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Kurth L, O'Shea TM, Burd I, Dunlop AL, Croen L, Wilkening G, Hsu TJ, Ehrhardt S, Palanisamy A, McGrath M, Churchill ML, Weinberger D, Grados M, Dabelea D. Intrapartum exposure to synthetic oxytocin, maternal BMI, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children within the ECHO consortium. J Neurodev Disord 2024; 16:26. [PMID: 38796448 PMCID: PMC11128127 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-024-09540-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synthetic oxytocin (sOT) is frequently administered during parturition. Studies have raised concerns that fetal exposure to sOT may be associated with altered brain development and risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. In a large and diverse sample of children with data about intrapartum sOT exposure and subsequent diagnoses of two prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders, i.e., attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we tested the following hypotheses: (1) Intrapartum sOT exposure is associated with increased odds of child ADHD or ASD; (2) associations differ across sex; (3) associations between intrapartum sOT exposure and ADHD or ASD are accentuated in offspring of mothers with pre-pregnancy obesity. METHODS The study sample comprised 12,503 participants from 44 cohort sites included in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) consortium. Mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between intrapartum sOT exposure and offspring ADHD or ASD (in separate models). Maternal obesity (pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and child sex were evaluated for effect modification. RESULTS Intrapartum sOT exposure was present in 48% of participants. sOT exposure was not associated with increased odds of ASD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-1.03) or ADHD (aOR 0.89; 95% CI, 0.76-1.04). Associations did not differ by child sex. Among mothers with pre-pregnancy obesity, sOT exposure was associated with lower odds of offspring ADHD (aOR 0.72; 95% CI, 0.55-0.96). No association was found among mothers without obesity (aOR 0.97; 95% CI, 0.80-1.18). CONCLUSIONS In a large, diverse sample, we found no evidence of an association between intrapartum exposure to sOT and odds of ADHD or ASD in either male or female offspring. Contrary to our hypothesis, among mothers with pre-pregnancy obesity, sOT exposure was associated with lower odds of child ADHD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Kurth
- Department of Pediatrics, Developmental Section, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13123 E. 16th Ave. B065, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| | - T Michael O'Shea
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Irina Burd
- Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anne L Dunlop
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lisa Croen
- Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Greta Wilkening
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ting-Ju Hsu
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephan Ehrhardt
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Arvind Palanisamy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Monica McGrath
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marie L Churchill
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Weinberger
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Lieber institute for Brain Development, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marco Grados
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Giri T, Maloney SE, Giri S, Goo YA, Song JH, Son M, Tycksen E, Conyers SB, Bice A, Ge X, Garbow JR, Quirk JD, Bauer AQ, Palanisamy A. Oxytocin-induced birth causes sex-specific behavioral and brain connectivity changes in developing rat offspring. iScience 2024; 27:108960. [PMID: 38327784 PMCID: PMC10847747 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite six decades of the use of exogenous oxytocin for management of labor, little is known about its effects on the developing brain. Motivated by controversial reports suggesting a link between oxytocin use during labor and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), we employed our recently validated rat model for labor induction with oxytocin to address this important concern. Using a combination of molecular biological, behavioral, and neuroimaging assays, we show that induced birth with oxytocin leads to sex-specific disruption of oxytocinergic signaling in the developing brain, decreased communicative ability of pups, reduced empathy-like behaviors especially in male offspring, and widespread sex-dependent changes in functional cortical connectivity. Contrary to our hypothesis, social behavior, typically impaired in ASDs, was largely preserved. Collectively, our foundational studies provide nuanced insights into the neurodevelopmental impact of birth induction with oxytocin and set the stage for mechanistic investigations in animal models and prospective longitudinal clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tusar Giri
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Susan E. Maloney
- Department of Psychiatry, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Saswat Giri
- Graduate Student, School of Public Health and Social Justice, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Young Ah Goo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Mass Spectrometry Technology Access Center (MTAC), McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jong Hee Song
- Mass Spectrometry Technology Access Center (MTAC), McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Minsoo Son
- Mass Spectrometry Technology Access Center (MTAC), McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric Tycksen
- Genome Technology Access Center (GTAC), McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sara B. Conyers
- Department of Psychiatry, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Annie Bice
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xia Ge
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joel R. Garbow
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - James D. Quirk
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Adam Q. Bauer
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Arvind Palanisamy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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3
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Danoff JS, Carter CS, Gordevičius J, Milčiūtė M, Brooke RT, Connelly JJ, Perkeybile AM. Maternal oxytocin treatment at birth increases epigenetic age in male offspring. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22452. [PMID: 38533486 PMCID: PMC10963051 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Exogenous oxytocin (OT) is widely used to induce or augment labor with little understanding of the impact on offspring development. In rodent models, including the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), it has been shown that oxytocin administered to mothers can affect the nervous system of the offspring with long lasting behavioral effects especially on sociality. Here, we examined the hypothesis that perinatal oxytocin exposure could have epigenetic and transcriptomic consequences. Prairie voles were exposed to exogenous oxytocin, through injections given to the mother just prior to birth, and were studied at the time of weaning. The outcome of this study revealed increased epigenetic age in oxytocin-exposed animals compared to the saline-exposed group. Oxytocin exposure led to 900 differentially methylated CpG sites (annotated to 589 genes), and 2 CpG sites (2 genes) remained significantly different after correction for multiple comparisons. Differentially methylated CpG sites were enriched in genes known to be involved in regulation of gene expression and neurodevelopment. Using RNA-sequencing we also found 217 nominally differentially expressed genes (p<0.05) in nucleus accumbens, a brain region involved in reward circuitry and social behavior; after corrections for multiple comparisons 6 genes remained significantly differentially expressed. Finally, we found that maternal oxytocin administration led to widespread alternative splicing in the nucleus accumbens. These results indicate that oxytocin exposure during birth may have long lasting epigenetic consequences. A need for further investigation of how oxytocin administration impacts development and behavior throughout the lifespan is supported by these outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Danoff
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ
| | - C Sue Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington IN
| | | | | | | | | | - Allison M Perkeybile
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington IN
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4
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Wallace KJ, Dupeyron S, Li M, Kelly AM. Early life social complexity shapes adult neural processing in the communal spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023:10.1007/s00213-023-06513-5. [PMID: 38055059 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06513-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Early life social rearing has profound consequences on offspring behavior and resilience. Yet, most studies examining early life development in rodents use species whose young are born immobile and do not produce complex social behavior until later in development. Furthermore, models of rearing under increased social complexity, rather than deprivation, are needed to provide alternative insight into the development of social neural circuitry. OBJECTIVES To understand precocial offspring social development, we manipulated early life social complexity in the communal spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus and assessed long-term consequences on offspring social behavior, exploration, and neural responses to novel social stimuli. METHODS Spiny mouse pups were raised in the presence or absence of a non-kin breeding group. Upon adulthood, subjects underwent social interaction tests, an open field test, and a novel object test. Subjects were then exposed to a novel conspecific and novel group and neural responses were quantified via immunohistochemical staining in brain regions associated with social behavior. RESULTS Early life social experience did not influence behavior in the test battery, but it did influence social processing. In animals exposed to non-kin during development, adult lateral septal neural responses toward a novel conspecific were weaker and hypothalamic neural responses toward a mixed-sex group were stronger. CONCLUSIONS Communal species may exhibit robust behavioral resilience to the early life social environment. But the early life environment can affect how novel social information is processed in the brain during adulthood, with long-term consequences that are likely to shape their behavioral trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mutian Li
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
| | - Aubrey M Kelly
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, USA
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5
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Marzoratti A, Liu ME, Krol KM, Sjobeck GR, Lipscomb DJ, Hofkens TL, Boker SM, Pelphrey KA, Connelly JJ, Evans TM. Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene is associated with child-parent neural synchrony during competition. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2023; 63:101302. [PMID: 37734257 PMCID: PMC10518595 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2023.101302] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) occurs when neural electrical activity temporally aligns between individuals during social interactions. It has been used as a metric for interpersonal closeness, often during naturalistic child-parent interactions. This study evaluated whether other biological correlates of social processing predicted the prevalence of INS during child-parent interactions, and whether their observed cooperativity modulated this association. Child-parent dyads (n = 27) performed a visuospatial tower-building task in cooperative and competitive conditions. Neural activity was recorded using mobile electroencephalogram (EEG) headsets, and experimenters coded video-recordings post-hoc for behavioral attunement. DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm) was measured, an epigenetic modification associated with reduced oxytocin activity and socioemotional functioning. Greater INS during competition was associated with lower child OXTRm, while greater behavioral attunement during competition and cooperation was associated with higher parent OXTRm. These differential relationships suggest that interpersonal dynamics as measured by INS may be similarly reflected by other biological markers of social functioning, irrespective of observed behavior. Children's self-perceived communication skill also showed opposite associations with parent and child OXTRm, suggesting complex relationships between children's and their parents' social functioning. Our findings have implications for ongoing developmental research, supporting the utility of biological metrics in characterizing interpersonal relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analia Marzoratti
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Megan E Liu
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kathleen M Krol
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Gus R Sjobeck
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Daniel J Lipscomb
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Tara L Hofkens
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Steven M Boker
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kevin A Pelphrey
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Tanya M Evans
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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6
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Danoff JS, Page EA, Perkeybile AM, Kenkel WM, Yee JR, Ferris CF, Carter CS, Connelly JJ. Transcriptional diversity of the oxytocin receptor in prairie voles: mechanistic implications for behavioral neuroscience and maternal physiology. Front Genet 2023; 14:1225197. [PMID: 37705612 PMCID: PMC10495980 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1225197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurohormone oxytocin regulates many aspects of physiology primarily by binding to its receptor, the oxytocin receptor. The oxytocin receptor gene (Oxtr) has been shown to have alternative transcripts in the mouse brain which may each have different biological functions or be used in specific contexts. A popular animal model for studying oxytocin-dependent social behaviors is the prairie vole, a biparental and monogamous rodent. Alternative transcriptional capacity of Oxtr in prairie voles is unknown. We used 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends to identify alternative Oxtr transcription start sites in prairie vole brain tissue and uterine tissue. We then validated expression of specific transcripts in fetal brains and assessed the impact of exogenous oxytocin administration in utero on offspring brain development. We identified seven distinct Oxtr transcripts, all of which are present in both brain and uterine tissue. We then demonstrated that maternal oxytocin administration alters expression of a specific subset of Oxtr transcripts and that these different transcripts are under unique epigenetic regulation, such that in the perinatal period only one of the alternative transcripts is associated with DNA methylation in the Oxtr promoter. These data establish the existence of multiple Oxtr transcripts in prairie vole brain and uterine tissue and implicate oxytocin in the regulation of alternative transcript expression. These data have significant implications for our understanding of null mutant models in both mice and voles and translation in human birth and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S. Danoff
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Emma A. Page
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Allison M. Perkeybile
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - William M. Kenkel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Jason R. Yee
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, WIE, Austria
| | - Craig F. Ferris
- Department of Psychology, Center for Translational Neuroimaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - C. Sue Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jessica J. Connelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
- Program in Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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7
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Kenkel WM, Ortiz RJ, Yee JR, Perkeybile AM, Kulkarni P, Carter CS, Cushing BS, Ferris CF. Neuroanatomical and functional consequences of oxytocin treatment at birth in prairie voles. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 150:106025. [PMID: 36709631 PMCID: PMC10064488 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Birth is a critical period for the developing brain, a time when surging hormone levels help prepare the fetal brain for the tremendous physiological changes it must accomplish upon entry into the 'extrauterine world'. A number of obstetrical conditions warrant manipulations of these hormones at the time of birth, but we know little of their possible consequences on the developing brain. One of the most notable birth signaling hormones is oxytocin, which is administered to roughly 50% of laboring women in the United States prior to / during delivery. Previously, we found evidence for behavioral, epigenetic, and neuroendocrine consequences in adult prairie vole offspring following maternal oxytocin treatment immediately prior to birth. Here, we examined the neurodevelopmental consequences in adult prairie vole offspring following maternal oxytocin treatment prior to birth. Control prairie voles and those exposed to 0.25 mg/kg oxytocin were scanned as adults using anatomical and functional MRI, with neuroanatomy and brain function analyzed as voxel-based morphometry and resting state functional connectivity, respectively. Overall, anatomical differences brought on by oxytocin treatment, while widespread, were generally small, while differences in functional connectivity, particularly among oxytocin-exposed males, were larger. Analyses of functional connectivity based in graph theory revealed that oxytocin-exposed males in particular showed markedly increased connectivity throughout the brain and across several parameters, including closeness and degree. These results are interpreted in the context of the organizational effects of oxytocin exposure in early life and these findings add to a growing literature on how the perinatal brain is sensitive to hormonal manipulations at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M Kenkel
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA; Department of Psychology, Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Richard J Ortiz
- Department of Psychology, Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Jason R Yee
- Department of Psychology, Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Allison M Perkeybile
- Department of Psychology, Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Praveen Kulkarni
- Department of Psychology, Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C Sue Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Bruce S Cushing
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Craig F Ferris
- Department of Psychology, Center for Translational NeuroImaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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8
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Gigliucci V, Busnelli M, Santini F, Paolini C, Bertoni A, Schaller F, Muscatelli F, Chini B. Oxytocin receptors in the Magel2 mouse model of autism: Specific region, age, sex and oxytocin treatment effects. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1026939. [PMID: 36998737 PMCID: PMC10043208 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1026939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurohormone oxytocin (OXT) has been implicated in the regulation of social behavior and is intensively investigated as a potential therapeutic treatment in neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social deficits. In the Magel2-knockout (KO) mouse, a model of Schaaf-Yang Syndrome, an early postnatal administration of OXT rescued autistic-like behavior and cognition at adulthood, making this model relevant for understanding the actions of OXT in (re)programming postnatal brain development. The oxytocin receptor (OXTR), the main brain target of OXT, was dysregulated in the hippocampus of Magel2-KO adult males, and normalized upon OXT treatment at birth. Here we have analyzed male and female Magel2-KO brains at postnatal day 8 (P8) and at postnatal day 90 (P90), investigating age, genotype and OXT treatment effects on OXTR levels in several regions of the brain. We found that, at P8, male and female Magel2-KOs displayed a widespread, substantial, down-regulation of OXTR levels compared to wild type (WT) animals. Most intriguingly, the postnatal OXT treatment did not affect Magel2-KO OXTR levels at P8 and, consistently, did not rescue the ultrasonic vocalization deficits observed at this age. On the contrary, the postnatal OXT treatment reduced OXTR levels at P90 in male Magel2-KO in a region-specific way, restoring normal OXTR levels in regions where the Magel2-KO OXTR was upregulated (central amygdala, hippocampus and piriform cortex). Interestingly, Magel2-KO females, previously shown to lack the social deficits observed in Magel2-KO males, were characterized by a different trend in receptor expression compared to males; as a result, the dimorphic expression of OXTR observed in WT animals, with higher OXTR expression observed in females, was abolished in Magel2-KO mice. In conclusion, our data indicate that in Magel2-KO mice, OXTRs undergo region-specific modifications related to age, sex and postnatal OXT treatment. These results are instrumental to design precisely-timed OXT-based therapeutic strategies that, by acting at specific brain regions, could modify the outcome of social deficits in Schaaf-Yang Syndrome patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Gigliucci
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
- NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Busnelli
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
- NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Santini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
- NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Paolini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
- NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Bice Chini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Vedano al Lambro, Italy
- NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Bice Chini,
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9
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Buckley S, Uvnäs-Moberg K, Pajalic Z, Luegmair K, Ekström-Bergström A, Dencker A, Massarotti C, Kotlowska A, Callaway L, Morano S, Olza I, Magistretti CM. Maternal and newborn plasma oxytocin levels in response to maternal synthetic oxytocin administration during labour, birth and postpartum - a systematic review with implications for the function of the oxytocinergic system. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:137. [PMID: 36864410 PMCID: PMC9979579 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-05221-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reproductive hormone oxytocin facilitates labour, birth and postpartum adaptations for women and newborns. Synthetic oxytocin is commonly given to induce or augment labour and to decrease postpartum bleeding. AIM To systematically review studies measuring plasma oxytocin levels in women and newborns following maternal administration of synthetic oxytocin during labour, birth and/or postpartum and to consider possible impacts on endogenous oxytocin and related systems. METHODS Systematic searches of PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Scopus databases followed PRISMA guidelines, including all peer-reviewed studies in languages understood by the authors. Thirty-five publications met inclusion criteria, including 1373 women and 148 newborns. Studies varied substantially in design and methodology, so classical meta-analysis was not possible. Therefore, results were categorized, analysed and summarised in text and tables. RESULTS Infusions of synthetic oxytocin increased maternal plasma oxytocin levels dose-dependently; doubling the infusion rate approximately doubled oxytocin levels. Infusions below 10 milliunits per minute (mU/min) did not raise maternal oxytocin above the range observed in physiological labour. At high intrapartum infusion rates (up to 32 mU/min) maternal plasma oxytocin reached 2-3 times physiological levels. Postpartum synthetic oxytocin regimens used comparatively higher doses with shorter duration compared to labour, giving greater but transient maternal oxytocin elevations. Total postpartum dose was comparable to total intrapartum dose following vaginal birth, but post-caesarean dosages were higher. Newborn oxytocin levels were higher in the umbilical artery vs. umbilical vein, and both were higher than maternal plasma levels, implying substantial fetal oxytocin production in labour. Newborn oxytocin levels were not further elevated following maternal intrapartum synthetic oxytocin, suggesting that synthetic oxytocin at clinical doses does not cross from mother to fetus. CONCLUSIONS Synthetic oxytocin infusion during labour increased maternal plasma oxytocin levels 2-3-fold at the highest doses and was not associated with neonatal plasma oxytocin elevations. Therefore, direct effects from synthetic oxytocin transfer to maternal brain or fetus are unlikely. However, infusions of synthetic oxytocin in labour change uterine contraction patterns. This may influence uterine blood flow and maternal autonomic nervous system activity, potentially harming the fetus and increasing maternal pain and stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Buckley
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Zada Pajalic
- grid.463529.f0000 0004 0610 6148Faculty for Health Sciences, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karolina Luegmair
- grid.9018.00000 0001 0679 2801Institute for Health Care and Nursing Studies, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Anette Ekström-Bergström
- grid.412716.70000 0000 8970 3706Department of Health Sciences, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
| | - Anna Dencker
- grid.8761.80000 0000 9919 9582Institute of Health and Care Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Claudia Massarotti
- grid.5606.50000 0001 2151 3065Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alicja Kotlowska
- grid.11451.300000 0001 0531 3426Department of Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Leonie Callaway
- grid.1003.20000 0000 9320 7537Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sandra Morano
- grid.5606.50000 0001 2151 3065Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ibone Olza
- European Institute of Perinatal Mental Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claudia Meier Magistretti
- grid.425064.10000 0001 2191 8943Institute for Health Policies, Prevention and Health Promotion, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Luzern, Switzerland
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10
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An SM, Kim MJ, Jeong JS, Kim SY, Kim DS, An BS, Kim SC. Oxytocin modulates steroidogenesis-associated genes and estradiol levels in the placenta. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2023; 69:223-233. [PMID: 36787388 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2023.2170296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) plays a significant role during pregnancy, especially toward the end of pregnancy. Some studies have reported that OXT is involved in the stimulation of steroidogenesis in several organs. However, the effects of OXT on placental steroidogenesis have not yet been established. In this study, we investigated the regulation of steroid hormones and steroidogenic enzymes by OXT-associated signaling in vitro and in vivo. OXT increased the gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes, which convert pregnenolone to progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in vitro. In OXT-administered pregnant rats, pregnenolone and DHEA levels were significantly enhanced in the plasma and the expression of the enzymes synthesizing DHEA, testosterone, and estradiol (E2) was increased in placental tissues. Furthermore, OXT was found to affect placental cell differentiation, which is closely related to steroid hormone synthesis. After treatment of the pregnant rats with atosiban, an antagonist of the OXT receptor, the concentration of E2 in the plasma and the expression of E2-synthesizing enzyme were reduced. This regulation may be due to OXT-mediated differentiation, because OXT increases the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone, which is a biomarker of placental cell differentiation. Our findings suggest that OXT contributes to maintaining pregnancy by regulating the differentiation of placental cells and steroidogenesis during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Min An
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 FOUR Program), College of Natural Resources and Life Science/Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jae Kim
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 FOUR Program), College of Natural Resources and Life Science/Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jea Sic Jeong
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 FOUR Program), College of Natural Resources and Life Science/Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - So Young Kim
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 FOUR Program), College of Natural Resources and Life Science/Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Da Som Kim
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 FOUR Program), College of Natural Resources and Life Science/Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Beum-Soo An
- Department of Biomaterials Science (BK21 FOUR Program), College of Natural Resources and Life Science/Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Chul Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
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11
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Muscatelli F. [As early as birth, oxytocin plays a key role in both food and social behavior]. Biol Aujourdhui 2023; 216:131-143. [PMID: 36744979 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2022017] [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: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a neurohormone that regulates the so-called "social brain" and is mainly studied in adulthood. During postnatal development, the mechanisms by which the OT system structures various behaviors are little studied. Here we present the dynamic process of postnatal development of the OT system as well as the OT functions in the perinatal period that are essential for shaping social behaviors. Specifically, we discuss the role of OT, in the newborn, in integrating and adapting responses to early sensory stimuli and in stimulating suckling activity. Sensory dialogue and suckling are involved in mother-infant bonds and structure future social interactions. In rodents and humans, neurodevelopmental diseases with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), such as Prader-Willi and Schaaf-Yang syndromes, are associated with sensory, feeding and behavioral deficits in infancy. We propose that in early postnatal life, OT plays a key role in stimulating the maturation of neural networks controlling feeding behavior and early social interactions from birth. Administration of OT at birth improves sensory integration of environmental factors and the relationship with the mother as well as sucking activity as we have shown in mouse models and in babies with Prader-Willi syndrome. Long-term effects have also been observed on social and cognitive behavior. Therefore, early feeding difficulties might be an early predictive marker of ASD, and OT treatment a promising option to improve feeding behavior and, in the longer term, social behavioral problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Françoise Muscatelli
- INMED (Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée), INSERM, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
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12
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Oxytocin receptor DNA methylation is associated with exogenous oxytocin needs during parturition and postpartum hemorrhage. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2023; 3:11. [PMID: 36707542 PMCID: PMC9882749 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00244-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is regulated, in part, by DNA methylation. This mechanism has implications for uterine contractility during labor and for prevention or treatment of postpartum hemorrhage, an important contributor to global maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODS We measured and compared the level of OXTR DNA methylation between matched blood and uterine myometrium to evaluate blood as an indicator of uterine methylation status using targeted pyrosequencing and sites from the Illumina EPIC Array. Next, we tested for OXTR DNA methylation differences in blood between individuals who experienced a postpartum hemorrhage arising from uterine atony and matched controls following vaginal birth. Bivariate statistical tests, generalized linear modeling and Poisson regression were used in the analyses. RESULTS Here we show a significant positive correlation between blood and uterine DNA methylation levels at several OXTR loci. Females with higher OXTR DNA methylation in blood had required significantly more exogenous oxytocin during parturition. With higher DNA methylation, those who had oxytocin administered during labor had significantly greater relative risk for postpartum hemorrhage (IRR 2.95, 95% CI 1.53-5.71). CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence that epigenetic variability in OXTR is associated with the amount of oxytocin administered during parturition and moderates subsequent postpartum hemorrhage. Methylation can be measured using a peripheral tissue, suggesting potential use in identifying individuals susceptible to postpartum hemorrhage. Future studies are needed to quantify myometrial gene expression in connection with OXTR methylation.
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13
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Neurobiology of Maternal Behavior in Nonhuman Mammals: Acceptance, Recognition, Motivation, and Rejection. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243589. [PMID: 36552508 PMCID: PMC9774276 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the different species of mammals, the expression of maternal behavior varies considerably, although the end points of nurturance and protection are the same. Females may display passive or active responses of acceptance, recognition, rejection/fear, or motivation to care for the offspring. Each type of response may indicate different levels of neural activation. Different natural stimuli can trigger the expression of maternal and paternal behavior in both pregnant or virgin females and males, such as hormone priming during pregnancy, vagino-cervical stimulation during parturition, mating, exposure to pups, previous experience, or environmental enrichment. Herein, we discuss how the olfactory pathways and the interconnections of the medial preoptic area (mPOA) with structures such as nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, amygdala, and bed nucleus of stria terminalis mediate maternal behavior. We also discuss how the triggering stimuli activate oxytocin, vasopressin, dopamine, galanin, and opioids in neurocircuitries that mediate acceptance, recognition, maternal motivation, and rejection/fear.
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14
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Muscatelli F, Matarazzo V, Chini B. Neonatal oxytocin gives the tempo of social and feeding behaviors. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1071719. [PMID: 36583080 PMCID: PMC9792990 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1071719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The nonapeptide oxytocin (OT) is a master regulator of the social brain in early infancy, adolescence, and adult life. Here, we review the postnatal dynamic development of OT-system as well as early-life OT functions that are essential for shaping social behaviors. We specifically address the role of OT in neonates, focusing on its role in modulating/adapting sensory input and feeding behavior; both processes are involved in the establishing mother-infant bond, a crucial event for structuring all future social interactions. In patients and rodent models of Prader-Willi and Schaaf-Yang syndromes, two neurodevelopmental diseases characterized by autism-related features, sensory impairments, and feeding difficulties in early infancy are linked to an alteration of OT-system. Successful preclinical studies in mice and a phase I/II clinical trial in Prader-Willi babies constitute a proof of concept that OT-treatment in early life not only improves suckling deficit but has also a positive long-term effect on learning and social behavior. We propose that in early postnatal life, OT plays a pivotal role in stimulating and coordinating the maturation of neuronal networks controlling feeding behavior and the first social interactions. Consequently, OT therapy might be considered to improve feeding behavior and, all over the life, social cognition, and learning capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Françoise Muscatelli
- Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), INSERM, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France,*Correspondence: Françoise Muscatelli,
| | - Valery Matarazzo
- Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), INSERM, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Bice Chini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Vedano al Lambro, Italy and NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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15
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Carter CS. Sex, love and oxytocin: Two metaphors and a molecule. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 143:104948. [PMID: 36347382 PMCID: PMC9759207 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Dozens of studies, most conducted in the last four decades, have implicated oxytocin, as well as vasopressin and their receptors, in processes that mediate selective sociality and the consequences of early experience. Oxytocin is critical for the capacity to experience emotional safety and healthy sexuality. Oxytocin also plays a central role in almost every aspect of physical and mental health, including the coordination of sociality and loving relationships with physiological reactions to challenges across the lifespan. Species, including prairie voles, that share with humans the capacity for selective social bonds have been a particularly rich source of insights into the behavioral importance of peptides. The purpose of this historical review is to describe the discovery of a central role for oxytocin in behavioral interactions associated with love, and in the capacity to use sociality to anticipate and cope with challenges across the lifespan - a process that here is called "sociostasis."
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sue Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA; Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
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16
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Rashidi M, Maier E, Dekel S, Sütterlin M, Wolf RC, Ditzen B, Grinevich V, Herpertz SC. Peripartum effects of synthetic oxytocin: The good, the bad, and the unknown. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 141:104859. [PMID: 36087759 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The first clinical applications of oxytocin (OT) were in obstetrics as a hormone to start and speed up labor and to control postpartum hemorrhage. Discoveries in the 1960s and 1970s revealed that the effects of OT are not limited to its peripheral actions around birth and milk ejection. Indeed, OT also acts as a neuromodulator in the brain affecting fear memory, social attachment, and other forms of social behaviors. The peripheral and central effects of OT have been separately subject to extensive scrutiny. However, the effects of peripheral OT-particularly in the form of administration of synthetic OT (synOT) around birth-on the central nervous system are surprisingly understudied. Here, we provide a narrative review of the current evidence, suggest putative mechanisms of synOT action, and provide new directions and hypotheses for future studies to bridge the gaps between neuroscience, obstetrics, and psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Rashidi
- Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Eduard Maier
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sharon Dekel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marc Sütterlin
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert C Wolf
- Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Beate Ditzen
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine C Herpertz
- Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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17
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De Laurentiis A, Correa F, Fernandez Solari J. Endocannabinoid System in the Neuroendocrine Response to Lipopolysaccharide-induced Immune Challenge. J Endocr Soc 2022; 6:bvac120. [PMID: 36042978 PMCID: PMC9419496 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvac120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in the intersection of the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, regulating not only their functions but also how they interplay with each other. Endogenous ligands, named endocannabinoids, are produced "on demand" to finely regulate the synthesis and secretion of hormones and neurotransmitters, as well as to regulate the production of cytokines and other proinflammatory mediators. It is well known that immune challenges, such as exposure to lipopolysaccharide, the main component of the Gram-negative bacteria cell wall, disrupt not only the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis but also affects other endocrine systems such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the release of oxytocin from the neurohypophysis. Here we explore which actors and molecular mechanisms are involved in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea De Laurentiis
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Fisiología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UBA/CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Correa
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, Universidad de Buenos Aires-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UBA/CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier Fernandez Solari
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Odontología, Cátedra de Fisiología, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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18
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Palanisamy A, Toftlund SA, Giri T, Strandberg-Larsen K, Lønfeldt NN. Birth with synthetic oxytocin and the risk of being overweight or obese during childhood. Pediatr Obes 2022; 17:e12871. [PMID: 34783173 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12871] [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: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the importance of oxytocinergic signalling for satiety regulation and energy balance, the impact of exposure to synthetic oxytocin during childbirth on obesity during childhood remains unknown. OBJECTIVES To examine the association between oxytocin exposure during labour and the risk of being overweight or obese during childhood. METHODS Synthetic oxytocin exposure data of mothers from the Danish Medical Birth Registry were linked with self-reported anthropometric data of their children from the Danish National Birth Cohort (5 months-11 years of age). Multinomial logistic regression and latent class growth analyses were performed to determine the association between oxytocin exposure and obesity during childhood. RESULTS With the exception of the normal weight-to-overweight group between ages 5 and 12 months, none of the other analyses revealed a significant association between synthetic oxytocin use and the risk of being overweight until the age of 11 years. Furthermore, latent class growth analysis did not reveal an association between oxytocin exposure at birth and the risk of being overweight or obese during childhood. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis of a large cohort of children who varied in their synthetic oxytocin exposure status at childbirth did not reveal an association between oxytocin exposure and the risk of childhood overweight/obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Palanisamy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sarah A Toftlund
- Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tusar Giri
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Nicole N Lønfeldt
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre - Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Capital Region of Denmark, Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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19
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Giri T, Jiang J, Xu Z, McCarthy R, Halabi CM, Tycksen E, Cahill AG, England SK, Palanisamy A. Labor induction with oxytocin in pregnant rats is not associated with oxidative stress in the fetal brain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3143. [PMID: 35210555 PMCID: PMC8873427 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07236-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the widespread use of oxytocin for induction of labor, mechanistic insights into fetal/neonatal wellbeing are lacking because of the absence of an animal model that recapitulates modern obstetric practice. Here, we create and validate a hi-fidelity pregnant rat model that mirrors labor induction with oxytocin in laboring women. The model consists of an implantable preprogrammed microprocessor-controlled infusion pump that delivers a gradually escalating dose of intravenous oxytocin to induce birth at term gestation. We validated the model with molecular biological experiments on the uterine myometrium and telemetry-supported assessment of changes in intrauterine pressure. Finally, we applied this model to test the hypothesis that labor induction with oxytocin would be associated with oxidative stress in the newborn brain. Analysis of biomarkers of oxidative stress and changes in the expression of associated genes were no different between oxytocin-exposed and saline-treated pups, suggesting that oxytocin-induced labor was not associated with oxidative stress in the developing brain. Collectively, we provide a viable and realistic animal model for labor induction and augmentation with oxytocin that would enable new lines of investigation related to the impact of perinatal oxytocin exposure on the mother-infant dyad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tusar Giri
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jia Jiang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ronald McCarthy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Carmen M Halabi
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric Tycksen
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alison G Cahill
- Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Sarah K England
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Arvind Palanisamy
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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20
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Carter CS. Oxytocin and love: Myths, metaphors and mysteries. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 9:100107. [PMID: 35755926 PMCID: PMC9216351 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a peptide molecule with a multitude of physiological and behavioral functions. Based on its association with reproduction - including social bonding, sexual behavior, birth and maternal behavior - oxytocin also has been called "the love hormone." This essay specifically examines association and parallels between oxytocin and love. However, many myths and gaps in knowledge remain concerning both. A few of these are described here and we hypothesize that the potential benefits of both love and oxytocin may be better understood in light of interactions with more ancient systems, including specifically vasopressin and the immune system. Oxytocin is anti-inflammatory and is associated with recently evolved, social solutions to a variety of challenges necessary for mammalian survival and reproduction. The shared functions of oxytocin and love have profound implications for health and longevity, including the prevention and treatment of excess inflammation and related disorders, especially those occurring in early life and during periods of chronic threat or disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA
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21
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Bertoni A, Schaller F, Tyzio R, Gaillard S, Santini F, Xolin M, Diabira D, Vaidyanathan R, Matarazzo V, Medina I, Hammock E, Zhang J, Chini B, Gaiarsa JL, Muscatelli F. Oxytocin administration in neonates shapes hippocampal circuitry and restores social behavior in a mouse model of autism. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7582-7595. [PMID: 34290367 PMCID: PMC8872977 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01227-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin is an important regulator of the social brain. In some animal models of autism, notably in Magel2tm1.1Mus-deficient mice, peripheral administration of oxytocin in infancy improves social behaviors until adulthood. However, neither the mechanisms responsible for social deficits nor the mechanisms by which such oxytocin administration has long-term effects are known. Here, we aimed to clarify these oxytocin-dependent mechanisms, focusing on social memory performance. Using in situ hybridization (RNAscope), we have established that Magel2 and oxytocin receptor are co-expressed in the dentate gyrus and CA2/CA3 hippocampal regions involved in the circuitry underlying social memory. Then, we have shown that Magel2tm1.1Mus-deficient mice, evaluated in a three-chamber test, present a deficit in social memory. Next, in hippocampus, we conducted neuroanatomical and functional studies using immunostaining, oxytocin-binding experiments, ex vivo electrophysiological recordings, calcium imaging and biochemical studies. We demonstrated: an increase of the GABAergic activity of CA3-pyramidal cells associated with an increase in the quantity of oxytocin receptors and of somatostatin interneurons in both DG and CA2/CA3 regions. We also revealed a delay in the GABAergic development sequence in Magel2tm1.1Mus-deficient pups, linked to phosphorylation modifications of KCC2. Above all, we demonstrated the positive effects of subcutaneous administration of oxytocin in the mutant neonates, restoring hippocampal alterations and social memory at adulthood. Although clinical trials are debated, this study highlights the mechanisms by which peripheral oxytocin administration in neonates impacts the brain and demonstrates the therapeutic value of oxytocin to treat infants with autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Bertoni
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Fabienne Schaller
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Roman Tyzio
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | | | - Francesca Santini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Vedano al Lambro, Italy. Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marion Xolin
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Diabé Diabira
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | | | - Valery Matarazzo
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Igor Medina
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | | | - Jinwei Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Bice Chini
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Vedano al Lambro, Italy. NeuroMI Center for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Jean-Luc Gaiarsa
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Françoise Muscatelli
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) UMR 1249, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée (INMED), Institut Marseille Maladies Rares (MarMaRa), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
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22
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Taheri Zadeh Z, Rahmani S, Alidadi F, Joushi S, Esmaeilpour K. Depresssion, anxiety and other cognitive consequences of social isolation: Drug and non-drug treatments. Int J Clin Pract 2021; 75:e14949. [PMID: 34614276 DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.14949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE During the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine and staying at home is advised. The social relationship between people has become deficient, and human social isolation (SI) has become the consequence of this situation. It was shown that SI has made changes in hippocampal neuroplasticity, which will lead to poor cognitive function and behavioural abnormalities. There is a connection between SI, learning, and memory impairments. In addition, anxiety-like behaviour and increased aggressive mood in long-term isolation have been revealed during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS Term searches was done in Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and PubMed databases as well as hand searching in key resource journals from 1979 to 2020. RESULTS Studies have shown that some drug administrations may positively affect or even prevent social isolation consequences in animal models. These drug treatments have included opioid drugs, anti-depressants, Antioxidants, and herbal medications. In addition to drug interventions, there are non-drug treatments that include an enriched environment, regular exercise, and music. CONCLUSION This manuscript aims to review improved cognitive impairments induced by SI during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Taheri Zadeh
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Shayan Rahmani
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sara Joushi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Esmaeilpour
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
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23
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Onaka T, Takayanagi Y. The oxytocin system and early-life experience-dependent plastic changes. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e13049. [PMID: 34713517 PMCID: PMC9286573 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Early-life experience influences social and emotional behaviour in adulthood. Affiliative tactile stimuli in early life facilitate the development of social and emotional behaviour, whereas early-life adverse stimuli have been shown to increase the risk of various diseases in later life. On the other hand, oxytocin has been shown to have organizational actions during early-life stages. However, the detailed mechanisms of the effects of early-life experience and oxytocin remain unclear. Here, we review the effects of affiliative tactile stimuli during the neonatal period and neonatal oxytocin treatment on the activity of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system and social or emotional behaviour in adulthood. Both affiliative tactile stimuli and early-life adverse stimuli in the neonatal period acutely activate the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system in the brain but modulate social behaviour and anxiety-related behaviour apparently in an opposite direction in adulthood. Accumulating evidence suggests that affiliative tactile stimuli and exogenous application of oxytocin in early-life stages induce higher activity of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system in adulthood, although the effects are dependent on experimental procedures, sex, dosages and brain regions examined. On the other hand, early-life stressful stimuli appear to induce reduced activity of the oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system, possibly leading to adverse actions in adulthood. It is possible that activation of a specific oxytocin system can induce beneficial actions against early-life maltreatments and thus could be used for the treatment of developmental psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsushi Onaka
- Division of Brain and NeurophysiologyDepartment of PhysiologyJichi Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
| | - Yuki Takayanagi
- Division of Brain and NeurophysiologyDepartment of PhysiologyJichi Medical UniversityTochigiJapan
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24
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Danoff JS, Connelly JJ, Morris JP, Perkeybile AM. An epigenetic rheostat of experience: DNA methylation of OXTR as a mechanism of early life allostasis. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2021; 8:100098. [PMID: 35757665 PMCID: PMC9216658 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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25
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Morais LH, Golubeva AV, Casey S, Scott KA, Ramos Costa AP, Moloney GM, Dinan TG, Cryan JF. Early-life oxytocin attenuates the social deficits induced by caesarean-section delivery in the mouse. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1958-1968. [PMID: 34040156 PMCID: PMC8429532 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01040-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The oxytocin (OXT) system has been strongly implicated in the regulation of social behaviour and anxiety, potentially contributing to the aetiology of a wide range of neuropathologies. Birth by Caesarean-section (C-section) results in alterations in microbiota diversity in early-life, alterations in brain development and has recently been associated with long-term social and anxiety-like behaviour deficits. In this study, we assessed whether OXT intervention in the early postnatal period could reverse C-section-mediated effects on behaviour, and physiology in early life and adulthood. Following C-section or per vaginum birth, pups were administered with OXT (0.2 or 2 μg/20 μl; s.c.) or saline daily from postnatal days 1-5. We demonstrate that early postnatal OXT treatment has long-lasting effects reversing many of the effects of C-section on mouse behaviour and physiology. In early-life, high-dose OXT administration attenuated C-section-mediated maternal attachment impairments. In adulthood, low-dose OXT restored social memory deficits, some aspects of anxiety-like behaviour, and improved gastrointestinal transit. Furthermore, as a consequence of OXT intervention in early life, OXT plasma levels were increased in adulthood, and dysregulation of the immune response in C-section animals was attenuated by both doses of OXT treatment. These findings indicate that there is an early developmental window sensitive to manipulations of the OXT system that can prevent lifelong behavioural and physiological impairments associated with mode of birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia H. Morais
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.20861.3d0000000107068890Present Address: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA
| | - Anna V. Golubeva
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Sophie Casey
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,Present Address: Irish Centre for Foetal and Neonatal Translational Research, INFANT, Cork, Ireland
| | - Karen A. Scott
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.15276.370000 0004 1936 8091Present Address: Department of Pharmacodynamics, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Ana Paula Ramos Costa
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.411237.20000 0001 2188 7235Departamento de Farmacologia, CCB, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Gerard M. Moloney
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Timothy G. Dinan
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F. Cryan
- grid.7872.a0000000123318773APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland ,grid.7872.a0000000123318773Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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26
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Monks DT, Palanisamy A. Oxytocin: at birth and beyond. A systematic review of the long-term effects of peripartum oxytocin. Anaesthesia 2021; 76:1526-1537. [PMID: 34389972 DOI: 10.1111/anae.15553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin is one of the most commonly used medications during labour and delivery. Recent insights from basic neuroscience research suggest that the uterotonic effects of oxytocin may arguably be trivial when compared with its profound effects on higher-order human behaviour. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential consequences of manipulating oxytocinergic signalling during the peripartum period and its long-term impact on the maternal-infant dyad. We identified four domains where modulation of oxytocinergic signalling might be consequential: postpartum depression; breastfeeding; neurodevelopment; and chronic pain, and performed a literature search to address the impact of peripartum oxytocin administration. We have shown modest, but inconsistent, evidence linking peripartum oxytocin administration with postpartum depression. Breastfeeding success appeared to be negatively correlated with peripartum oxytocin exposure, perhaps secondary to impaired primitive neonatal reflexes and maternal-infant bonding. The association between perinatal oxytocin exposure and subsequent development of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism in the offspring was weak, but these studies were limited by the lack of information on the cumulative dose. Finally, we identified substantial evidence for analgesic and anti-hypersensitivity effects of oxytocin which might partly explain the low incidence of chronic pain after caesarean birth. Although most data presented here are observational, our review points to a compelling need for robust clinical studies to better dissect the impact of peripartum oxytocin administration, and as stewards of its use, increase the precision with which we administer oxytocin to prevent overuse of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- D T Monks
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - A Palanisamy
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
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27
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Abstract
Prairie voles have emerged as an important rodent model for understanding the neuroscience of social behavior. Prairie voles are well known for their capacity for pair bonding and alloparental care. These behavioral phenomena overlap with human social behavior but are not commonly observed in traditional rodent models. In this article, we highlight the many benefits of using prairie voles in neuroscience research. We begin by describing the advantages of using diverse and non-traditional study models. We then focus on social behaviors, including pair bonding, alloparental care, and peer interactions, that have brought voles to the forefront of social neuroscience. We describe many additional features of prairie vole biology and behavior that provide researchers with opportunities to address an array of research questions. We also survey neuroethological methods that have been used with prairie voles, from classic to modern techniques. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of other vole species, particularly meadow voles, and their own unique advantages for neuroscience studies. This article provides a foundation for researchers who are new to working with voles, as well as for experienced neuroscientists who want to expand their research scope. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M. Kenkel
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716
| | - Morgan L. Gustison
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712 USA
| | - Annaliese K. Beery
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
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28
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Manduca A, Carbone E, Schiavi S, Cacchione C, Buzzelli V, Campolongo P, Trezza V. The neurochemistry of social reward during development: What have we learned from rodent models? J Neurochem 2021; 157:1408-1435. [PMID: 33569830 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Social rewards are fundamental to survival and overall health. Several studies suggest that adequate social stimuli during early life are critical for developing appropriate socioemotional and cognitive skills, whereas adverse social experiences negatively affect the proper development of brain and behavior, by increasing the susceptibility to develop neuropsychiatric conditions. Therefore, a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying social interactions, and their rewarding components in particular, is an important challenge of current neuroscience research. In this context, preclinical research has a crucial role: Animal models allow to investigate the neurobiological aspects of social reward in order to shed light on possible neurochemical alterations causing aberrant social reward processing in neuropsychiatric diseases, and they allow to test the validity and safety of innovative therapeutic strategies. Here, we discuss preclinical research that has investigated the rewarding properties of two forms of social interaction that occur in different phases of the lifespan of mammals, that is, mother-infant interaction and social interactions with peers, by focusing on the main neurotransmitter systems mediating their rewarding components. Together, the research performed so far helped to elucidate the mechanisms of social reward and its psychobiological components throughout development, thus increasing our understanding of the neurobiological substrates sustaining social functioning in health conditions and social dysfunction in major psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Manduca
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,Neuroendocrinology, Metabolism and Neuropharmacology Unit, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilia Carbone
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Schiavi
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Cacchione
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Buzzelli
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Neurobiology of Behavior Laboratory, IRCSS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Viviana Trezza
- Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
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29
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Danoff JS, Wroblewski KL, Graves AJ, Quinn GC, Perkeybile AM, Kenkel WM, Lillard TS, Parikh HI, Golino HF, Gregory SG, Carter CS, Bales KL, Connelly JJ. Genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors controlling oxytocin receptor gene expression. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:23. [PMID: 33516250 PMCID: PMC7847178 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01017-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neuropeptide oxytocin regulates mammalian social behavior. Disruptions in oxytocin signaling are a feature of many psychopathologies. One commonly studied biomarker for oxytocin involvement in psychiatric diseases is DNA methylation at the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR). Such studies focus on DNA methylation in two regions of OXTR, exon 3 and a region termed MT2 which overlaps exon 1 and intron 1. However, the relative contribution of exon 3 and MT2 in regulating OXTR gene expression in the brain is currently unknown. RESULTS Here, we use the prairie vole as a translational animal model to investigate genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors affecting Oxtr gene expression in a region of the brain that has been shown to drive Oxtr related behavior in the vole, the nucleus accumbens. We show that the genetic structure of Oxtr in prairie voles resembles human OXTR. We then studied the effects of early life experience on DNA methylation in two regions of a CpG island surrounding the Oxtr promoter: MT2 and exon 3. We show that early nurture in the form of parental care results in DNA hypomethylation of Oxtr in both MT2 and exon 3, but only DNA methylation in MT2 is associated with Oxtr gene expression. Network analyses indicate that CpG sites in the 3' portion of MT2 are most highly associated with Oxtr gene expression. We also identify two novel SNPs in exon 3 of Oxtr in prairie voles and a novel alternative transcript originating from the third intron of the gene. Expression of the novel alternative transcript is associated with genotype at SNP KLW2. CONCLUSIONS These results identify putative regulatory features of Oxtr in prairie voles which inform future studies examining OXTR in human social behaviors and disorders. These studies indicate that in prairie voles, DNA methylation in MT2, particularly in the 3' portion, is more predictive of Oxtr gene expression than DNA methylation in exon 3. Similarly, in human temporal cortex, we find that DNA methylation in the 3' portion of MT2 is associated with OXTR expression. Together, these results suggest that among the CpG sites studied, DNA methylation of MT2 may be the most reliable indicator of OXTR gene expression. We also identify novel features of prairie vole Oxtr, including SNPs and an alternative transcript, which further develop the prairie vole as a translational model for studies of OXTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Danoff
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Kelly L Wroblewski
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Andrew J Graves
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Graham C Quinn
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Allison M Perkeybile
- The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, 150 S Woodlawn Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - William M Kenkel
- The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, 150 S Woodlawn Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, 105 The Green, Newark, DE, 19716, USA
| | - Travis S Lillard
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Hardik I Parikh
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, 345 Crispell Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Research Computing, University of Virginia, 560 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA
| | - Hudson F Golino
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA
| | - Simon G Gregory
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, 300 N Duke St, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - C Sue Carter
- The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, 150 S Woodlawn Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jessica J Connelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, P.O. Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, USA.
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30
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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: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.3] [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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Kenkel W. Birth signalling hormones and the developmental consequences of caesarean delivery. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e12912. [PMID: 33145818 PMCID: PMC10590550 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rates of delivery by caesarean section (CS) are increasing around the globe and, although several epidemiological associations have already been observed between CS and health outcomes in later life, more are sure to be discovered as this practice continues to gain popularity. The components of vaginal delivery that protect offspring from the negative consequences of CS delivery in later life are currently unknown, although much attention to date has focused on differences in microbial colonisation. Here, we present the case that differing hormonal experiences at birth may also contribute to the neurodevelopmental consequences of CS delivery. Levels of each of the 'birth signalling hormones' (oxytocin, arginine vasopressin, epinephrine, norepinephrine and the glucocorticoids) are lower following CS compared to vaginal delivery, and there is substantial evidence for each that manipulations in early life results in long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. We draw from the research traditions of neuroendocrinology and developmental psychobiology to suggest that the perinatal period is a sensitive period, during which hormones achieve organisational effects. Furthermore, there is much to be learned from research on developmental programming by early-life stress that may inform research on CS, as a result of shared neuroendocrine mechanisms at work. We compare and contrast the effects of early-life stress with those of CS delivery and propose new avenues of research based on the links between the two bodies of literature. The research conducted to date suggests that the differences in hormone signalling seen in CS neonates may produce long-term neurodevelopmental consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Kenkel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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Walter MH, Abele H, Plappert CF. The Role of Oxytocin and the Effect of Stress During Childbirth: Neurobiological Basics and Implications for Mother and Child. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:742236. [PMID: 34777247 PMCID: PMC8578887 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.742236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin acts as a hormone and a neuromodulator, influencing a multitude of human social behaviors, including reproduction. During childbirth and the postpartum period, it plays a key role in regulating and controlling processes that ensure a safe birth and the health of mother and child. Especially the onset of labor, the progress of labor and initial breastfeeding are mediated by oxytocin. In the maternal brain it controls the initiation of the mother-infant bond and the mother's emotional responses towards her child. In this review we summarize the current state of knowledge about the role of oxytocin during the different aspects and mechanisms of human childbirth, combining research from human and animal studies. Physiological and psychological stress during childbirth and lactation can have negative effects on the progress of labor, breastfeeding and bonding. We discuss how maternity caregivers can support the positive effects of oxytocin and minimize the effects of stress. Furthermore, we highlight aspects of the basic neurobiological principles and connections where further research is needed to improve our understanding of the regulation and the effects of oxytocin to support maternal and infant health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H. Walter
- Department of Midwifery Science, Institute for Health Sciences, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for Animal Physiology, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Michael H. Walter,
| | - Harald Abele
- Department of Midwifery Science, Institute for Health Sciences, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for Women’s Health, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia F. Plappert
- Department of Midwifery Science, Institute for Health Sciences, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Sünnetçi E, Solmaz V, Erbaş O. Chronic Oxytocin treatment has long lasting therapeutic potential in a rat model of neonatal hypercapnic-hypoxia injury, through enhanced GABAergic signaling and by reducing hippocampal gliosis with its anti-inflammatory feature. Peptides 2021; 135:170398. [PMID: 33022295 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2020.170398] [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: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that, oxytocin has anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects. One of the most important complications of Hypercapnic-hypoxia is drug resistance epilepsy. Effects of chronic intraperitoneal oxytocin treatment on gliosis, neuroinflammation and seizure activity was investigated in a model in which rats were exposed to hypoxia on postnatal day 1 and later challenged to the seizure-inducing pentylenetetrazol Forty pups were included in the study on their first day of birth. 16 pups were exposed to 100% CO2 for 5 minutes and other 16 pups for 10 minutes. The remaining 8 pups comprised the control group. Groups were classified according to oxytocin administration within the first 4 weeks. Pentylenetetrazol was administered 6 months after the oxytocin treatment. The Racine's Convulsion Scale and onset times of first myoclonic jerk (FMJ) were evaluated. To determine the mechanisms by which oxytocin exerted its effects on hypercapnic-anoxia exposed rats, we performed CA1 total neuron count & CA1 GFAP immunostaining, and measured brain levels of TNF-α and GAD-67. The Racine scale and TNF-α values were significantly lower in both groups that received oxytocin, while time-to-FMJ and GAD-67 level were significantly higher. The histopathological evaluations showed that oxytocin had significant ameliorative effects (especially regarding gliosis) on the hippocampus of hypoxic rats. Regarding the results of present study, it can be speculated that after acute hypercapnic-anoxia exposure, chronic Oxytocin treatment has long lasting therapeutic potential on rats, possibly by reducing the gliosis with its anti-inflammatory feature and by activating the GABA pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eda Sünnetçi
- Istanbul Training and Education Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Volkan Solmaz
- Memorial hizmet hospital, neurology clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Oytun Erbaş
- Demiroğlu Bilim University Medical School, Department of Physiology, İstanbul, Turkey
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Uvnäs-Moberg K, Gross MM, Agius A, Downe S, Calleja-Agius J. Are There Epigenetic Oxytocin-Mediated Effects on the Mother and Infant during Physiological Childbirth? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249503. [PMID: 33327490 PMCID: PMC7765000 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studies have shown that long-term positive behavioural and physiological changes are induced in connection with vaginal, physiological birth, and skin-to-skin contact after birth in mothers and babies. Some of these effects are consistent with the effect profile of oxytocin. This scoping review explores whether epigenetic changes of the oxytocin gene and of the oxytocin receptor gene (OTR) are involved in these effects. METHODS We searched Pubmed, Medline, BioMed Central, Cochrane Library, OVID, and Web of Science for evidence of epigenetic changes in connection with childbirth in humans, with a particular focus on the oxytocin system. RESULTS There were no published studies identified that were related to epigenetic changes of oxytocin and its receptor in connection with labour, birth, and skin-to-skin contact after birth in mothers and babies. However, some studies were identified that showed polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor influenced the progress of labour. We also identified studies in which the level of global methylation was measured in vaginal birth and caesarean section, with conflicting results. Some studies identified differences in the level of methylation of single genes linked to various effects, for example, immune response, metabolism, and inflammation. In some of these cases, the level of methylation was associated with the duration of labour or mode of birth. We also identified some studies that demonstrated long-term effects of mode of birth and of skin-to-skin contact linked to changes in oxytocin function. CONCLUSION There were no studies identified that showed epigenetic changes of the oxytocin system in connection with physiological birth. The lack of evidence, so far, regarding epigenetic changes did not exclude future demonstrations of such effects, as there was a definite role of oxytocin in creating long-term effects during the perinatal period. Such studies may not have been performed. Alternatively, the oxytocin linked effects might be indirectly mediated via other receptors and signalling systems. We conclude that there is a significant lack of research examining long-term changes of oxytocin function and long-term oxytocin mediated adaptive effects induced during physiological birth and skin-to-skin contact after birth in mothers and their infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg
- Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 53223 Skara, Sweden;
| | - Mechthild M. Gross
- Midwifery Research and Education Unit, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hanover, Germany;
| | - Andee Agius
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mater Dei Hospital, MSD2090 Msida, Malta;
| | - Soo Downe
- School of Community Health and Midwifery, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK;
| | - Jean Calleja-Agius
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, MSD2080 Msida, Malta
- Correspondence:
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Sachser N, Zimmermann TD, Hennessy MB, Kaiser S. Sensitive phases in the development of rodent social behavior. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2020; 36:63-70. [PMID: 34337112 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Here, we summarize recent advances on how environmental influences during sensitive phases alter the social behavioral phenotype of rodents later in life. Current studies support the view that the prenatal, early postnatal and adolescent periods of life can be regarded as sensitive phases. Environmental cues acting on the organism during these phases have a wide variety of effects on adult social behavior. One pattern that emerges across species and sensitive phases is that adversity tends to reduce social interactions and particularly affiliative social behavior. Concerning underlying mechanisms, various hormones can be involved; however, glucocorticoids frequently serve as the signal instigating plasticity. There is also increasing appreciation of non-endocrine mechanisms, specifically epigenetics and the microbiome. Concerning function, some evidence exists that sensitive phase outcomes adjust the individual's social phenotype to the nature of the social environment to be present during adulthood and breeding, though additional empirical support is still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Sachser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Tobias D Zimmermann
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Michael B Hennessy
- Department of Psychology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149 Münster, Germany
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36
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Perspectives of Pitocin administration on behavioral outcomes in the pediatric population: recent insights and future implications. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04047. [PMID: 32509991 PMCID: PMC7264063 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin plays an important role in the regulation of parturition as this peptide hormone promotes uterine smooth muscle contractility in gravid women undergoing labor. Here, we review the impact of Pitocin administration on behavioral outcomes in the pediatric population. Pitocin is a synthetic preparation of oxytocin widely used in the obstetric practice for the management of labor and postpartum hemorrhage. We begin by tracing the neuroanatomy of oxytocin-containing cells from an evolutionary perspective and then summarize key findings on behavioral and neural activity reported from offspring dosed with Pitocin during vaginal delivery. Finally, we discuss future directions that are experimentally tractable for understanding the developmental consequences of Pitocin administration on a small but growing subset of children worldwide. Given that fetal past experiences can shape the future behavior of the adult, further work on oxytocin signaling pathways will provide valuable references and insights for early-brain development and state-dependent regulation of behavioral outcome.
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37
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Palanisamy A, Giri T, Jiang J, Bice A, Quirk JD, Conyers SB, Maloney SE, Raghuraman N, Bauer AQ, Garbow JR, Wozniak DF. In utero exposure to transient ischemia-hypoxemia promotes long-term neurodevelopmental abnormalities in male rat offspring. JCI Insight 2020; 5:133172. [PMID: 32434985 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.133172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of transient ischemic-hypoxemic insults on the developing fetal brain is poorly understood despite evidence suggesting an association with neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. To address this, we designed an aberrant uterine hypercontractility paradigm with oxytocin to better assess the consequences of acute, but transient, placental ischemia-hypoxemia in term pregnant rats. Using MRI, we confirmed that oxytocin-induced aberrant uterine hypercontractility substantially compromised uteroplacental perfusion. This was supported by the observation of oxidative stress and increased lactate concentration in the fetal brain. Genes related to oxidative stress pathways were significantly upregulated in male, but not female, offspring 1 hour after oxytocin-induced placental ischemia-hypoxemia. Persistent upregulation of select mitochondrial electron transport chain complex proteins in the anterior cingulate cortex of adolescent male offspring suggested that this sex-specific effect was enduring. Functionally, offspring exposed to oxytocin-induced uterine hypercontractility showed male-specific abnormalities in social behavior with associated region-specific changes in gene expression and functional cortical connectivity. Our findings, therefore, indicate that even transient but severe placental ischemia-hypoxemia could be detrimental to the developing brain and point to a possible mitochondrial link between intrauterine asphyxia and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arvind Palanisamy
- Department of Anesthesiology.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
| | | | | | - Annie Bice
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, and
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David F Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry, and.,Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Wu M, Walser JC, Sun L, Kölliker M. The genetic mechanism of selfishness and altruism in parent-offspring coadaptation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaw0070. [PMID: 31922000 PMCID: PMC6941917 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw0070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The social bond between parents and offspring is characterized by coadaptation and balance between altruistic and selfish tendencies. However, its underlying genetic mechanism remains poorly understood. Using transcriptomic screens in the subsocial European earwig, Forficula auricularia, we found the expression of more than 1600 genes associated with experimentally manipulated parenting. We identified two genes, Th and PebIII, each showing evidence of differential coexpression between treatments in mothers and their offspring. In vivo RNAi experiments confirmed direct and indirect genetic effects of Th and PebIII on behavior and fitness, including maternal food provisioning and reproduction, and offspring development and survival. The direction of the effects consistently indicated a reciprocally altruistic function for Th and a reciprocally selfish function for PebIII. Further metabolic pathway analyses suggested roles for Th-restricted endogenous dopaminergic reward, PebIII-mediated chemical communication and a link to insulin signaling, juvenile hormone, and vitellogenin in parent-offspring coadaptation and social evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wu
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology and Evolution, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. (M.W.); (M.K.)
| | - Jean-Claude Walser
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Genetic Diversity Centre (GDC), ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lei Sun
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Mathias Kölliker
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Zoology and Evolution, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. (M.W.); (M.K.)
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