may bind or cross-bind vasopressin. Vasopressin is regulated spatially and temporally through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, sex, tissue, and cell-specific receptor expression. Anomalies of vasopressin signaling have been observed in polycystic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Growing knowledge of the central biological roles of vasopressin has enabled pharmacological advances to treat these conditions by targeting defective systemic or central pathways utilizing specific agonists and antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chiara Gamberi
- Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada; (S.S.); (C.M.-B.); (J.O.); (K.M.); (P.H.); (T.K.); (N.A.); (C.M.A.); (M.B.); (B.B.); (M.B.); (G.B.); (R.B.); (L.B.); (Z.C.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (T.D.); (J.D.); (I.D.); (J.D.); (E.D.); (S.E.-K.); (N.F.); (A.F.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (M.C.G.); (O.G.); (A.G.); (E.G.); (E.H.); (C.H.); (T.I.); (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.K.); (H.K.K.); (T.B.U.L.); (D.L.); (Y.F.L.); (D.M.R.); (F.M.); (S.M.); (A.N.); (K.N.-D.); (C.O.-L.); (H.W.P.); (E.P.); (K.P.-C.); (L.S.P.); (M.P.); (C.-A.P.); (J.P.M.); (S.P.); (R.R.); (S.R.); (S.R.); (D.R.); (R.S.); (D.S.); (S.S.F.); (M.S.); (N.S.M.); (K.S.); (L.T.); (M.W.T.); (S.T.-H.); (S.T.-C.); (C.W.); (A.J.W.); (A.W.)
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Pekarek BT, Hunt PJ, Arenkiel BR. Oxytocin and Sensory Network Plasticity. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:30. [PMID: 32063835 PMCID: PMC7000660 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
An essential characteristic of nervous systems is their capacity to reshape functional connectivity in response to physiological and environmental cues. Endogenous signals, including neuropeptides, governs nervous system plasticity. Particularly, oxytocin has been recognized for its role in mediating activity-dependent circuit changes. These oxytocin-dependent changes occur at the synaptic level and consequently shape the cellular composition of circuits. Here we discuss recent advances that illustrate how oxytocin functions to reshape neural circuitry in response to environmental changes. Excitingly, recent findings pave the way for promising therapeutic applications of oxytocin to treat neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon T. Pekarek
- Genetics and Genomics Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Patrick J. Hunt
- Genetics and Genomics Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Benjamin R. Arenkiel
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, United States
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21
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Bang M, Kang JI, Kim SJ, Park JY, Kim KR, Lee SY, Park K, Lee E, Lee SK, An SK. Reduced DNA Methylation of the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Is Associated With Anhedonia-Asociality in Women With Recent-Onset Schizophrenia and Ultra-high Risk for Psychosis. Schizophr Bull 2019; 45:1279-1290. [PMID: 31220321 PMCID: PMC6812051 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Negative symptoms are recognized as a fundamental feature of schizophrenia throughout the disease course. Epigenetic alterations in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) may be a key mechanism involved in social-emotional disturbances of schizophrenia. Here, we investigated OXTR methylation and its association with clinical and brain network connectivity phenotypes of negative symptoms, particularly anhedonia-asociality, in individuals with recent-onset schizophrenia (ROS) and at ultrahigh risk (UHR) for psychosis. Sixty-four ROS (39 women), 46 UHR (19 women), and 98 healthy individuals (52 women) participated in this study. OXTR methylation was quantified using the pyrosequencing method. A subset of participants (16 ROS, 23 UHR, and 33 healthy controls [HCs]) underwent a 5.5-minute resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine the relationship between OXTR methylation and the striatal-amygdala network functional connectivity (FC) underlying anhedonia-asociality. Both men and women with ROS and UHR showed significantly decreased OXTR methylation compared to HCs. In women with ROS and UHR, decreased OXTR methylation showed a significant correlation with increased anhedonia-asociality. FC of the striatal-amygdala network, positively associated with the severity of anhedonia-asociality, showed an inverse correlation with OXTR methylation. This study suggests that epigenetic alterations of OXTR, which can be detected before the development of full-blown psychosis, confer susceptibility to schizophrenia and play a crucial role in the manifestation of anhedonia-asociality, particularly in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minji Bang
- Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee In Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Joo Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Young Park
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Department of Psychiatry, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Ran Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Young Lee
- Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Department of Psychiatry, Cheil General Hospital and Women’s Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmee Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Koo Lee
- Department of Radiology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk Kyoon An
- Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea,Graduate Program in Cognitive Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: +82-2-2228-1585, fax: +82-2-313-0891, e-mail:
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22
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Busch JR, Jacobsen C, Lynnerup N, Banner J, Møller M. Expression of vasopressin mRNA in the hypothalamus of individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Brain Behav 2019; 9:e01355. [PMID: 31339235 PMCID: PMC6749484 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigates the expression of mRNA encoding vasopressin in the hypothalamus of autopsy brains of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. METHODS Ten brains of individuals with schizophrenia and 10 brains from individuals without any disease were examined during autopsy. The hypothalamic block was dissected and immersion fixed in paraformaldehyde, sucrose substituted, frozen, and cut into 20-µm-thick coronal cryostat sections. The sections were hybridized with an S-35-labeled DNA antisense oligo probe and after washing covered by an X-ray film. The hybridization signals on the films were transferred to a computer and densitometrically quantified. RESULTS The densitometry signals showed a statistically significant lower mRNA expression (53% decrease; p = 0.014) in the paraventricular nucleus of the individuals with schizophrenia compared to the controls. In the supraoptic nucleus, the decrease in the group with schizophrenia was 39% compared to the controls, but this decrease was not statistically significant (p = 0.194). CONCLUSIONS Our results show a low expression of mRNA encoding vasopressin in the paraventricular nucleus of the individuals with schizophrenia. We suggest that vasopressin is not directly involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, but might influence schizophrenic symptoms via vasopressin receptors located in the social behavioral neural network in the forebrain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes R Busch
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Jacobsen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Lynnerup
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jytte Banner
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Møller
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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23
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Mutu Pek T, Yazici E, Guzel D, Kose E, Yazıcı AB, Erol A. The relationship between oxytocin, vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide levels and cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. PSYCHIAT CLIN PSYCH 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/24750573.2019.1653149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tugba Mutu Pek
- Afyonkarahisar Dinar State Hospital Clinic of Psychiatry, Afyon, Turkey
| | - Esra Yazici
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Derya Guzel
- Department of Physiology, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Elif Kose
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Bülent Yazıcı
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Atila Erol
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
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24
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Tyebji S, Seizova S, Garnham AL, Hannan AJ, Tonkin CJ. Impaired social behaviour and molecular mediators of associated neural circuits during chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection in female mice. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 80:88-108. [PMID: 30807837 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a neurotropic parasite that is associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders. Rodents infected with T. gondii display a plethora of behavioural alterations, and Toxoplasma infection in humans has been strongly associated with disorders such as schizophrenia, in which impaired social behaviour is an important feature. Elucidating changes at the cellular level relevant to neuropsychiatric conditions can lead to effective therapies. Here, we compare changes in behaviour during an acute and chronic T. gondii infection in female mice. Further, we notice that during chronic phase of infection, mice display impaired sociability when exposed to a novel conspecific. Also, we show that T. gondii infected mice display impaired short-term social recognition memory. However, object recognition memory remains intact. Using c-Fos as a marker of neuronal activity, we show that infection leads to an impairment in neuronal activation in the medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus as well as the amygdala when mice are exposed to a social environment and a change in functional connectivity between these regions. We found changes in synaptic proteins that play a role in the process of neuronal activation such as synaptophysin, PSD-95 and changes in downstream substrates of cell activity such as cyclic AMP, phospho-CREB and BDNF. Our results point towards an imbalance in neuronal activity that can lead to a wider range of neuropsychiatric problems upon T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiraz Tyebji
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia; Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Simona Seizova
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia.
| | - Alexandra L Garnham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia.
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia.
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25
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Li H, Zhou DS, Chang H, Wang L, Liu W, Dai SX, Zhang C, Cai J, Liu W, Li X, Fan W, Tang W, Tang W, Liu F, He Y, Bai Y, Hu Z, Xiao X, Gao L, Li M. Interactome Analyses implicated CAMK2A in the genetic predisposition and pharmacological mechanism of Bipolar Disorder. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 115:165-175. [PMID: 31150948 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a severe mental illness characterized by fluctuations in mood states, behaviors and energy levels. Growing evidence suggests that genes associated with specific illnesses tend to interact together and encode a tight protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, providing valuable information for understanding their pathogenesis. To gain insights into the genetic and physiological foundation of BPD, we conduct the physical PPI analysis of 184 BPD risk genes distilled from genome-wide association studies and exome sequencing studies. We have identified several hub genes (CAMK2A, HSP90AA1 and PLCG1) among those risk genes, and observed significant enrichment of the BPD risk genes in certain pathways such as calcium signaling, oxytocin signaling and circadian entrainment. Furthermore, while none of the 184 genetic risk genes are "well established" BPD drug targets, our PPI analysis showed that αCaMKII (encoded by CAMK2A) had direct physical PPIs with targets (HRH1, SCN5A and CACNA1E) of clinically used anti-manic BPD drugs, such as carbamazepine. We thus speculated that αCaMKII might be involved in the cellular pharmacological actions of those drugs. Using cultured rat primary cortical neurons, we found that carbamazepine treatment induced phosphorylation of αCaMKII in dose-dependent manners. Intriguingly, previous study showed that CAMK2A heterozygous knockout (CAMK2A+/-) mice exhibited infradian oscillation of locomotor activities that can be rescued by carbamazepine. Our data, in combination with previous studies, provide convergent evidence for the involvement of CAMK2A in the risk of BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hong Chang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Weipeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China; Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Shao-Xing Dai
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedicine Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Cai
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiqing Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xingxing Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weixing Fan
- Jinhua Second Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei Tang
- Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenxin Tang
- Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuanfang He
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yan Bai
- Department of Psychiatry, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhonghua Hu
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China; (m)CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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26
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Speck LG, Schöner J, Bermpohl F, Heinz A, Gallinat J, Majic T, Montag C. Endogenous oxytocin response to film scenes of attachment and loss is pronounced in schizophrenia. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2019; 14:109-117. [PMID: 30481342 PMCID: PMC6318471 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsy110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Oxytocin (OXT) is critically involved in the regulation of attachment and interpersonal function. In this study, emotional children’s movies were used to stimulate OXT secretion in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (HCs). Furthermore, associations of OXT levels with measures of attachment style (Psychosis Attachment Measure), childhood adversity (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and symptom severity [Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)] were considered. Methods In 35 patients with schizophrenia and 35 matched HCs, radioimmunoassay with sample extraction was used to determine OXT plasma levels before and after viewing of movie scenes portraying emotional bonding and loss and compared to a non-emotional condition. Results Statistical analysis indicated lower baseline OXT levels in female patients than in all other groups. OXT reactivity during emotional movies was significantly higher in patients when compared to HCs. OXT reactivity during the control movie related to PANSS `general psychopathology’. No significant associations appeared between baseline or induced OXT levels and other PANSS subscales, attachment style or childhood adversity in patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest differences of baseline OXT and a higher OXT reactivity toward strong emotional stimuli in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting a role of OXT as a gender- and context-dependent modulator of socio-emotional function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas G Speck
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Schöner
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Bermpohl
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Heinz
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gallinat
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tomislav Majic
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christiane Montag
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin Institute of Health, Campus Charité Mitte Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz, Berlin, Germany
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27
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Strauss GP, Granholm E, Holden JL, Ruiz I, Gold JM, Kelly DL, Buchanan RW. The effects of combined oxytocin and cognitive behavioral social skills training on social cognition in schizophrenia. Psychol Med 2019; 49:1731-1739. [PMID: 30180918 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718002465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with schizophrenia have deficits in social cognition that are associated with poor functional outcome. Unfortunately, current treatments result in only modest improvement in social cognition. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide with pro-social effects, has significant benefits for social cognition in the general population. However, studies examining the efficacy of oxytocin in schizophrenia have yielded inconsistent results. One reason for inconsistency may be that oxytocin has typically not been combined with psychosocial interventions. It may be necessary for individuals with schizophrenia to receive concurrent psychosocial treatment while taking oxytocin to have the context needed to make gains in social cognitive skills. METHODS The current study tested this hypothesis in a 24-week (48 session) double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that combined oxytocin and Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST), which included elements from Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT). Participants included 62 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (placebo n = 31; oxytocin n = 31) who received 36 IU BID, with supervised administration 45 min prior to sessions on CBSST group therapy days. Participants completed a battery of measures administered at 0, 12, and 24 weeks that assessed social cognition. RESULTS CBSST generally failed to enhance social cognition from baseline to end of study, and there was no additive benefit of oxytocin beyond the effects of CBSST alone. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that combined CBSST and oxytocin had minimal benefit for social cognition, adding to the growing literature indicating null effects of oxytocin in multi-dose trials. Methodological and biological factors may contribute to inconsistent results across studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Granholm
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, Department of Psychiatry,University of California San Diego School of Medicine,San Diego, CA,USA
| | - Jason L Holden
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, Department of Psychiatry,University of California San Diego School of Medicine,San Diego, CA,USA
| | - Ivan Ruiz
- Department of Psychology,University of Georgia,Athens, GA,USA
| | - James M Gold
- Department of Psychiatry,Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD,USA
| | - Deanna L Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry,Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD,USA
| | - Robert W Buchanan
- Department of Psychiatry,Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD,USA
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28
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Schatz KC, Brown LM, Barrett AR, Roth LC, Grinevich V, Paul MJ. Viral rescue of magnocellular vasopressin cells in adolescent Brattleboro rats ameliorates diabetes insipidus, but not the hypoaroused phenotype. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8243. [PMID: 31160697 PMCID: PMC6546688 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44776-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated arousal often accompanies neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. Recently, we have found that adolescent homozygous Brattleboro (Hom) rats, which contain a mutation in the arginine vasopressin (AVP) gene, exhibit lower behavioral arousal than their heterozygous (Het) littermates in the open field test. This hypoaroused phenotype could be due to loss of AVP in magnocellular cells that supply AVP to the peripheral circulation and project to limbic structures or parvocellular cells that regulate the stress axis and other central targets. Alternatively, hypoarousal could be a side effect of diabetes insipidus - polydipsia and polyuria seen in Hom rats due to loss of AVP facilitation of water reabsorption in the kidney. We developed a viral-rescue approach to "cure" magnocellular AVP cells of their Brattleboro mutation. Infusion of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) containing a functional Avp gene and promoter (rAAV-AVP) rescued AVP within magnocellular cells and fiber projections of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) of male and female adolescent Hom rats. Furthermore, water intake was markedly reduced, ameliorating the symptoms of diabetes insipidus. In contrast, open field activity was unaffected. These findings indicate that the hyporaoused phenotype of adolescent Hom rats is not due to the loss of AVP function in magnocellular cells or a side effect of diabetes insipidus, but favors the hypothesis that central, parvocellular AVP mechanisms underlie the regulation of arousal during adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Schatz
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, 14260, NY, USA.
| | - L M Brown
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, 14260, NY, USA
| | - A R Barrett
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, 14260, NY, USA
| | - L C Roth
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
- Letten Centre and GliaLab, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - V Grinevich
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
- Schaller Group on Neuropeptides, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, 69120, Germany
- Department of Neuropeptide Research for Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, 68159, Germany
| | - M J Paul
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, 14260, NY, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, 14260, NY, USA
- Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Program, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, 14260, NY, USA
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29
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Strauss GP, Chapman HC, Keller WR, Koenig JI, Gold JM, Carpenter WT, Buchanan RW. Endogenous oxytocin levels are associated with impaired social cognition and neurocognition in schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 112:38-43. [PMID: 30849617 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Intranasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has yielded inconsistent effects on social cognition and general cognition in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ). Few studies have examined whether endogenous peripheral OT levels are also associated with social and general cognition in SZ. The current study examined whether plasma OT levels are associated with performance on a higher-order social cognition measure (i.e., a task that requires inferential processes and knowledge not directly presented in social stimuli), as well as domains of general cognition. Participants included 30 individuals with SZ and 21 demographically matched healthy controls (CN). The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery was administered to assess neuropsychological impairment in relation to 7 domains (processing speed, attention/vigilance, working memory, verbal learning, visual learning, reasoning/problem solving, and social cognition). Plasma OT levels were measured via radioimmunoassay. SZ had significantly lower endogenous OT levels and poorer MCCB performance on all 7 domains than CN. In CN and SZ, lower endogenous OT was associated with poorer social cognition. In SZ, lower endogenous OT was also associated with poorer processing speed and working memory. The significant association between OT and social cognition in both CN and SZ highlights the importance of endogenous OT levels as a biological predictor of social cognition, irrespective of clinical status. Significant associations between plasma OT and general neurocognition may reflect either an anxiolytic effect of plasma OT that results in better neurocognitive performance, or OT's action on dopamine and enhancement of dopamine tone that results in improved cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - William R Keller
- Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, USA
| | - James I Koenig
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, USA
| | - James M Gold
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, USA
| | - William T Carpenter
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, USA
| | - Robert W Buchanan
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, USA
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30
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Schatz KC, Martin CD, Ishiwari K, George AM, Richards JB, Paul MJ. Mutation in the vasopressin gene eliminates the sex difference in social reinforcement in adolescent rats. Physiol Behav 2019; 206:125-133. [PMID: 30951747 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide, arginine vasopressin (AVP), is thought to contribute to sex differences in normative and pathological social development by regulating social motivation. Recent studies using Brattleboro rats that have a mutation in the Avp gene, however, have suggested that AVP impacts adolescent social behaviors of males and females in a similar manner through actions on behavioral state (i.e., arousal). In the present study, we made use of a recently developed operant conditioning paradigm to test whether the chronic, lifelong AVP deficiency caused by the Brattleboro mutation impacts the reinforcement value of social stimuli during adolescence. Operant responding for access to a familiar conspecific was assessed in male and female adolescent wild type (WT; normal AVP), heterozygous Brattleboro (HET), and homozygous Brattleboro (HOM) rats. Following the social reinforcement test, rats were tested in the same operant paradigm except that the social reinforcer was replaced with a light reinforcer to determine whether effects of the Brattleboro mutation were specific to social stimuli or a general characteristic of operant conditioning. WT males directed a greater proportion of their responding toward the social and light stimuli than WT females; only males exhibited a preference for these reinforcers over unreinforced ports. The sex difference in social reinforcement was absent in HOM rats, whereas the sex difference in light reinforcement was present in all genotypes. These data indicate that adolescent males are more sensitive to the reinforcing properties of social and light stimuli, and that the sex difference in social, but not light, reinforcement depends upon normal levels of AVP. These findings support the hypothesis that AVP plays a critical role in sex differences in social development by acting on factors that influence social motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- K C Schatz
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - C D Martin
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - K Ishiwari
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - A M George
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - J B Richards
- Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
| | - M J Paul
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Neuroscience Program, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Program, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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Luckhaus C, Juckel G, Hurlemann R. [Oxytocin in schizophrenia : Evidence for an etiological and therapeutic relevance of the social neuromodulator]. DER NERVENARZT 2019; 90:277-284. [PMID: 30215130 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-018-0615-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurobiological results from animal models as well as biochemical and genetic findings in patients indicate that the oxytocin (OT) system may be dysfunctional in schizophrenia. On this pathogenetic basis transnasally administered OT (tnOT) could be an innovative treatment option for schizophrenia. Experimental data from animal studies are also suggestive of a particular effectiveness in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. To date, clinical data on tnOT treatment of schizophrenia patients does not unequivocally support a general therapeutic effect on the psychopathology but suggests positive effects on higher integrated social cognitive performance, such as empathy and mentalization. In particular, tnOT augmentation of a social cognitive skills training resulted in a marked and lasting treatment effect; however, numerous person- and context-dependent variables can potentially moderate individual effects of OT and may even reverse effects in certain constellations. Most clinical studies so far have not systematically accounted and controlled for these factors with the probable result of larger variance of recorded treatment effects and lower likelihood of ascertaining positive effectiveness. Furthermore, there is still a gap of knowledge on dose response relations and central nervous system (CNS) permeation in man following tnOT administration. This review aims to give a concise overview on the evidence for the etiological relevance of the neurohormone OT and its treatment potential in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Luckhaus
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, LWL-Universitätsklinikum Bochum, Alexandrinenstr 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland.
| | - G Juckel
- Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Präventivmedizin der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, LWL-Universitätsklinikum Bochum, Alexandrinenstr 1-3, 44791, Bochum, Deutschland
| | - R Hurlemann
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25, 53105, Bonn, Deutschland
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The Effect of Intranasal Oxytocin on Measures of Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: A Negative Report. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 4. [PMID: 31037274 PMCID: PMC6485966 DOI: 10.20900/jpbs.20190001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Social cognition is impaired in patients with schizophrenia and is related to functional outcome. Neither current pharmacologic treatments for psychotic symptoms nor psychosocial interventions robustly improves measures of social cognition. Given this, the development of adjunctive treatments to improve functional outcome is a rational approach to treatment research in schizophrenia. The neuropeptide oxytocin is a candidate to treat deficits in social cognition due to its prosocial as well as anxiolytic effects. We report here results from a randomized, double-blind, parallel group 3 week clinical trial with daily administration of adjunctive intranasal oxytocin (20 IU twice daily) (n = 13) or placebo (n = 15). We examined the effect of oxytocin administration on measures of 4 domains of social cognition, as well as social functioning. After 3 weeks of oxytocin/placebo dosing, there was no significant difference favoring oxytocin between treatment groups in any outcome measure. These results add to the body of literature examining the effects of oxytocin on social cognition in schizophrenia. Further study is warranted.
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Aydın O, Balıkçı K, Taş C, Ünal-Aydın P, Taneli F, Esen-Danacı A. Assessing the relationship between attachment, parental attitude and plasma oxytocin in schizophrenia patients and their unaffected siblings. Nord J Psychiatry 2019; 73:51-57. [PMID: 30636461 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2018.1554698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is widely acknowledged that schizophrenia patients tend to have insecure attachment styles and improper parenting. However, the biological processes related to these adversities remain unclear and that the disturbance in oxytocin system is considered as one of the strongest predictors of such adversities. METHODS Thirty-four patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected thirty-four healthy siblings were recruited for the study and they were compared with thirty-one healthy controls. We examined attachment styles via Experience in Close Relationship-Revised Test and perceived parental attitudes with the My Memories of Upbringing-Short Version Test. In addition, we evaluated plasma oxytocin levels across groups. RESULTS The patients with schizophrenia had lower plasma oxytocin levels and obtained higher levels for attachment anxiety and avoidance with more parental rejection and over protection. There was a significantly negative relationship between the levels of plasma oxytocin in blood and parental over protection in the healthy sibling and healthy control groups. In contrast, there was a significantly positive relationship between the levels of plasma oxytocin in blood and parental over protection in the schizophrenia group. Results of the regression analyses revealed that the plasma oxytocin levels and over protection were notable factors in discriminating the groups from each other. CONCLUSION Our findings suggested that disturbance in oxytocin is associated with susceptibility to schizophrenia predisposition. In sum, therapeutic interventions that address oxytocin and over protection may influence the outcomes in this severe mental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orkun Aydın
- a Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences , International University of Sarajevo , Sarajevo , Bosnia-Herzegovina
| | - Kuzeymen Balıkçı
- b Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine , Near East University , Nicosia , Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic
| | - Cumhur Taş
- c Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences , Uskudar University , Istanbul , Turkey
| | - Pınar Ünal-Aydın
- a Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences , International University of Sarajevo , Sarajevo , Bosnia-Herzegovina
| | - Fatma Taneli
- d Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine , Celal Bayar University , Manisa , Turkey
| | - Ayşen Esen-Danacı
- e Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine , Celal Bayar University , Manisa , Turkey
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Kampka N, Frommann N, Henning U, Schwark R, Wölwer W, Pietrowsky R, Luckhaus C. Oxytocin reactivity to an emotional challenge paradigm and its relation to social-cognitive functions in healthy volunteers. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2018; 126:211-218. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-018-1955-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Rubin LH, Li S, Yao L, Keedy SK, Reilly JL, Hill SK, Bishop JR, Carter CS, Pournajafi-Nazarloo H, Drogos LL, Gershon E, Pearlson GD, Tamminga CA, Clementz BA, Keshavan MS, Lui S, Sweeney JA. Peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin modulates regional brain activity differently in men and women with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2018; 202:173-179. [PMID: 30539769 PMCID: PMC6293995 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) exert sexually dimorphic effects on cognition and emotion processing. Abnormalities in these hormones are observed in schizophrenia and may contribute to multiple established sex differences associated with the disorder. Here we examined sex-dependent hormone associations with resting brain activity and their clinical associations in schizophrenia patients. METHODS OT and AVP serum concentrations were assayed in 35 individuals with schizophrenia (23 men) and 60 controls (24 men) from the Chicago BSNIP study site. Regional cerebral function was assessed with resting state fMRI by measuring the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) which are believed to reflect intrinsic spontaneous neuronal activity. RESULTS In female patients, lower OT levels were associated with lower ALFF in frontal and cerebellar cortices (p's < 0.05) and in female controls AVP levels were inversely associated with ALFF in the frontal cortex (p = 0.01). In male patients, lower OT levels were associated with lower ALFF in the posterior cingulate and lower AVP levels were associated with lower ALFF in frontal cortex (p's < 0.05). In male controls, lower OT levels were associated with lower ALFF in frontal cortex and higher ALFF in the thalamus (p's < 0.05). There were some inverse ALFF-behavior associations in patients. CONCLUSIONS Alterations in peripheral hormone levels are associated with resting brain physiology in a sex-dependent manner in schizophrenia. These effects may contribute to sex differences in psychiatric symptom severity and course of illness in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah H. Rubin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL,Departments of Neurology and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Siyi Li
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Yao
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sarah K. Keedy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - James L. Reilly
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Scot K. Hill
- Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL
| | - Jeffrey R. Bishop
- Departments of Pharmacy and Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | | | | | - Lauren L. Drogos
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elliot Gershon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Godfrey D. Pearlson
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Yale University and Olin Neuropsychiatric Research Center, Hartford, CT
| | - Carol A. Tamminga
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | | | - Matcheri S. Keshavan
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Su Lui
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
| | - John A. Sweeney
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China,Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX,Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati
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36
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Schatz KC, Kyne RF, Parmeter SL, Paul MJ. Investigation of social, affective, and locomotor behavior of adolescent Brattleboro rats reveals a link between vasopressin's actions on arousal and social behavior. Horm Behav 2018; 106:1-9. [PMID: 30184461 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has recently been implicated in juvenile and adolescent social development. How AVP influences social development, however, is not understood. Adolescent homozygous Brattleboro rats (Hom), which lack AVP due to a mutation in the Avp gene, exhibit fewer active social behaviors (e.g., social play) but more passive social behaviors (e.g., huddling) than their wild type and heterozygous (Het) littermates, raising the possibility that AVP impacts social development through an arousal mechanism. Here, we test whether the atypical social phenotype of adolescent Hom rats is associated with altered behavioral arousal, social approach, or affective behaviors and whether Brattleboro mothers impact these behavioral phenotypes. Male and female Het and Hom adolescents born to Het or Hom mothers were tested in social interaction, open field, novelty-seeking, social approach, and marble burying tests. As reported previously, Hom rats played less and emitted fewer 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations while huddling more than their Het littermates. No genotype differences were detected in novelty seeking or social approach, nor were consistent differences found between offspring from Het and Hom mothers. However, Hom rats were less active in the open field and buried fewer marbles than Het rats indicating a hypoaroused, low anxiety phenotype. Open field activity correlated with levels of social play indicating that the effects of the Brattleboro mutation on arousal and social behavior are linked. These data demonstrate that chronic AVP deficiency impacts behavioral arousal during adolescence and support the hypothesis that AVP influences adolescent social development, in part, through its regulation of arousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelcie C Schatz
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
| | - Robert F Kyne
- Neuroscience Program, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
| | | | - Matthew J Paul
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; Neuroscience Program, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior Program, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
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37
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Rubin LH, Wehring HJ, Demyanovich H, Sue Carter C, Pournajafi-Nazarloo H, Feldman SM, Earl AK, August S, Gold JM, Kelly DL. Peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin are associated with clinical symptom severity and cognitive functioning in midlife women with chronic schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2018; 195:409-411. [PMID: 28965776 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2017.09.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leah H Rubin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Heidi J Wehring
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Haley Demyanovich
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Stephanie M Feldman
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amber K Earl
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sharon August
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - James M Gold
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Deanna L Kelly
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Molecular hypotheses to explain the shared pathways and underlying pathobiological causes in catatonia and in catatonic presentations in neuropsychiatric disorders. Med Hypotheses 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2018.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Jusiak K, Brudkowska Ż, Gołębiowska M, Morylowska-Topolska J, Gołębiowska B, Próchnicki M, Próchnicka A, Karakuła-Juchnowicz H. The role of oxytocin in the pathogenesis and treatment of schizophrenia. CURRENT PROBLEMS OF PSYCHIATRY 2017. [DOI: 10.1515/cpp-2017-0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Until recently, oxytocin was mainly associated with the pathophysiology of childbirth and sexual functions, but lately this hormone has become the object of interest to psychiatry and psychology due to the significant influence of oxytocin on human behavior in the field of social and emotional functioning. Current scientific research focuses on the participation of oxytocin in the pathogenesis and therapy of mental disorders.
Aim: The aim of the paper is to present, on the basis of available literature, the significance of oxytocin for various psychological functions, with particular emphasis on the influence of oxytocin on the course and clinical picture of schizophrenia.
Method: Available articles from the Medline / PubMed database were analyzed, which were searched using keywords: oxytocin, schizophrenia, therapeutic use of oxytocin, social cognition, positive symptoms, negative symptoms and time descriptors: 2013-2017. There are included articles published in Polish and English.
Results:The research results carried out so far suggest that oxytocin plays a significant role in modulating complex socio-emotional behaviors in schizophrenic patients. The existing research results also indicate a relationship between the dysregulation of the oxytocinergic system and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Many of the studies prove that there is a relationship between the level of oxytocin in the patients' blood plasma and the severity of the disease symptoms. Recent genetic studies indicate a possible relationship between polymorphism of oxytocin genesand polymorphism of oxytocin receptor genes and the risk of developing schizophrenia.
Conclusions: Contemporary research on the therapeutic potential of oxytocin and its influence on the functioning of schizophrenia patients seem to be very promising and may contribute to increasing the effectiveness of treatment of schizophrenia and possibly other mental disorders, which in turn will improve the quality of life of patients in cognitive, social and emotional functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Jusiak
- I Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention , Medical University of Lublin
| | - Żaneta Brudkowska
- Department of Clinical Neuropsychiatry , Medical University of Lublin
| | - Maria Gołębiowska
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, III Chair of Pediatrics , Medical University of Lublin
| | | | - Beata Gołębiowska
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, III Chair of Pediatrics , Medical University of Lublin
| | - Michał Próchnicki
- Department of Clinical Neuropsychiatry , Medical University of Lublin
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Rubin LH, Yao L, Keedy SK, Reilly JL, Bishop JR, Carter CS, Pournajafi-Nazarloo H, Drogos LL, Tamminga CA, Pearlson GD, Keshavan MS, Clementz BA, Hill SK, Liao W, Ji GJ, Lui S, Sweeney JA. Sex differences in associations of arginine vasopressin and oxytocin with resting-state functional brain connectivity. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:576-586. [PMID: 27870395 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 06/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) exert robust and sexually dimorphic influences on cognition and emotion. How these hormones regulate relevant functional brain systems is not well understood. OT and AVP serum concentrations were assayed in 60 healthy individuals (36 women). Brain functional networks assessed with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) were constructed with graph theory-based approaches that characterize brain networks as connected nodes. Sex differences were demonstrated in rs-fMRI. Men showed higher nodal degree (connectedness) and efficiency (information propagation capacity) in left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and bilateral superior temporal gyrus (STG) and higher nodal degree in left rolandic operculum. Women showed higher nodal betweenness (being part of paths between nodes) in right putamen and left inferior parietal gyrus (IPG). Higher hormone levels were associated with less intrinsic connectivity. In men, higher AVP was associated with lower nodal degree and efficiency in left IFG (pars orbitalis) and left STG and less efficiency in left IFG (pars triangularis). In women, higher AVP was associated with lower betweenness in left IPG, and higher OT was associated with lower nodal degree in left IFG (pars orbitalis). Hormones differentially correlate with brain networks that are important for emotion processing and cognition in men and women. AVP in men and OT in women may regulate orbital frontal cortex connectivity, which is important in emotion processing. Hormone associations with STG and pars triangularis in men and parietal cortex in women may account for well-established sex differences in verbal and visuospatial abilities, respectively. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah H Rubin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Li Yao
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Sarah K Keedy
- Psychiatry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - James L Reilly
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jeffrey R Bishop
- Pharmacy and Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | | | | | - Lauren L Drogos
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Carol A Tamminga
- Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Godfrey D Pearlson
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurobiology, Yale University and Olin Neuropsychiatric Research Center, Hartford, Connecticut
| | - Matcheri S Keshavan
- Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brett A Clementz
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Scot K Hill
- Department of Psychology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Wei Liao
- Center for Information in Biomedicine, Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Gong-Jun Ji
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Department of Medical Psychology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Su Lui
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.,Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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Geng CH, Wang C, Yang J, Wang H, Ma RQ, Liu X, Wang CH. Arginine vasopressin improves the memory deficits in Han Chinese patients with first-episode schizophrenia. Peptides 2017; 97:8-15. [PMID: 28882471 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The memory impairment is a core deficit in the first-episode schizophrenia patients. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the brain can improve learning and memory. We performed multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial to study the cognitive functioning in Han Chinese first-episode schizophrenic patients in a 12-week treatment regime with the intranasal administration of AVP (128 cases) or placebo (131 cases) in addition to the conventional treatment. The methods of positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), Wechsler memory scale-4th edition (WMS-IV) and event-related potential (ERP) were used to study the effects of AVP on the cognitive function. The results showed that (1) AVP concentration decreased in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the right-handed Han Chinese first-episode schizophrenic patients comparing with that of the health volunteers (7.1±1.5pg/ml vs 13.3±1.9pg/ml, p<0.01), and did not change in plasma; (2) AVP significantly improved PANSS scores including total scores, positive symptoms, negative symptoms and general psychopathology comparing with those of the placebo group; (3) AVP elevated WMS-IV scores including the long-term memory (accumulation), short-term memory (recognition, comprehension), immediate memory (number recitation) and memory quotient 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment; and (4) AVP did not influence the latency and wave amplitude of target stimulus of P300 of right-handed Han Chinese first-episode schizophrenic patients. The data suggested that AVP might improve cognitive process, such as memorizing and extraction of the information although there were many changes of cognitive functions in the right-handed Han Chinese first-episode schizophrenic patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai-Hong Geng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University and Henan Province Mental Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan 453002, China
| | - Chao Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University and Henan Province Mental Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan 453002, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Xinxiang Institute for New Medicine, Xinxing, Henan 453003, China; Xinjiang Hongda Food & Beverage Ltd., Xinjiang, Shanxi 043110, China.
| | - Hua Wang
- Xinxiang Institute for New Medicine, Xinxing, Henan 453003, China; Xinjiang Hongda Food & Beverage Ltd., Xinjiang, Shanxi 043110, China
| | - Rui-Qing Ma
- Xinxiang Institute for New Medicine, Xinxing, Henan 453003, China
| | - Xu Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University and Henan Province Mental Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan 453002, China
| | - Chang-Hong Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University and Henan Province Mental Hospital, Xinxiang, Henan 453002, China
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Lancaster K, Goldbeck L, Pournajafi-Nazarloo H, Connelly JJ, Carter CS, Morris JP. The Role of Endogenous Oxytocin in Anxiolysis: Structural and Functional Correlates. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2017; 3:618-625. [PMID: 30047477 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxytocin is anxiolytic, and administration of synthetic oxytocin in humans reduces amygdala reactivity to negative stimuli. However, it is unknown whether endogenous oxytocin levels-which are heritable and stable across time-attenuate anxiety via similar mechanisms. METHODS In this study, we used plasma assays and structural and functional neuroimaging to examine potential anxiolytic effects of endogenous oxytocin in 73 participants. RESULTS We found that higher endogenous oxytocin levels are associated with reduced central amygdala volume and blood oxygen level-dependent activity in response to aversive stimuli. In contrast to previous reports, we found that oxytocin was not related to patterns of functional connectivity between the amygdala and other brain regions. CONCLUSIONS Together, our results underscore the importance of considering individual differences in participants' endogenous oxytocin with respect to anxiety-related neural activity and neuromorphology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - C Sue Carter
- The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) play important and interrelated roles in modulating mammalian social behaviour. While the OT system has received considerable research attention for its potential to treat psychiatric symptoms, comparatively little is known about the role of the AVP system in human social behaviour. To better understand the intraindividual stability of basal AVP, the present study assessed the reproducibility of basal plasma AVP concentrations. METHODS Basal plasma AVP was assessed at four sampling points separated by 8 days, on average, in 16 healthy adult males. RESULTS Only one out of six comparisons revealed strong evidence for reproducibility of basal AVP concentrations (visit 2 vs. visit 4: r=0.8, p0.1). The concordance correlation coefficient [0.15, 95% CI (-0.55, 0.73)] also revealed poor overall reproducibility. CONCLUSION Poor reliability of basal AVP concentrations suggests future work covarying AVP with trait markers should proceed with careful consideration of intraindividual fluctuations.
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He Z, Hou W, Hao X, Dong N, Du P, Yuan W, Yang J, Jia R, Tai F. Oxytocin receptor antagonist treatments alter levels of attachment to mothers and central dopamine activity in pre-weaning mandarin vole pups. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 84:124-134. [PMID: 28710956 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is known to be important in mother-infant bonding. Although the relationship between OT and filial attachment behavior has been studied in a few mammalian species, the effects on infant social behavior have received little attention in monogamous species. The present study examined the effects of OT receptor antagonist (OTA) treatment on attachment behavior and central dopamine (DA) activity in male and female pre-weaning mandarin voles (Microtus mandarinus). Our data showed that OTA treatments decreased the attachment behavior of pups to mothers, measured using preference tests at postnatal day 14, 16, 18 and 20. OTA treatments reduced serum OT concentration in pre-weaning pups and decreased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), indicating a decrease in central DA activity. In male and female pups, OTA reduced DA levels, DA 1-type receptor (D1R) and DA 2-type receptor (D2R) protein expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Our results indicate that OTA treatment inhibits the attachment of pre-weaning pups to mothers. This inhibition is possibly associated with central DA activity and levels of two types of dopamine receptor in the NAcc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiong He
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Wenjuan Hou
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Xin Hao
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Na Dong
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Peirong Du
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Jinfeng Yang
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China
| | - Rui Jia
- Institute of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China; Cognition Neuroscience and Learning Division, Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, 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; Cognition Neuroscience and Learning Division, Key Laboratory of Modern Teaching Technology, Ministry of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710062, China.
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Mansur RB, Rizzo LB, Santos CM, Asevedo E, Cunha GR, Noto MN, Pedrini M, Zeni-Graiff M, Cordeiro Q, McIntyre RS, Brietzke E. Plasma copeptin and metabolic dysfunction in individuals with bipolar disorder. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2017; 71:624-636. [PMID: 28457001 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study aimed to compare plasma copeptin levels, the c-terminal of provasopressin, between individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) and healthy controls and to assess the relation between copeptin and metabolic parameters. METHODS We measured plasma levels of copeptin in individuals with BD (n = 55) and healthy controls (n = 21). Information related to psychiatric/medical history, as well as to metabolic comorbidities and laboratorial parameters was also captured. Insulin resistance and β-cell function in basal state were calculated from fasting plasma glucose and C-peptide using the HOMA2 calculator. Impaired glucose metabolism was defined as pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Copeptin, adiponectin, and leptin plasma levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS Plasma copeptin levels were lower in individuals with BD, relative to healthy controls (P < 0.001). There were significant interactions between BD and plasma copeptin on β-cell function (rate ratio [RR] = 1.048; P = 0.030) and on leptin levels (RR = 1.087; P = 0.012), indicating that there was a positive correlation between these markers in the BD group, but a negative one in healthy controls. Finally, in individuals with BD only, the association between β-cell function, body mass index (RR = 1.007; P < 0.001), and insulin resistance (RR = 1.001; P = 0.037) was moderated by copeptin levels. CONCLUSION Copeptin levels were lower in individuals with BD than in healthy controls. There were differential associations between copeptin and metabolic parameters within the BD and healthy control subgroups, suggesting an association between abnormal copeptin and metabolic dysregulation only in the BD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo B Mansur
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit (MDPU), University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lucas B Rizzo
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Camila M Santos
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elson Asevedo
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Graccielle R Cunha
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariane N Noto
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.,Vila Maria Outpatient Clinic, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Pedrini
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maiara Zeni-Graiff
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Quirino Cordeiro
- Department of Psychiatry, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (ISCMSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roger S McIntyre
- Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit (MDPU), University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Elisa Brietzke
- Reserach Group in Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Yang X, Tang Y, Wei Q, Lang B, Tao H, Zhang X, Liu Y, Tang A. Up-regulated expression of oxytocin mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes from first-episode schizophrenia patients. Oncotarget 2017; 8:78882-78889. [PMID: 29108272 PMCID: PMC5668005 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder with significant social cognition impairment. Increasing evidence has suggested that neuropeptides oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are important mediators of complex social cognition and behavior associates with SZ. In the present study, forty-three first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients and forty-seven healthy controls (HC) were included. The peripheral mRNA expression of OXT, OXT receptor (OXTR), AVP, AVP 1a receptor (AVPR1a) and CD38 was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The FES patients have a relatively higher mRNA level of OXT and OXTR genes and lower expression of AVP and CD38 genes than HC. No difference was found for AVPR1a between FES patients and HC. As for the sex difference, the mRNA expression of OXT and OXTR showed no difference in both male and female FES patients compared to HC group. The AVP and CD38 genes in female FES patients showed decreased mRNA expression than female HC. Our findings support disrupted OXT and AVP systems in the FES patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiudeng Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Yamei Tang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Qinling Wei
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510631, China
| | - Bing Lang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China, Mental Health Institute of Central South University & Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China, China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders (Xiangya) & China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, China
| | - Huai Tao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410208, China
| | - Xianghui Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China, Mental Health Institute of Central South University & Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China, China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders (Xiangya) & China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China, Mental Health Institute of Central South University & Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Changsha, China, China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders (Xiangya) & China National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, China
| | - Aiguo Tang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
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Bernstein HG, Müller S, Dobrowolny H, Wolke C, Lendeckel U, Bukowska A, Keilhoff G, Becker A, Trübner K, Steiner J, Bogerts B. Insulin-regulated aminopeptidase immunoreactivity is abundantly present in human hypothalamus and posterior pituitary gland, with reduced expression in paraventricular and suprachiasmatic neurons in chronic schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2017; 267:427-443. [PMID: 28035472 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-016-0757-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The vasopressin- and oxytocin-degrading enzyme insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP) is expressed in various organs including the brain. However, knowledge about its presence in human hypothalamus is fragmentary. Functionally, for a number of reasons (genetic linkage, hydrolysis of oxytocin and vasopressin, its role as angiotensin IV receptor in learning and memory and others) IRAP might play a role in schizophrenia. We studied the regional and cellular localization of IRAP in normal human brain with special emphasis on the hypothalamus and determined numerical densities of IRAP-expressing cells in the paraventricular, supraoptic and suprachiasmatic nuclei in schizophrenia patients and controls. By using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, IRAP was immunolocalized in postmortem human brains. Cell countings were performed to estimate numbers and numerical densities of IRAP immunoreactive hypothalamic neurons in schizophrenia patients and control cases. Shape, size and regional distribution of IRAP-expressing cells, as well the lack of co-localization with the glia marker glutamine synthetase, show that IRAP is expressed in neurons. IRAP immunoreactive cells were observed in the hippocampal formation, cerebral cortex, thalamus, amygdala and, abundantly, hypothalamus. Double labeling experiments (IRAP and oxytocin/neurophysin 1, IRAP with vasopressin/neurophysin 2) revealed that IRAP is present in oxytocinergic and in vasopressinergic neurons. In schizophrenia patients, the numerical density of IRAP-expressing neurons in the paraventricular and the suprachiasmatic nuclei is significantly reduced, which might be associated with the reduction in neurophysin-containing neurons in these nuclei in schizophrenia. The pathophysiological role of lowered hypothalamic IRAP expression in schizophrenia remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Gert Bernstein
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Susan Müller
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Dobrowolny
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Carmen Wolke
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Medicine, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Uwe Lendeckel
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Medicine, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alicja Bukowska
- EUTRAF Working Group, Molecular Electrophysiology, University Hospital Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Gerburg Keilhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Axel Becker
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kurt Trübner
- Department for Legal Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Johann Steiner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Bogerts
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany
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Oxytocin effects in schizophrenia: Reconciling mixed findings and moving forward. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 80:36-56. [PMID: 28506922 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that causes major functional impairment. Current pharmacologic treatments are inadequate, particularly for addressing negative and cognitive symptoms of the disorder. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide known to moderate social behaviors, has been investigated as a potential therapeutic for schizophrenia in recent years. Results have been decidedly mixed, leading to controversy regarding oxytocin's utility. In this review, we outline several considerations for interpreting the extant literature and propose a focused agenda for future work that builds on the most compelling findings regarding oxytocin effects in schizophrenia to date. Specifically, we examine underlying causes of heterogeneity in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted thus far and highlight the complexity of the human oxytocin system. We then review evidence of oxytocin's effects on specific deficits in schizophrenia, arguing for further study using objective, precise outcome measures in order to determine whether oxytocin has the potential to improve functional impairment in schizophrenia.
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50
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Abstract
A small, but powerful neuropeptide, oxytocin coordinates processes that are central to both human reproduction and human evolution. Also embedded in the evolution of the human nervous system are unique pathways necessary for modern human sociality and cognition. Oxytocin is necessary for facilitating the birth process, especially in light of anatomical restrictions imposed by upright human locomotion, which depends on a fixed pelvis. Oxytocin, by facilitating birth, allowed the development of a large cortex and a protective bony cranium. The complex human brain in turn permitted the continuing emergence of social sensitivity, complex thinking, and language. After birth is complete, oxytocin continues to support human development by providing direct nutrition, in the form of human milk, and emotional and intellectual support through high levels of maternal behavior and selective attachment. Oxytocin also encourages social sensitivity and reciprocal attunement, on the part of both the mother and child, which are necessary for human social behavior and for rearing an emotionally healthy human child. Oxytocin supports growth during development, resilience, and healing across the lifespan. Oxytocin dynamically moderates the autonomic nervous system, and effects of oxytocin on vagal pathways allowing high levels of oxygenation and digestion necessary to support adaptation in a complex environment. Finally, oxytocin has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, helping to explain the pervasive adaptive consequences of social behavior for emotional and physical health.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, USA.
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