1
|
Horn AJ, Cole S, Nazarloo HP, Nazarloo P, Davis JM, Carrier D, Bryan C, Carter CS. Severe PTSD is marked by reduced oxytocin and elevated vasopressin. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 19:100236. [PMID: 38764609 PMCID: PMC11101686 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine analyses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have generally focused on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis alterations. In the present analyses, we examine two additional neuroendocrine factors that have been previously implicated in biological stress responses: oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP). Here we examined basal neuropeptide status in military veterans clinically diagnosed with PTSD (n = 29) and in two non-traumatized comparison groups with previous stress exposure (n = 11 SWAT trainees and n = 21 ultramarathon runners). PTSD patients showed low levels of plasma OT and high levels of AVP. The ratio of AVP/OT robustly related to PTSD status, and emerged as a statistically plausible mediator of relationships between the number of personal traumatic experiences and subsequent PTSD symptom burden. Over the course of behavioral therapy for PTSD, measures of OT showed a significant but modest normalization. Plasma cortisol levels were not statistically different among the three groups. This study suggests that AVP/OT ratios may represent a neuroendocrine predictor of severe PTSD, as well as a potential treatment response biomarker.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve Cole
- UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - John M. Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David Carrier
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Craig Bryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - C. Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Szczepanska-Sadowska E, Czarzasta K, Bogacki-Rychlik W, Kowara M. The Interaction of Vasopressin with Hormones of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis: The Significance for Therapeutic Strategies in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7394. [PMID: 39000501 PMCID: PMC11242374 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
A large body of evidence indicates that vasopressin (AVP) and steroid hormones are frequently secreted together and closely cooperate in the regulation of blood pressure, metabolism, water-electrolyte balance, and behavior, thereby securing survival and the comfort of life. Vasopressin cooperates with hormones of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) at several levels through regulation of the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and multiple steroid hormones, as well as through interactions with steroids in the target organs. These interactions are facilitated by positive and negative feedback between specific components of the HPA. Altogether, AVP and the HPA cooperate closely as a coordinated functional AVP-HPA system. It has been shown that cooperation between AVP and steroid hormones may be affected by cellular stress combined with hypoxia, and by metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory disorders; neurogenic stress; and inflammation. Growing evidence indicates that central and peripheral interactions between AVP and steroid hormones are reprogrammed in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and that these rearrangements exert either beneficial or harmful effects. The present review highlights specific mechanisms of the interactions between AVP and steroids at cellular and systemic levels and analyses the consequences of the inappropriate cooperation of various components of the AVP-HPA system for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Szczepanska-Sadowska
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Physiology, Laboratory of Centre for Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ruiz-Sánchez JG, Calle-Pascual AL, Rubio-Herrera MÁ, De Miguel Novoa MP, Gómez-Hoyos E, Runkle I. Isolated hypoaldosteronism is a cause of hypovolemic but not euvolemic hyponatremia. Endocr Connect 2024; 13:e230430. [PMID: 38288724 PMCID: PMC10895314 DOI: 10.1530/ec-23-0430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Hypoaldosteronism is characterized by hyperkalemia, and/or hypovolemic hyponatremia (HH), often accompanied by metabolic acidosis. HH is typical of hypoaldosteronism, whereas euvolemic hyponatremia (EH) is not. The purpose of the current study is to describe the characteristics of hyponatremia in hypoaldosteronism and elucidate whether EH can be considered part of the disease's spectrum. Methods In a hypoaldosteronism cohort, we analyzed the factors associated with hyponatremia, comparing the characteristics of EH and HH and their associated factors. Correlation analyses of mineralocorticoid biomarkers, such as the transtubular potassium gradient (TTKG), the urinary Na+/K+ ratio (UNa+/UK+) with serum, and urinary electrolytes were performed in both types of hyponatremia. Results Of 112 hypoaldosteronism episodes, 77.7% were ≥65 years old, 44.6% were women, and 80 (71.4%) had hyponatremia. Hyponatremia was negatively associated with the presence of chronic kidney disease, and positively with a hypovolemic state, malnutrition, a prior history of hyponatremia, and glucocorticoid therapy. HH: 61/80 and EH: 19/80 episodes. HH was associated with an age ≥65 years and the use of diuretics, as well as factors related to an aldosterone deficit and/or mineralocorticoid resistance. In HH but not in EH, urinary potassium was correlated with the TTKG, and urinary sodium with both the TTKG and the UNa+/UK+. Conclusion Both HH and EH can be observed in hypoaldosteronism. However, only the former would be related to insufficient mineralocorticoid activity. Significance statement Isolated hypoaldosteronism is a poorly understood and underdiagnosed endocrinological disorder, classically recognized only when hyperkalemia is present. The development of hypovolemic hyponatremia, however, is also easily explained by the physiopathology of the disorder. The current study addresses the features of hyponatremia when found in the context of mineralocorticoid insufficiency, and confirms an association between hypovolemic hyponatremia and isolated hypoaldosteronism. Thus, the clinical spectrum of hypoaldosteronism is extended to include hypovolemic hyponatremia as a frequent manifestation of the disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Gabriel Ruiz-Sánchez
- Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD, UAM), Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, España
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
| | - Alfonso Luis Calle-Pascual
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
- Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Madrid, España
| | - Miguel Ángel Rubio-Herrera
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
- Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España
| | - María Paz De Miguel Novoa
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
- Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España
| | - Emilia Gómez-Hoyos
- Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, España
| | - Isabelle Runkle
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España
- Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Fernandez G, De Francesco PN, Cornejo MP, Cabral A, Aguggia JP, Duque VJ, Sayar N, Cantel S, Burgos JI, Fehrentz JA, Rorato R, Atasoy D, Mecawi AS, Perello M. Ghrelin Action in the PVH of Male Mice: Accessibility, Neuronal Targets, and CRH Neurons Activation. Endocrinology 2023; 164:bqad154. [PMID: 37823477 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqad154] [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: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The hormone ghrelin displays several well-characterized functions, including some with pharmaceutical interest. The receptor for ghrelin, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), is expressed in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH), a critical hub for the integration of metabolic, neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral functions. Here, we performed a neuroanatomical and functional characterization of the neuronal types mediating ghrelin actions in the PVH of male mice. We found that fluorescent ghrelin mainly labels PVH neurons immunoreactive for nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1), which catalyze the production of nitric oxide [NO]). Centrally injected ghrelin increases c-Fos in NOS1 PVH neurons and NOS1 phosphorylation in the PVH. We also found that a high dose of systemically injected ghrelin increases the ghrelin level in the cerebrospinal fluid and in the periventricular PVH, and induces c-Fos in NOS1 PVH neurons. Such a high dose of systemically injected ghrelin activates a subset of NOS1 PVH neurons, which do not express oxytocin, via an arcuate nucleus-independent mechanism. Finally, we found that pharmacological inhibition of NO production fully abrogates ghrelin-induced increase of calcium concentration in corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons of the PVH whereas it partially impairs ghrelin-induced increase of plasma glucocorticoid levels. Thus, plasma ghrelin can directly target a subset of NO-producing neurons of the PVH that is involved in ghrelin-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal neuroendocrine axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gimena Fernandez
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - Pablo N De Francesco
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - María P Cornejo
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - Agustina Cabral
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - Julieta P Aguggia
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
| | - Victor J Duque
- Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, CEP: 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Nilufer Sayar
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa Neuroscience Institute and Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC), University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Sonia Cantel
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier cedex 5 34293, France
| | - Juan I Burgos
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Dr. Horacio Eugenio Cingolani" (CONICET and National University of La Plata), La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jean-Alain Fehrentz
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, University of Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier cedex 5 34293, France
| | - Rodrigo Rorato
- Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, CEP: 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Deniz Atasoy
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine, Iowa Neuroscience Institute and Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC), University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - André S Mecawi
- Department of Biophysics, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, CEP: 04023-062, Brazil
| | - Mario Perello
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Multidisciplinary Institute of Cell Biology [IMBICE, Argentine Research Council (CONICET) and Scientific Research Commission, Province of Buenos Aires (CIC-PBA), National University of La Plata], La Plata, Buenos Aires 1900, Argentina
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Functional Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Uppsala, Uppsala 751 05, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Costello HM, Krilis G, Grenier C, Severs D, Czopek A, Ivy JR, Nixon M, Holmes MC, Livingstone DEW, Hoorn EJ, Dhaun N, Bailey MA. High salt intake activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, amplifies the stress response, and alters tissue glucocorticoid exposure in mice. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:1740-1750. [PMID: 36368681 PMCID: PMC10325699 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac160] [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: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS High salt intake is common and contributes to poor cardiovascular health. Urinary sodium excretion correlates directly with glucocorticoid excretion in humans and experimental animals. We hypothesized that high salt intake activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation and leads to sustained glucocorticoid excess. METHODS AND RESULTS In male C57BL/6 mice, high salt intake for 2-8 weeks caused an increase in diurnal peak levels of plasma corticosterone. After 2 weeks, high salt increased Crh and Pomc mRNA abundance in the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, consistent with basal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation. Additionally, high salt intake amplified glucocorticoid response to restraint stress, indicative of enhanced axis sensitivity. The binding capacity of Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin was reduced and its encoding mRNA downregulated in the liver. In the hippocampus and anterior pituitary, Fkbp5 mRNA levels were increased, indicating increased glucocorticoid exposure. The mRNA expression of the glucocorticoid-regenerating enzyme, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1, was increased in these brain areas and in the liver. Sustained high salt intake activated a water conservation response by the kidney, increasing plasma levels of the vasopressin surrogate, copeptin. Increased mRNA abundance of Tonebp and Avpr1b in the anterior pituitary suggested that vasopressin signalling contributes to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation by high salt diet. CONCLUSION Chronic high salt intake amplifies basal and stress-induced glucocorticoid levels and resets glucocorticoid biology centrally, peripherally and within cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M Costello
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios Krilis
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Celine Grenier
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - David Severs
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alicja Czopek
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica R Ivy
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Nixon
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Megan C Holmes
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Dawn E W Livingstone
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Ewout J Hoorn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neeraj Dhaun
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew A Bailey
- Edinburgh Kidney, British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Universtiy of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yang H, Narayan S, Schmidt MV. From Ligands to Behavioral Outcomes: Understanding the Role of Mineralocorticoid Receptors in Brain Function. Stress 2023; 26:2204366. [PMID: 37067948 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2023.2204366] [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: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is a normal response to situational pressures or demands. Exposure to stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and leads to the release of corticosteroids, which act in the brain via two distinct receptors: mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Persistent HPA axis overactivation or dysregulation can disrupt an individual's homeostasis, thereby contributing to an increased risk for mental illness. On the other hand, successful coping with stressful events involves adaptive and cognitive processes in the brain that render individuals more resilient to similar stressors in the future. Here we review the role of the MR in these processes, starting with an overview of the physiological structure, ligand binding, and expression of MR, and further summarizing its role in the brain, its relevance to psychiatric disorders, and related rodent studies. Given the central role of MR in cognitive and emotional functioning, and its importance as a target for promoting resilience, future research should investigate how MR modulation can be used to alleviate disturbances in emotion and behavior, as well as cognitive impairment, in patients with stress-related psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huanqing Yang
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Sowmya Narayan
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
- Department Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Mathias V Schmidt
- Research Group Neurobiology of Stress Resilience, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kanes SJ, Dennie L, Perera P. Targeting the Arginine Vasopressin V 1b Receptor System and Stress Response in Depression and Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:811-828. [PMID: 37077711 PMCID: PMC10106826 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s402831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A healthy stress response is critical for good mental and overall health and promotes neuronal growth and adaptation, but the intricately balanced biological mechanisms that facilitate a stress response can also result in predisposition to disease when that equilibrium is disrupted. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis neuroendocrine system plays a critical role in the body's response and adaptation to stress, and vasopressinergic regulation of the HPA axis is critical to maintaining system responsiveness during chronic stress. However, exposure to repeated or excessive physical or emotional stress or trauma can shift the body's stress response equilibrium to a "new normal" underpinned by enduring changes in HPA axis function. Exposure to early life stress due to adverse childhood experiences can also lead to lasting neurobiological changes, including in HPA axis function. HPA axis impairment in patients with depression is considered among the most reliable findings in biological psychiatry, and chronic stress has been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis and onset of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Modulating HPA axis activity, for example via targeted antagonism of the vasopressin V1b receptor, is a promising approach for patients with depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders associated with HPA axis impairment. Despite favorable preclinical indications in animal models, demonstration of clinical efficacy for the treatment of depressive disorders by targeting HPA axis dysfunction has been challenging, possibly due to the heterogeneity and syndromal nature of depressive disorders. Measures of HPA axis function, such as elevated cortisol levels, may be useful biomarkers for identifying patients who may benefit from treatments that modulate HPA axis activity. Utilizing clinical biomarkers to identify subsets of patients with impaired HPA axis function who may benefit is a promising next step in fine-tuning HPA axis activity via targeted antagonism of the V1b receptor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Kanes
- EmbarkNeuro, Oakland, CA, USA
- Correspondence: Stephen J Kanes, EmbarkNeuro, Inc, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA, 94607, USA, Tel +1 610 757 7821, Email
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
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."
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Sue Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA; Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Carter CS, Kingsbury MA. Oxytocin and oxygen: the evolution of a solution to the ‘stress of life’. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210054. [PMID: 35856299 PMCID: PMC9272143 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) and the OT receptor occupy essential roles in our current understanding of mammalian evolution, survival, sociality and reproduction. This narrative review examines the hypothesis that many functions attributed to OT can be traced back to conditions on early Earth, including challenges associated with managing life in the presence of oxygen and other basic elements, including sulfur. OT regulates oxidative stress and inflammation especially through effects on the mitochondria. A related nonapeptide, vasopressin, as well as molecules in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, including the corticotropin-releasing hormone family of molecules, have a broad set of functions that interact with OT. Interactions among these molecules have roles in the causes and consequence of social behaviour and the management of threat, fear and stress. Here, we discuss emerging evidence suggesting that unique properties of the OT system allowed vertebrates, and especially mammals, to manage over-reactivity to the ‘side effects’ of oxygen, including inflammation, oxidation and free radicals, while also supporting high levels of sociality and a perception of safety. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours’.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C. Sue Carter
- Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Marcy A. Kingsbury
- Lurie Center for Autism, Mass General Hospital for Children, Harvard University Medical School, Charlestown, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Islam MT, Maejima T, Matsui A, Mieda M. Paraventricular hypothalamic vasopressin neurons induce self-grooming in mice. Mol Brain 2022; 15:47. [PMID: 35606816 PMCID: PMC9125887 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-022-00932-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-grooming plays an essential role in hygiene maintenance, thermoregulation, and stress response. However, the neural populations involved in self-grooming remain largely unknown. The paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) has been implicated in the regulation of self-grooming. Arginine vasopressin-producing neurons are among the major neuronal populations in the PVH (PVHAVP), which play important roles in water homeostasis, blood pressure regulation, feeding, and stress response. Here, we report the critical role of PVHAVP neurons in the induction of self-grooming. Optogenetic activation of PVHAVP neurons immediately induced self-grooming in freely moving mice. Chemogenetic activation of these neurons also increased time spent self-grooming. In contrast, their chemogenetic inhibition significantly reduced naturally occurring self-grooming, suggesting that PVHAVP-induced grooming has physiological relevance. Notably, optogenetic activation of PVHAVP neurons triggered self-grooming over other adaptive behaviors, such as voracious feeding induced by fasting and social interaction with female mice. Thus, our study proposes the novel role of PVHAVP neurons in regulating self-grooming behavior and, consequently, hygiene maintenance and stress response. Furthermore, uncontrolled activation of these neurons may be potentially relevant to diseases characterized by compulsive behaviors and impaired social interaction, such as autism, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and anorexia nervosa.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Tarikul Islam
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Takashi Maejima
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Ayako Matsui
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Michihiro Mieda
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
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] [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. Oxytocin is a peptide molecule with functions that support a sense of safety, sociality, as well as survival and reproduction. Oxytocin is associated with social and neuroimmune solutions to chronic stress. The related, but more primitive, peptide vasopressin supports more individualistic survival strategies. Controversies and myths surround the properties of oxytocin and love.
Collapse
|
12
|
Rescue of Vasopressin Synthesis in Magnocellular Neurons of the Supraoptic Nucleus Normalises Acute Stress-Induced Adrenocorticotropin Secretion and Unmasks an Effect on Social Behaviour in Male Vasopressin-Deficient Brattleboro Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031357. [PMID: 35163282 PMCID: PMC8836014 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The relevance of vasopressin (AVP) of magnocellular origin to the regulation of the endocrine stress axis and related behaviour is still under discussion. We aimed to obtain deeper insight into this process. To rescue magnocellular AVP synthesis, a vasopressin-containing adeno-associated virus vector (AVP-AAV) was injected into the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of AVP-deficient Brattleboro rats (di/di). We compared +/+, di/di, and AVP-AAV treated di/di male rats. The AVP-AAV treatment rescued the AVP synthesis in the SON both morphologically and functionally. It also rescued the peak of adrenocorticotropin release triggered by immune and metabolic challenges without affecting corticosterone levels. The elevated corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 mRNA levels in the anterior pituitary of di/di-rats were diminished by the AVP-AAV-treatment. The altered c-Fos synthesis in di/di-rats in response to a metabolic stressor was normalised by AVP-AAV in both the SON and medial amygdala (MeA), but not in the central and basolateral amygdala or lateral hypothalamus. In vitro electrophysiological recordings showed an AVP-induced inhibition of MeA neurons that was prevented by picrotoxin administration, supporting the possible regulatory role of AVP originating in the SON. A memory deficit in the novel object recognition test seen in di/di animals remained unaffected by AVP-AAV treatment. Interestingly, although di/di rats show intact social investigation and aggression, the SON AVP-AAV treatment resulted in an alteration of these social behaviours. AVP released from the magnocellular SON neurons may stimulate adrenocorticotropin secretion in response to defined stressors and might participate in the fine-tuning of social behaviour with a possible contribution from the MeA.
Collapse
|
13
|
Stojiljković AS, Čupić Ž, Maćešić S, Ivanović-Šašić A, Kolar-Anić L. Influence of arginine vasopressin on the ultradian dynamics of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:976323. [PMID: 36277700 PMCID: PMC9581400 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.976323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies on humans and animals have indicated that the corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulate both individually and synergistically secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by corticotropic cells in anterior pituitary. With aim to characterize and better comprehend the mechanisms underlying the effects of AVP on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis ultradian dynamics, AVP is here incorporated into our previously proposed stoichiometric model of HPA axis in humans. This extended nonlinear network reaction model took into account AVP by: reaction steps associated with two separate inflows of AVP into pituitary portal system, that is synthesized and released from hypothalamic parvocellular and magnocellular neuronal populations, as well as summarized reaction steps related to its individual and synergistic action with CRH on corticotropic cells. To explore the properties of extended model and its capacity to emulate the effects of AVP, nonlinear dynamical systems theory and bifurcation analyses based on numerical simulations were utilized to determine the dependence of ultradian oscillations on rate constants of the inflows of CRH and AVP from parvocellular neuronal populations, the conditions under which dynamical transitions occur due to their synergistic action and, moreover, the types of these transitions. The results show that under certain conditions, HPA system could enter into oscillatory dynamic states from stable steady state and vice versa under the influence of synergy reaction rate constant. Transitions between these dynamical states were always through supercritical Andronov-Hopf bifurcation point. Also, results revealed the conditions under which amplitudes of ultradian oscillations could increase several-fold due to CRH and AVP synergistic stimulation of ACTH secretion in accordance with results reported in the literature. Moreover, results showed experimentally observed superiority of CRH as a stimulator of ACTH secretion compared to AVP in humans. The proposed model can be very useful in studies related to the role of AVP and its synergistic action with CRH in life-threatening circumstances such as acute homeostasis dynamic crisis, autoimmune inflammations or severe hypovolemia requiring instant or several-days sustained corticosteroid excess levels. Moreover, the model can be helpful for investigations of indirect AVP-induced HPA activity by exogenously administered AVP used in therapeutic treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra S. Stojiljković
- Institute of General and Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- *Correspondence: Aleksandra S. Stojiljković, ; Željko Čupić,
| | - Željko Čupić
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- *Correspondence: Aleksandra S. Stojiljković, ; Željko Čupić,
| | - Stevan Maćešić
- Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Ivanović-Šašić
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ljiljana Kolar-Anić
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lkhagvasuren B, Mee-Inta O, Zhao ZW, Hiramoto T, Boldbaatar D, Kuo YM. Pancreas-Brain Crosstalk. Front Neuroanat 2021; 15:691777. [PMID: 34354571 PMCID: PMC8329585 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2021.691777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The neural regulation of glucose homeostasis in normal and challenged conditions involves the modulation of pancreatic islet-cell function. Compromising the pancreas innervation causes islet autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes and islet cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. However, despite the richly innervated nature of the pancreas, islet innervation remains ill-defined. Here, we review the neuroanatomical and humoral basis of the cross-talk between the endocrine pancreas and autonomic and sensory neurons. Identifying the neurocircuitry and neurochemistry of the neuro-insular network would provide clues to neuromodulation-based approaches for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and obesity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Battuvshin Lkhagvasuren
- Brain Science Institute, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Onanong Mee-Inta
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Zi-Wei Zhao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tetsuya Hiramoto
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Fukuoka Hospital, National Hospital Organization, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Damdindorj Boldbaatar
- Brain Science Institute, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Yu-Min Kuo
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Goncharova ND. The HPA Axis under Stress and Aging: Individual Vulnerability is Associated with Behavioral Patterns and Exposure Time. Bioessays 2020; 42:e2000007. [PMID: 32666621 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202000007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
With aging, incidence of severe stress-related diseases increases. However, mechanisms, underlying individual vulnerability to stress and age-related diseases are not clear. The goal of this review is to analyze finding from the recent literature on age-related characteristics of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis associated with stress reactivity in animals that show behavioral signs of anxiety and depression under mild stress, and in human patients with anxiety disorders and depression with emphasis on the impact of the circadian rhythm and the negative feedback mechanisms involved in the stress response. One can conclude that HPA axis reaction to psycho-emotional stress, at least acute stress, increases in the aged individuals with anxiety and depression behavior. Elevated stress reactivity is associated with disruption of the circadian rhythm and the mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated glucocorticoid negative feedback. The disordered function of the HPA axis in individuals with anxiety and depression behavior can contribute to aging-related pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadezhda D Goncharova
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology, Research Institute of Medical Primatology, 177 Mira Street, Veseloye, Adler, Sochi, Krasnodar, 354376, Russia
| |
Collapse
|