Plasma Oxytocin and Arginine-Vasopressin Levels in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in China: Associations with Symptoms

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by impairments of social interaction and the presence of obsessive behaviors. The ''twin'' nonapeptides oxytocin (OXT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) are known to play regulatory roles in social behaviors. However, the plasma levels and behavioral relevance of OXT and AVP in children with ASD have seldom been investigated. It is also unknown whether their mothers have abnormal plasma peptide levels. Here, using well-established methods of neuropeptide measurement and a relatively large sample size, we determined the plasma levels of the two neuropeptides in 85 normal children, 84 children with ASD, and 31 mothers from each group of children. As expected, children with ASD had lower plasma OXT levels than gender-matched controls (P = 0.028). No such difference was found for plasma AVP concentrations. Correlation analysis showed that ASD children with higher plasma OXT concentrations tended to have less impairment of verbal communication (Rho = -0.22, P = 0.076), while those with higher plasma AVP levels tended to have lower levels of repetitive use of objects (Rho = -0.231, P = 0.079). Unlike the findings in children, maternal plasma OXT levels showed no group difference. However, plasma AVP levels in the mothers of ASD children tended to be lower than in the mothers of normal children (P = 0.072). In conclusion, our results suggest that the OXT system is dysregulated in children with ASD, and that OXT and AVP levels in plasma seem to be associated with specific autistic symptoms. The plasma levels of OXT or AVP in mothers and their ASD children did not seem to change in the same direction.

Oxytocin increases the pleasantness of affective touch and orbitofrontal cortex activity independent of valence

“…We confirmed previous findings of a negative association between autistic traits and basal OT concentrations in blood (Li et al, 2019;Zhang et al, 2016). Additionally, we observed that the effects of OT on increasing OFC activation to all touch valences were -23 -positively associated with basal blood OT concentrations.…”

Increased aggression and lack of maternal behavior in Dio3‐deficient mice are associated with abnormalities in oxytocin and vasopressin systems

“…Future studies are needed to determine whether those abnormalities have a developmental origin and to identify the components of the central nervous system that are contributing to them. Our findings raise the possibility that enhanced thyroid hormone action in the central nervous system during development or in adulthood is involved in the etiology of disorders characterized by social deficits, including ASD, schizophrenia and depression (Domes et al 2016;Miller et al 2013;Modahl et al 1998;Neumann & Landgraf 2012;Parker et al 2014;Sasayama et al 2012;Strauss et al 2015a;Thompson et al 2014;Uhrig et al 2016;Wu et al 2005;Zhang et al 2016). Our work further underscores the potential importance of the thyroid hormone state of the brain, and not necessarily the circulating levels of thyroid hormone, when evaluating psychiatric conditions.…”

“…; Zhang et al . ). Our work further underscores the potential importance of the thyroid hormone state of the brain, and not necessarily the circulating levels of thyroid hormone, when evaluating psychiatric conditions.…”

Sushi repeat‐containing protein X‐linked 2: A novel phylogenetically conserved hypothalamo‐pituitary protein

“…This suggests a role of SRPX2 in neuroendocrine functions. Interestingly, oxytocin‐expressing neurons in the Pa have an important role in social communication, including vocal learning and language (Pfundmair, Lamprecht, von Wedemeyer, & Frey, ; Theofanopoulou, Boeckx, & Jarvis, ; Ye, Stolk, Toni, & Hagoort, ; Zhang et al, ). Similar to SRPX2, oxytocin knockout mice exhibit reduced ultrasonic vocalizations (Theofanopoulou et al, ; Winslow et al, ).…”