Oxytocin

Zingg, Hans H.

doi:10.1016/b978-012532104-4/50059-7

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 189 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Oxytocin levels tend to be higher in females compared to males. [117][118][119][120] Based on animal research, one may argue that the oxytocin system responds differently in males and females. The effects of oxytocin on brain and behavior are sexually dimorphic, especially during the course of development and rely on different neural substrates in males and females.…”

Section: Sex Differences In the Oxytocin System And Ptsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Psychobiological Rationale for Oxytocin in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Langeland²,

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), many patients fail to attain remission with CBT. The authors propose augmentation of CBT with oxytocin in the treatment of PTSD. Oxytocin has a combination of pharmacologic effects that result in a “sense of safety” for the patient, which is a prerequisite to successful treatment of PTSD. We suggest a dual explanatory mechanism as to why oxytocin may be effective: through a reduction of fear response (decreasing amygdala activation, inhibiting fear response, and enhancing extinction learning) and through an increase of social interaction (activating social reward-related brain regions increasing engagement in the therapeutic alliance). Given that PTSD is marked by deficits in anxiety/stress regulation and in social functioning, and that oxytocin is implicated in both of these areas, oxytocin seems a likely candidate for treatment of patients with PTSD. Further clinical studies of the therapeutic value of oxytocin are indicated.

show abstract

Section: Sex Differences In the Oxytocin System And Ptsdmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Psychobiological Rationale for Oxytocin in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Langeland²,

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Oxytocin (OT) is a mammalian neuropeptide with well-conserved biological roles in labor, milk letdown and social bonding. 1 , 2 , 3 In recent years, numerous single-dose studies have been conducted on the effects of OT on social cognition in healthy humans; see extensive reviews for more details. 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 Outcomes reported include increased trust, 8 empathic accuracy, 9 , 10 time spent looking at eyes 11 and face identity recognition memory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term exposure to intranasal oxytocin in a mouse autism model

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide involved in mammalian social behavior. It is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous studies in healthy rodents (prairie voles and C57BL/6J mice) have shown that there may be detrimental effects of long-term intranasal administration, raising the questions about safety and efficacy. To investigate the effects of OT on the aspects of ASD phenotype, we conducted the first study of chronic intranasal OT in a well-validated mouse model of autism, the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J inbred strain (BTBR), which displays low sociability and high repetitive behaviors. BTBR and C57BL/6J (B6) mice (N=94) were administered 0.8 IU/kg of OT intranasally, daily for 30 days, starting on day 21. We ran a well-characterized set of behavioral tasks relevant to diagnostic and associated symptoms of autism, including juvenile reciprocal social interactions, three-chambered social approach, open-field exploratory activity, repetitive self-grooming and fear-conditioned learning and memory, some during and some post treatment. Intranasal OT did not improve autism-relevant behaviors in BTBR, except for female sniffing in the three-chambered social interaction test. Male saline-treated BTBR mice showed increased interest in a novel mouse, both in chamber time and sniffing time, whereas OT-treated male BTBR mice showed a preference for the novel mouse in sniffing time only. No deleterious effects of OT were detected in either B6 or BTBR mice, except possibly for the lack of a preference for the novel mouse's chamber in OT-treated male BTBR mice. These results highlight the complexity inherent in understanding the effects of OT on behavior. Future investigations of chronic intranasal OT should include a wider dose range and early developmental time points in both healthy rodents and ASD models to affirm the efficacy and safety of OT.

show abstract

“…However, since these animals were behaviorally naïve and not exposed to any stimulus prior to euthanasia, we would argue that this measure should reflect baseline peptide produced and stored. Avp-ir in medium dose males could reflect the fact that Oxt can bind to Avpr1a (Zingg, 2002) and perhaps stimulated a feed-forward mechanism similar to that posited above for medium dose Oxt.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Chronic Intranasal Oxytocin has Dose-dependent Effects on Central Oxytocin and Vasopressin Systems in Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Oxytocin (Oxt) is a neuropeptide with many functions, including modulation of social behavior(s) and anxiety. Due to its notable pro-social effects, it has been proposed as a treatment in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and social anxiety; however, effects of long-term daily treatment are still being explored. Previously, we have shown that in male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) exposure to Oxt during the peri-adolescent period impaired adult pair bonding in a dose-dependent fashion. In females, the medium dose used (0.8 IU/kg) appeared to facilitate pair bonding, and the low and medium doses were associated with fewer lines crossed in the open field. In this study, we examined central receptor binding and immunoreactive (IR) protein for Oxt and vasopressin (Avp), a closely related peptide. Voles were treated with saline vehicle, or one of three doses of Oxt (0.08, 0.8, 8.0 IU/kg) for three weeks from postnatal days 21 to 42, and euthanized as adults. We used autoradiography to examine Oxt and Avp receptor binding and immunohistochemistry to examine Oxt and Avp - IR cells in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei of the hypothalamus. Females that received the medium dose of Oxt had higher Oxt receptor binding in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAS), while males that received the medium dose had lower Avp-IR cells in the PVN. In summary, we found sex-specific effects of long-term exposure to intranasal Oxt on the Oxt and Avp systems at the weight-adjusted dose currently being used in clinical trials in humans.

show abstract

Oxytocin

Cited by 10 publications

References 189 publications

A Psychobiological Rationale for Oxytocin in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

A Psychobiological Rationale for Oxytocin in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Long-term exposure to intranasal oxytocin in a mouse autism model

Chronic Intranasal Oxytocin has Dose-dependent Effects on Central Oxytocin and Vasopressin Systems in Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About