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Dale II J, Harberson MT, Hill JW. From Parental Behavior to Sexual Function: Recent Advances in Oxytocin Research. CURRENT SEXUAL HEALTH REPORTS 2024; 16:119-130. [PMID: 39224135 PMCID: PMC11365839 DOI: 10.1007/s11930-024-00386-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Oxytocin plays many diverse roles in physiological and behavioral processes, including social activity, parental nurturing, stress responses, and sexual function. In this narrative review, we provide an update on the most noteworthy recent findings in this fascinating field. Recent Findings The development of techniques such as serial two-photon tomography and fiber photometry have provided a window into oxytocin neuroanatomy and real-time neuronal activity during social interactions. fMRI and complementary mapping techniques offer new insights into oxytocin's influence on brain activity and connectivity. Indeed, oxytocin has recently been found to influence the acquisition of maternal care behaviors and to mediate the influence of social touch on brain development and social interaction. Additionally, oxytocin plays a crucial role in male sexual function, affecting erectile activity and ejaculation, while its role in females remains controversial. Recent studies also highlight oxytocin's interaction with other neuropeptides, such as melanin-concentrating hormone, serotonin, and arginine vasopressin, influencing social and affective behaviors. Finally, an update is provided on the status of clinical trials involving oxytocin as a therapeutic intervention. Summary The exploration of oxytocin's complexities and its interplay with other neuropeptides holds promise for targeted treatment in various health and disease contexts. Overall, these findings contribute to the discovery of new and specific pathways to allow therapeutic targeting of oxytocin to treat disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Dale II
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
- Department of Biology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
| | - Mitchell T. Harberson
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
| | - Jennifer W. Hill
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Research, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
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Ford CL, McDonough AA, Horie K, Young LJ. Melanocortin agonism in a social context selectively activates nucleus accumbens in an oxytocin-dependent manner. Neuropharmacology 2024; 247:109848. [PMID: 38253222 PMCID: PMC10923148 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Social deficits are debilitating features of many psychiatric disorders, including autism. While time-intensive behavioral therapy is moderately effective, there are no pharmacological interventions for social deficits in autism. Many studies have attempted to treat social deficits using the neuropeptide oxytocin for its powerful neuromodulatory abilities and influence on social behaviors and cognition. However, clinical trials utilizing supplementation paradigms in which exogenous oxytocin is chronically administered independent of context have failed. An alternative treatment paradigm suggests pharmacologically activating the endogenous oxytocin system during behavioral therapy to enhance the efficacy of therapy by facilitating social learning. To this end, melanocortin receptor agonists like Melanotan II (MTII), which induces central oxytocin release and accelerates formation of partner preference, a form of social learning, in prairie voles, are promising pharmacological tools. To model pharmacological activation of the endogenous oxytocin system during behavioral therapy, we administered MTII prior to social interactions between male and female voles. We assessed its effect on oxytocin-dependent activity in brain regions subserving social learning using Fos expression as a proxy for neuronal activation. In non-social contexts, MTII only activated hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, a primary site of oxytocin synthesis. However, during social interactions, MTII selectively increased oxytocin-dependent activation of nucleus accumbens, a site critical for social learning. These results suggest a mechanism for the MTII-induced acceleration of partner preference formation observed in previous studies. Moreover, they are consistent with the hypothesis that pharmacologically activating the endogenous oxytocin system with a melanocortin agonist during behavioral therapy has potential to facilitate social learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles L Ford
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Anna A McDonough
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Kengo Horie
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Larry J Young
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Silvio O. Conte Center for Oxytocin and Social Cognition, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Grieb ZA, Cross EA, Albers HE. Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (αMSH) modulates the rewarding properties of social interactions in an oxytocin receptor-dependent manner in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus Auratus). Physiol Behav 2022; 252:113828. [PMID: 35500727 PMCID: PMC10858742 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
A reduction in the rewarding properties of social interactions is frequently a key contributor to neuropsychiatric disorders. Although much remains to be learned about the neural mechanisms governing social reward, numerous studies have found that oxytocin can enhance the salience of rewarding social interactions. As a result, oxytocin has been suggested as a pharmacotherapy for disorders characterized by a dampening of social motivation. However, exogenous oxytocin does not cross the blood-brain barrier effectively, which has led to the investigation of alternative approaches to induce central oxytocin release, such as pharmaceuticals targeting melanocortins. Although oxytocin treatment is widely viewed to increase social reward, there is also recent evidence that high concentrations of oxytocin can decrease social reward. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (αMSH) influences the rewarding properties of social interactions by acting on oxytocin receptors. Male and female Syrian hamsters were given intracerebroventricular infusions of saline, αMSH, or a cocktail containing αMSH and an oxytocin receptor antagonist during social conditioning with a same-sex hamster and then tested for a conditioned place preference. αMSH decreased preference for the socially-paired chamber compared to saline treatment, and administration of the oxytocin antagonist concurrent with αMSH administration returned subjects' preference to control levels. Importantly, αMSH treatments did not affect any measures of body composition or the specific social behaviors displayed during conditioning. These data suggest that melanocortin-targeting drugs should be administered carefully to avoid the possibility of decreasing the rewarding properties of social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Grieb
- Neuroscience Institute, 880 Petit Science Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States.
| | - Erica A Cross
- Neuroscience Institute, 880 Petit Science Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
| | - H Elliott Albers
- Neuroscience Institute, 880 Petit Science Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, United States
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Mesoporous polymer network produced from N-vinylpyrrolidone and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate as potential macromolecularly imprinted material and oligopeptide carrier. MENDELEEV COMMUNICATIONS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mencom.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Hume C, Leng G. Oxytocin neurons: integrators of hypothalamic and brainstem circuits in the regulation of macronutrient-specific satiety. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2019.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Imaging neuropeptide effects on human brain function. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 375:279-286. [PMID: 30069597 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2899-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of prosocial effects of oxytocin (OT) opened new directions for studying neuropeptide effects on the human brain. However, despite obvious effects of OT on neural responses as reported in numerous studies, other peptides have received less attention. Therefore, we will only briefly summarize evidence of OT effects on human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and primarily focus on OT's sister neuropeptide arginine-vasopressin by presenting our own coordinated-based activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis. In addition, we will recapitulate rather limited data on few other neuropeptides, including pharmacological and genetic fMRI studies. Finally, we will review experiments with external neuropeptide administration to patients afflicted with mental disorders, such as autism or schizophrenia. In conclusion, despite remaining uncertainty regarding the penetrance of exogenous neuropeptides through the blood-brain barrier, it is evident that neuropeptides simultaneously influence the activity of limbic and cortical areas, indicating that these systems have a good potential for therapeutic drug development. Hence, this calls for further systematic studies of a wide spectrum of known and less known neuropeptides to understand their normal function in the brain and, subsequently, to tackle their potential contribution for pathophysiological mechanisms of mental disorders.
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Mastinu A, Premoli M, Maccarinelli G, Grilli M, Memo M, Bonini SA. Melanocortin 4 receptor stimulation improves social deficits in mice through oxytocin pathway. Neuropharmacology 2018; 133:366-374. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Waye MMY, Cheng HY. Genetics and epigenetics of autism: A Review. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2018; 72:228-244. [PMID: 28941239 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Autism is a developmental disorder that starts before age 3 years, and children with autism have impairment in both social interaction and communication, and have restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. There is a strong heritable component of autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as studies have shown that parents who have a child with ASD have a 2-18% chance of having a second child with ASD. The prevalence of autism and ASD have been increasing during the last 3 decades and much research has been carried out to understand the etiology, so as to develop novel preventive and treatment strategies. This review aims at summarizing the latest research studies related to autism and ASD, focusing not only on the genetics but also some epigenetic findings of autism/ASD. Some promising areas of research using transgenic/knockout animals and some ideas related to potential novel treatment and prevention strategies will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Y Waye
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ho Yu Cheng
- The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Croucher Laboratory for Human Genomics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Tsuji T, Allchorne AJ, Zhang M, Tsuji C, Tobin VA, Pineda R, Raftogianni A, Stern JE, Grinevich V, Leng G, Ludwig M. Vasopressin casts light on the suprachiasmatic nucleus. J Physiol 2017; 595:3497-3514. [PMID: 28402052 DOI: 10.1113/jp274025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS A subpopulation of retinal ganglion cells expresses the neuropeptide vasopressin. These retinal ganglion cells project predominately to our biological clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Light-induced vasopressin release enhances the responses of SCN neurons to light. It also enhances expression of genes involved in photo-entrainment of biological rhythms. ABSTRACT In all animals, the transition between night and day engages a host of physiological and behavioural rhythms. These rhythms depend not on the rods and cones of the retina, but on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that detect the ambient light level in the environment. These project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus to entrain circadian rhythms that are generated within the SCN. The neuropeptide vasopressin has an important role in this entrainment. Many SCN neurons express vasopressin, and it has been assumed that the role of vasopressin in the SCN reflects the activity of these cells. Here we show that vasopressin is also expressed in many retinal cells that project to the SCN. Light-evoked vasopressin release contributes to the responses of SCN neurons to light, and enhances expression of the immediate early gene c-fos in the SCN, which is involved in photic entrainment of circadian rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Tsuji
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew J Allchorne
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Chiharu Tsuji
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Vicky A Tobin
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rafael Pineda
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Androniki Raftogianni
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides, German Cancer Research Centre DKFZ, Central Institute of Mental Health, and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Javier E Stern
- Department of Physiology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides, German Cancer Research Centre DKFZ, Central Institute of Mental Health, and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gareth Leng
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mike Ludwig
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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