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Horn AJ, Cole S, Nazarloo HP, Parmida N, 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.
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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
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2
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Galvez-Merlin A, López-Villatoro JM, de la Higuera-González P, de la Torre-Luque A, McDowell K, Díaz-Marsá M, Leza JC, Carrasco JL. Decreased oxytocin levels related to social cognition impairment in borderline personality disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2024; 149:458-466. [PMID: 38477064 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13679] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Dysfunctions in the oxytocin system have been reported in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Deficits could be related to interpersonal hypersensitivity, which has been previously associated with failures in social cognition (SC) in this disorder, especially in Theory of Mind (ToM) skills. The aim of this work is to study the links between the oxytocin system and SC impairments in patients with BPD. METHOD Plasma oxytocin levels (OXT) and protein expression of oxytocin receptors in blood mononuclear cells (OXTR) were examined in 33 patients with a diagnosis of BPD (age: M 28.85, DT = 8.83). Social cognition was assessed using the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC). Statistical associations between biochemical factors and different response errors in MASC were analyzed through generalized linear regression controlling for relevant clinical factors. RESULTS Generalized linear regression showed a significant relationship between lower OXTR and overmentalization in BPD patients (OR = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS This work supports the relationship between alterations in the oxytocin system and ToM impairments observed in BPD patients, enhancing the search for endophenotypes related to the phenotypic features of the disorder to improve current clinical knowledge and address more specific therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Galvez-Merlin
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - José M López-Villatoro
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar de la Higuera-González
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro de la Torre-Luque
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Karina McDowell
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Research in Neurochemistry, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Díaz-Marsá
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan C Leza
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Research in Neurochemistry, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Carrasco
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
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3
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Wu G, Ou Y, Feng Z, Xiong Z, Li K, Che M, Qi S, Zhou M. Oxytocin attenuates hypothalamic injury-induced cognitive dysfunction by inhibiting hippocampal ERK signaling and Aβ deposition. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:208. [PMID: 38796566 PMCID: PMC11127955 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02930-y] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In clinical settings, tumor compression, trauma, surgical injury, and other types of injury can cause hypothalamic damage, resulting in various types of hypothalamic dysfunction. Impaired release of oxytocin can lead to cognitive impairment and affect prognosis and long-term quality of life after hypothalamic injury. Hypothalamic injury-induced cognitive dysfunction was detected in male animals. Behavioral parameters were measured to assess the characteristics of cognitive dysfunction induced by hypothalamic-pituitary stalk lesions. Brains were collected for high-throughput RNA sequencing and immunostaining to identify pathophysiological changes in hippocampal regions highly associated with cognitive function after injury to corresponding hypothalamic areas. Through transcriptomic analysis, we confirmed the loss of oxytocin neurons after hypothalamic injury and the reversal of hypothalamic-induced cognitive dysfunction after oxytocin supplementation. Furthermore, overactivation of the ERK signaling pathway and β-amyloid deposition in the hippocampal region after hypothalamic injury were observed, and cognitive function was restored after inhibition of ERK signaling pathway overactivation. Our findings suggest that cognitive dysfunction after hypothalamic injury may be caused by ERK hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampal region resulting from a decrease in the number of oxytocin neurons, which in turn causes β-amyloid deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangsen Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yichao Ou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhanpeng Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengjie Che
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Songtao Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Mingfeng Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Brain Diseases, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Dubey P, Fang Y, Tukei KL, Kuila S, Liu X, Sahota A, Frolova AI, Reinl EL, Malik M, England SK, Imoukhuede PI. Understanding the effects of oxytocin receptor variants on OXT-OXT receptor binding: A mathematical model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.28.582600. [PMID: 38559157 PMCID: PMC10979843 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.28.582600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Approximately half of U.S. women giving birth annually receive Pitocin, the synthetic form of oxytocin (OXT), yet its effective dose can vary significantly. This variability presents safety concerns due to unpredictable responses, which may lead to adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. To address the need for improved dosing, we developed a data-driven mathematical model to predict OXT receptor (OXTR) binding. Our study focuses on five prevalent OXTR variants (V45L, P108A, L206V, V281M, and E339K) and their impact on OXT-OXTR binding dynamics in two distinct cell types: human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T), commonly used in experimental systems, and human myometrial smooth muscle cells, containing endogenous OXTR. We parameterized the model with cell-specific OXTR surface localization measurements. To strengthen the robustness of our study, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of OXT- OXTR binding, enabling parameterization of our model with cell-specific OXT-OXTR binding kinetics (myometrial OXT-OXTR K d = 1.6 nM, kon = 6.8 × 10 5 M -1 min -1 , and koff = 0.0011 min -1 ). Our meta-analysis revealed significant homogeneity in OXT-OXTR affinity across experiments and species with a K d = 0.52 - 9.32 nM and mean K d = 1.48 ± 0.36 nM. Our model achieves several valuable insights into designing dosage strategies. First, we predicted that the OXTR complex reaches maximum occupancy at 10 nM OXT in myometrial cells and at 1 µM in HEK293T cells. This information is pivotal for guiding experimental design and data interpretation when working with these distinct cell types, emphasizing the need to consider effects for specific cell types when choosing OXTR-transfected cell lines. Second, our model recapitulated the significant effects of genetic variants for both experimental and physiologically relevant systems, with V281M and E339K substantially compromising OXT-OXTR binding capacity. These findings suggest the need for personalized oxytocin dosing based on individual genetic profiles to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce risks, especially in the context of labor and delivery. Third, we demonstrated the potential for rescuing the attenuated cell response observed in V281M and E339K variants by increasing the OXT dosage at specific, early time points. Cellular responses to OXT, including Ca 2+ release, manifest within minutes. Our model indicates that providing V281M- and E339K-expressing cells with doubled OXT dose during the initial minute of binding can elevate OXT-OXTR complex formation to levels comparable to wild-type OXTR. In summary, our study provides a computational framework for precision oxytocin dosing strategies, paving the way for personalized medicine.
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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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Dam VH, Andersen SH, Pedersen ST, Stenbæk DS, Frokjaer VG. Serotonin 4 receptor brain binding and oxytocin-promoted affective and social cognition in healthy women - A randomized controlled trial. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 17:100224. [PMID: 38288372 PMCID: PMC10823092 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Oxytocin is a neuropeptide known for its prosocial properties and role in social bonding, and intervention with intranasal oxytocin is posited to modulate affective and social cognition (i.e., hot cognition). Serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission is also involved in emotional and social behaviors and appear to work in concert with oxytocin. However, this interaction so far remains elusive in humans. Therefore, we here investigate the relation between brain 5-HT 4 receptor (5-HT4R) levels and oxytocin-modulated hot cognition. Methods Using a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover design, 35 healthy women received a dose of 24 IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo one month apart. The women were naturally cycling and to control for hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle, intervention days were placed during the early follicular phase. Following intervention cognitive domains including affective memory, affective bias in emotion processing, moral emotions and social information preference were assessed. In a subgroup (n = 25), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) was used to image 5-HT4R brain binding at baseline with the [11C]SB207145 radiotracer. Results No effect of oxytocin intervention relative to placebo was observed for any of the cognitive outcomes. Likewise, regional brain 5-HT4R binding at baseline was not associated with cognitive responses to oxytocin intervention. Conclusion Our data suggest that intervention with intranasal oxytocin does not have an overall effect on hot cognition in healthy women and further that 5-HT4R brain architecture does not mediate cognitive effects of oxytocin in the healthy state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibeke Høyrup Dam
- Neurobiology Research Unit, The Neuroscience Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sidsel Høgsgaard Andersen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, The Neuroscience Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofie Trolle Pedersen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, The Neuroscience Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dea Siggaard Stenbæk
- Neurobiology Research Unit, The Neuroscience Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vibe Gedsoe Frokjaer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, The Neuroscience Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Dalton GD, Siecinski SK, Nikolova VD, Cofer GP, Hornburg K, Qi Y, Johnson GA, Jiang YH, Moy SS, Gregory SG. Transcriptome Analysis Identifies An ASD-Like Phenotype In Oligodendrocytes And Microglia From C58/J Amygdala That Is Dependent On Sex and Sociability. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.15.575733. [PMID: 38293238 PMCID: PMC10827122 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.15.575733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Background Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with higher incidence in males and is characterized by atypical verbal/nonverbal communication, restricted interests that can be accompanied by repetitive behavior, and disturbances in social behavior. This study investigated brain mechanisms that contribute to sociability deficits and sex differences in an ASD animal model. Methods Sociability was measured in C58/J and C57BL/6J mice using the 3-chamber social choice test. Bulk RNA-Seq and snRNA-Seq identified transcriptional changes in C58/J and C57BL/6J amygdala within which DMRseq was used to measure differentially methylated regions in amygdala. Results C58/J mice displayed divergent social strata in the 3-chamber test. Transcriptional and pathway signatures revealed immune-related biological processes differ between C58/J and C57BL/6J amygdala. Hypermethylated and hypomethylated genes were identified in C58/J versus C57BL/6J amygdala. snRNA-Seq data in C58/J amygdala identified differential transcriptional signatures within oligodendrocytes and microglia characterized by increased ASD risk gene expression and predicted impaired myelination that was dependent on sex and sociability. RNA velocity, gene regulatory network, and cell communication analysis showed diminished oligodendrocyte/microglia differentiation. Findings were verified using bulk RNA-Seq and demonstrated oxytocin's beneficial effects on myelin gene expression. Limitations Our findings are significant. However, limitations can be noted. The cellular mechanisms linking reduced oligodendrocyte differentiation and reduced myelination to an ASD phenotype in C58/J mice need further investigation. Additional snRNA-Seq and spatial studies would determine if effects in oligodendrocytes/microglia are unique to amygdala or if this occurs in other brain regions. Oxytocin's effects need further examination to understand its potential as an ASD therapeutic. Conclusions Our work demonstrates the C58/J mouse model's utility in evaluating the influence of sex and sociability on the transcriptome in concomitant brain regions involved in ASD. Our single-nucleus transcriptome analysis elucidates potential pathological roles of oligodendrocytes and microglia in ASD. This investigation provides details regarding regulatory features disrupted in these cell types, including transcriptional gene dysregulation, aberrant cell differentiation, altered gene regulatory networks, and changes to key pathways that promote microglia/oligodendrocyte differentiation. Our studies provide insight into interactions between genetic risk and epigenetic processes associated with divergent affiliative behavior and lack of positive sociability.
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Pongrácz P, Lugosi CA, Szávai L, Gengeliczky A, Jégh-Czinege N, Faragó T. Alarm or emotion? intranasal oxytocin helps determine information conveyed by dog barks for adult male human listeners. BMC Ecol Evol 2024; 24:8. [PMID: 38221611 PMCID: PMC10789012 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-024-02198-2] [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: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Barks play an important role in interspecific communication between dogs and humans, by allowing a reliable perception of the inner state of dogs for human listeners. However, there is growing concern in society regarding the nuisance that barking dogs cause to the surrounding inhabitants. We assumed that at least in part, this nuisance effect can be explained by particular communicative functions of dog barks. In this study we experimentally tested two separate hypotheses concerning how the content of dog barks could affect human listeners. According to the first hypothesis, barks that convey negative inner states, would especially cause stress in human listeners due to the process called interspecific empathy. Based on the second hypothesis, alarm-type dog barks cause particularly strong stress in the listener, by capitalizing on their specific acoustic makeup (high pitch, low tonality) that resembles to the parameters of a baby's cry. We tested 40 healthy, young adult males in a double-blind placebo controlled experiment, where participants received either intranasal oxytocin or placebo treatment. After an incubation period, they had to evaluate the (1) perceived emotions (happiness, fear and aggression), that specifically created dog bark sequences conveyed to them; and (2) score the annoyance level these dog barks elicited in them. RESULTS We found that oxytocin treatment had a sensitizing effect on the participants' reactions to negative valence emotions conveyed by dog barks, as they evaluated low fundamental frequency barks with higher aggression scores than the placebo-treated participants did. On the other hand, oxytocin treatment attenuated the annoyance that noisy (atonal) barks elicited from the participants. CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, we provide first-hand evidence that dog barks provide information to humans (which may also cause stress) in a dual way: through specific attention-grabbing functions and through emotional understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Pongrácz
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
| | - Csenge Anna Lugosi
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Luca Szávai
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Atina Gengeliczky
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Nikolett Jégh-Czinege
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Tamás Faragó
- Neuroethology of Communication Lab, Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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Miranda CO, Lima MLP, Filho AEV, Salles MSV, Simili FF, Negrão JA, Ribeiro EG, Faro LE. Benefits of tactile stimulation and environmental enrichment for the welfare of crossbred dairy calves. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL RESEARCH 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2022.2162531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - João Alberto Negrão
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | | | - Lenira El Faro
- Institute of Animal Science, Advanced Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, Brazil
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Zhang S, Zhang YD, Shi DD, Wang Z. Therapeutic uses of oxytocin in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:216. [PMID: 38017588 PMCID: PMC10683256 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01173-6] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT), produced and secreted in the paraventricular nucleus and supraoptic nucleus of magnocellular and parvocellular neurons. The diverse presence and activity of oxytocin suggests a potential for this neuropeptide in the pathogenesis and treatment of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)). For a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of OXT's anti-stress action, the signaling cascade of OXT binding to targeting stress were summarized. Then the advance of OXT treatment in depression, anxiety, PTSD and the major projection region of OXT neuron were discussed. Further, the efficacy of endogenous and exogenous OXT in stress responses were highlighted in this review. To augment the level of OXT in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, current biological strategies were summarized to shed a light on the treatment of stress-induced psychiatric disorders. We also conclude some of the major puzzles in the therapeutic uses of OXT in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Although some questions remain to be resolved, OXT has an enormous potential therapeutic use as a hormone that regulates stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying-Dan Zhang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Dong-Dong Shi
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhen Wang
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, Shanghai, 200030, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Psychotic Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Institute of Psychological and Behavioral Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Hosgorler F, Akkaya EC, Ilgin R, Koc B, Kizildag S, Gumus H, Uysal N. The ameliorative effect of midazolam on empathy-like behavior in old rats. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:3183-3193. [PMID: 37209151 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02526-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Although studies suggest that cognitive functions in the elderly are impaired, elderly people tend to be more successful and wiser in solving emotional problems. In empathy-like behavior models, the observer rat rescues the distressed cage mate by displaying emotional and cognitive ability. The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in empathy-like behavior in older rats in comparison to adult rats. In addition, we wanted to determine the effects of alterations in neurochemicals (such as corticosterone, oxytocin, vasopressin, and their receptor levels) and emotional situations on this behavior. In our study, we initially completed empathy-like behavior tests and emotional tests (open field, elevated plus maze) and performed neurochemical examinations in the serum and brain tissues. In the second step of research, we applied a midazolam (benzodiazepine) treatment to examine the effect of anxiety on empathy-like behavior. In the old rats, we observed that empathy-like behavior deteriorated, and anxiety signs were more pronounced. We detected a positive correlation between the latency in empathy-like behavior and corticosterone levels and v1b receptor levels. The midazolam effect on empathy-like behavior was attenuated by flumazenil (a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist). The recordings of ultrasonic vocalization showed frequencies around 50 kHz emitted by the observer and this was associated with the expectation of social contact. Our results state that compared to adult rats, old rats were more concerned and failed during empathy-like behavior. Midazolam may improve this behavior by anxiolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferda Hosgorler
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Erhan Caner Akkaya
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Rabia Ilgin
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Basar Koc
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Servet Kizildag
- College of Vocational School of Health Services, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Hikmet Gumus
- School of Sport Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Nazan Uysal
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Balçova, Izmir, Turkey
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12
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Korkmaz H, Deveci CD, Üstün Y, Pehlivanoğlu B. Comparison of plasma oxytocin level in women with natural and surgical menopause. Endocrine 2023; 82:209-214. [PMID: 37477780 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03453-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate plasma oxytocin level in women with natural and surgical menopause and its relation with other metabolic parameters. METHODS This study included 89 postmenopausal women admitted to menopausal outpatient clinics and gave written consent to participate. Participants were allocated into natural (Group 1; n = 61) and surgical (Group 2; n = 28) menopause groups based on causative process for the onset of menopause. After the clinical evaluation and physical examination, blood samples are collected for biochemical profile and plasma oxytocin levels. The complete blood count, lipid profile, thyroid panel, blood glucose concentration, vitamin D and liver enzymes were measured by autoanalyzer, plasma oxytocin level was measured spectrophotometrically by ELISA method. RESULTS The groups were comparable for age, body mass index, menopause duration, gravity and blood parameters measured except significantly different plasma oxytocin levels between the two groups as 6.8 (3.2-20.6) ng/ml in natural menopause group and 4.2 (2.9-18.2) ng/ml in surgical menopause group (p < 0.001). Plasma oxytocin level was also negatively correlated with age (r = -0.245, p = 0.022) and menopausal duration (r = -0.275, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION Our results point out that oxytocin might be a target hormone to manage menopause associated disorders and/or it should be considered for its role in the differences in the incidences of postmenopausal diseases and quality of life in the course of natural and surgical menopausal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilal Korkmaz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Canan Dura Deveci
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Üstün
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bilge Pehlivanoğlu
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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13
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Schimmer J, Patwell R, Küppers S, Grinevich V. The Relationship Between Oxytocin and Alcohol Dependence. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 37697074 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is well known for its prosocial, anxiolytic, and ameliorating effects on various psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this chapter, we will first introduce the basic neurophysiology of the OT system and its interaction with other neuromodulatory and neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Next, we provide an overview over the current state of research examining the effects of acute and chronic alcohol exposure on the OT system as well as the effects of OT system manipulation on alcohol-related behaviors in rodents and humans. In rodent models of AUD, OT has been repeatedly shown to reduce ethanol consumption, particularly in models of acute alcohol exposure. In humans however, the results of OT administration on alcohol-related behaviors are promising but not yet conclusive. Therefore, we further discuss several physiological and methodological limitations to the effective application of OT in the clinic and how they may be mitigated by the application of synthetic OT receptor (OTR) agonists. Finally, we discuss the potential efficacy of cutting-edge pharmacology and gene therapies designed to specifically enhance endogenous OT release and thereby rescue deficient expression of OT in the brains of patients with severe forms of AUD and other incurable mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Schimmer
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ryan Patwell
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephanie Küppers
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
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14
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Yoo J, Han J, Lim MH. Transition metal ions and neurotransmitters: coordination chemistry and implications for neurodegeneration. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:548-563. [PMID: 37547459 PMCID: PMC10398360 DOI: 10.1039/d3cb00052d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegeneration is characterized by a disturbance in neurotransmitter-mediated signaling pathways. Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of transition metal ions, including Cu(i/ii), Zn(ii), and Fe(ii/iii), in neurotransmission, thereby making the coordination chemistry of neurotransmitters a growing field of interest in understanding signal dysfunction. This review outlines the physiological functions of transition metal ions and neurotransmitters, with the metal-binding properties of small molecule-based neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Additionally, we discuss the structural and conformational changes of neurotransmitters induced by redox-active metal ions, such as Cu(i/ii) and Fe(ii/iii), and briefly describe the outcomes arising from their oxidation, polymerization, and aggregation. These observations have important implications for neurodegeneration and emphasize the need for further research to develop potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeasang Yoo
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeon Han
- Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Seoul Seoul 02504 Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Hee Lim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
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15
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Shen G, Yang S, Wu L, Chen Y, Hu Y, Zhou F, Wang W, Liu P, Wu F, Liu Y, Wang F, Chen L. The oxytocin receptor rs2254298 polymorphism and alcohol withdrawal symptoms: a gene-environment interaction in mood disorders. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1085429. [PMID: 37520225 PMCID: PMC10380931 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1085429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common mental disorder characterized by repeated withdrawal episodes. Negative emotions during withdrawal are the primary factors affecting successful abstinence. Oxytocin is a critical modulator of emotions. OXTR, the oxytocin receptor, may also be a promising candidate for treating alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Previous studies indicated that people with different genotypes of OXTR rs2254298 were reported to suffer from more significant depressive or heightened anxiety symptoms when experiencing early adversity. The present study aims to explore the modulatory role of the polymorphism OXTR rs2254298 on mood disorders during alcohol withdrawal and to help researchers better understand and develop effective relapse prevention and interventions for alcohol use disorders. Methods We recruited 265 adult Chinese Han men with AUD. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Alcohol dependence levels were measured using Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. Genomic DNA extraction and genotyping from participants' peripheral blood samples. Result First, a multiple linear regression was used to set the alcohol dependence level, OXTR.rs2254298, interaction terms as the primary predictor variable, and depression or anxiety as an outcome; age and educational years were covariates. There was a significant interaction between OXTR rs2254298 and alcohol dependence level on anxiety (B = 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01-0.45) but not on depression (B = -0.06, 95% CI: -0.30 - 0.18). The significance region test showed that alcohol-dependent men who are GG homozygous were more likely to experience anxiety symptoms than subjects with the A allele (A allele: β = 0.27, p < 0.001; GG homozygote: β = 0.50, p < 0.001). Finally, re-parameterized regression analysis demonstrated that this gene-environment interaction of OXTR rs2254298 and alcohol dependence on anxiety fits the weak differential susceptibility model (R2 = 0.17, F (5,259) = 13.46, p < 0.001). Conclusion This study reveals a gene-environment interactive effect between OXTR rs2254298 and alcohol withdrawal on anxiety but not depression. From the perspective of gene-environment interactions, this interaction fits the differential susceptibility model; OXTR rs2254298 GG homozygote carriers are susceptible to the environment and are likely to experience anxiety symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanghui Shen
- Wenzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Wenzhou, China
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shizhuo Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Liujun Wu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Applied Psychology (Ningbo) Research Center, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, China
- Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yingjie Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Cixi Biomedical Research Institute, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yueling Hu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Fan Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Peining Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Fenzan Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, Affiliated Cixi Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yanlong Liu
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Beijing Hui-Long-Guan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Psychosomatic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Li Chen
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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16
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Kohlhoff J, Karlov L, Dadds M, Barnett B, Silove D, Mendoza Diaz A, Eapen V. Preschool Behavioral Problems: Links with Maternal Oxytocin and Caregiving Sensitivity in the Postnatal Period, and Concurrent Maternal Psychopathology and Attachment State-of-Mind. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023:10.1007/s10578-023-01529-6. [PMID: 37022532 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01529-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated maternal oxytocin, caregiving sensitivity and mother-to-infant bonding at 3-months postpartum as predictors of child behavior and psychological outcomes in the preschool years, when controlling for concurrent maternal negative emotional symptoms and adult attachment state-of-mind. Forty-five mother-child dyads were assessed at 3-months and 3.5 years postpartum using mix of questionnaires, observational, interview and biological methods. Results showed that lower levels of maternal baseline oxytocin at 3-months postpartum significantly predicted emotional reactivity in the child at 3.5 years. When maternal adult attachment state-of-mind and negative emotional symptoms were included, lower levels of maternal baseline oxytocin at 3-months postpartum significantly predicted withdrawn child behavior. In addition, unresolved adult attachment and maternal negative emotional symptoms were significantly associated child behavioral disturbance in a range of areas. Findings highlight maternal postnatal oxytocin as a potential indicator of children who may be more likely to show emotional reactivity and withdrawn behavior in the preschool years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Kohlhoff
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
- Research Department, Karitane, Sydney, Australia.
- Ingham Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Lisa Karlov
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mark Dadds
- School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Derrick Silove
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Antonio Mendoza Diaz
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Valsamma Eapen
- Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
- Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
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17
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Chen W, Man X, Zhang Y, Yao G, Chen J. Medial prefrontal cortex oxytocin mitigates epilepsy and cognitive impairments induced by traumatic brain injury through reducing neuroinflammation in mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5214. [PMID: 36997619 PMCID: PMC10063625 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32351-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major risk factor to develop epilepsy and cognitive impairments. Neuropeptide oxytocin has been previously evidenced to produce antiepileptic effects. However, the involvement of central oxytocin in TBI-induced epileptic status and cognitive dysfunctions is not fully elucidated. In this study, we aim to investigate the role of oxytocin on a TBI model followed by seizure induction to clarify whether the epilepsy and cognitive deficits could be mitigated by oxytocin. TBI was established by weight drop and epileptic behaviors were induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) injection in mice. Moreover, oxytocin was microinjected into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) to observe the effects on the epilepsy and cognition. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) function and the neuroinflammation were measured by Evans Blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Mice exposed to TBI demonstrate increased vulnerability to PTZ-mediated seizures and cognitive disturbances with a decrease in peripheral and brain oxytocin levels. Additionally, TBI reduces oxytocin, disrupts the BBB permeability and triggers neuroinflammation in mPFC in PTZ-treated mice. Intra-mPFC oxytocin simultaneously mitigates epilepsy and cognitive impairments. Finally, oxytocin restores BBB integrity and reduces mPFC inflammation in PTZ-treated TBI mice. These findings showed that intra-mPFC oxytocin suppressed the seizure vulnerability and cognitive deficits in TBI mice. The normalization of BBB integrity and inhibition of neuroinflammation may be involved in the antiepileptic and cognition-improved effects of oxytocin, suggesting that targeting inflammatory procedure in mPFC may decrease the risk to develop epilepsy and cognitive impairments in individuals previously experienced TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Chen
- Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 105 Jiefang Rd, Lixia District, Jinan, 250013, Shandong, China.
| | - Xiaoxiao Man
- Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 105 Jiefang Rd, Lixia District, Jinan, 250013, Shandong, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 105 Jiefang Rd, Lixia District, Jinan, 250013, Shandong, China
| | - Guangyan Yao
- Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 105 Jiefang Rd, Lixia District, Jinan, 250013, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Neurology, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, 105 Jiefang Rd, Lixia District, Jinan, 250013, Shandong, China
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18
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Peltonen H, Paavonen EJ, Saarenpää-Heikkilä O, Vahlberg T, Paunio T, Polo-Kantola P. Sleep disturbances and depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy: associations with delivery and newborn health. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2023; 307:715-728. [PMID: 35461389 PMCID: PMC9984335 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-022-06560-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sleep disturbances and mood symptoms are common in late pregnancy; according to the literature, they can affect delivery and newborn outcomes. This study evaluated the effect of sleep and mood symptoms on delivery and newborn health, because there are insufficient and partly contradictory studies on the topic. METHODS A cohort of 1414 mothers in their third trimester was enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional questionnaire study. Validated questionnaires were assessed for the measurement of sleep disturbances and depressive and anxiety symptoms. The data on delivery and newborn outcomes were obtained from hospital medical records. RESULTS Sleep disturbances were very common. A higher insomnia score (β = - 0.06, p = 0.047) and longer sleep need (β = 0.07, p = 0.047) were related to delivery at a lower gestational age. In addition, a higher insomnia score (β = - 28.30, p = 0.010) and lower general sleep quality (β = - 62.15, p = 0.025) were associated with lower birth weight, but longer sleep duration and longer sleep need with a higher birth weight (β = 28.06, p = 0.019; β = 27.61, p = 0.028, respectively). However, the findings regarding birth weight lost their significance when the birth weight was standardized by gestational weeks. Concerning Apgar scores and umbilical artery pH, no associations were found. Snoring was associated with a shorter duration of the first phase of delivery (β = - 78.71, p = 0.015) and total duration of delivery (β = - 79.85, p = 0.016). Mothers with higher insomnia, depressive, or anxiety symptoms were more often treated with oxytocin (OR 1.54 95% CI 1.00-2.38, p = 0.049, OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.02-3.04, p = 0.049 and OR 1.91, CI 95% 1.28-2.84, p < 0.001, respectively) and those with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms were delivered more often with elective cesarean section (OR 4.67, 95% CI 2.04-12.68, p < 0.001 and OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.03-4.79, p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS Maternal sleep disturbances and mood symptoms during pregnancy are associated with delivery and newborn health. However, nearly, all the outcomes fell within a normal range, implying that the actual risks are low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilla Peltonen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - E Juulia Paavonen
- Pediatric Research Center, Child Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Saarenpää-Heikkilä
- Centre for Child Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Tero Vahlberg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Tiina Paunio
- Department of Psychiatry, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Polo-Kantola
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Sleep Research Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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19
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Marcet-Rius M, Bienboire-Frosini C, Lezama-García K, Domínguez-Oliva A, Olmos-Hernández A, Mora-Medina P, Hernández-Ávalos I, Casas-Alvarado A, Gazzano A. Clinical Experiences and Mechanism of Action with the Use of Oxytocin Injection at Parturition in Domestic Animals: Effect on the Myometrium and Fetuses. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040768. [PMID: 36830555 PMCID: PMC9952595 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040768] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a key hormone for parturition and maternal traits in animals. During the peripartum period, the levels of endogenous oxytocin dictate physiological events such as myometrial contractions, prostaglandin production with the subsequent increase in oxytocin receptors, and the promotion of lactation when administered immediately after birth. While this hormone has some benefits regarding these aspects, the exogenous administration of oxytocin has been shown to have detrimental effects on the fetus, such as asphyxia, meconium staining, ruptured umbilical cords, and more dystocia cases in females. This review aims to analyze the main effects of oxytocin on myometrial activity during parturition, and its potential favorable and negative administration effects reflected in the fetus health of domestic animals. In conclusion, it is convenient to know oxytocin's different effects as well as the adequate doses and the proper moment to administrate it, as it can reduce labor duration, but it can also increase dystocia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Míriam Marcet-Rius
- Animal Behaviour and Welfare Department, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France
- Correspondence: (M.M.-R.); (A.D.-O.)
| | - Cécile Bienboire-Frosini
- Department of Molecular Biology and Chemical Communication, Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Karina Lezama-García
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Adriana Domínguez-Oliva
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
- Correspondence: (M.M.-R.); (A.D.-O.)
| | - Adriana Olmos-Hernández
- Division of Biotechnology—Bioterio and Experimental Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación-Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra (INR-LGII), Tlalpan, Mexico City 14389, Mexico
| | - Patricia Mora-Medina
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Cuautitlán 54714, Mexico
| | - Ismael Hernández-Ávalos
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Cuautitlán 54714, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Casas-Alvarado
- Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, DPAA, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, Mexico City 04960, Mexico
| | - Angelo Gazzano
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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20
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Martucci LL, Launay JM, Kawakami N, Sicard C, Desvignes N, Dakouane-Giudicelli M, Spix B, Têtu M, Gilmaire FO, Paulcan S, Callebert J, Vaillend C, Bracher F, Grimm C, Fossier P, de la Porte S, Sakamoto H, Morris J, Galione A, Granon S, Cancela JM. Endolysosomal TPCs regulate social behavior by controlling oxytocin secretion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2213682120. [PMID: 36745816 PMCID: PMC9963339 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2213682120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is a prominent regulator of many aspects of mammalian social behavior and stored in large dense-cored vesicles (LDCVs) in hypothalamic neurons. It is released in response to activity-dependent Ca2+ influx, but is also dependent on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, which primes LDCVs for exocytosis. Despite its importance, critical aspects of the Ca2+-dependent mechanisms of its secretion remain to be identified. Here we show that lysosomes surround dendritic LDCVs, and that the direct activation of endolysosomal two-pore channels (TPCs) provides the critical Ca2+ signals to prime OT release by increasing the releasable LDCV pool without directly stimulating exocytosis. We observed a dramatic reduction in plasma OT levels in TPC knockout mice, and impaired secretion of OT from the hypothalamus demonstrating the importance of priming of neuropeptide vesicles for activity-dependent release. Furthermore, we show that activation of type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors sustains somatodendritic OT release by recruiting TPCs. The priming effect could be mimicked by a direct application of nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate, the endogenous messenger regulating TPCs, or a selective TPC2 agonist, TPC2-A1-N, or blocked by the antagonist Ned-19. Mice lacking TPCs exhibit impaired maternal and social behavior, which is restored by direct OT administration. This study demonstrates an unexpected role for lysosomes and TPCs in controlling neuropeptide secretion, and in regulating social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora L. Martucci
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm, Evolution of Neuromuscular Diseases: Innovative Concepts and Practices, Versailles78000, France
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3QT, UK
| | | | - Natsuko Kawakami
- Ushimado Marine Institute, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Ushimado, Setouchi, Okayama701-4303, Japan
| | - Cécile Sicard
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
| | - Nathalie Desvignes
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
| | - Mbarka Dakouane-Giudicelli
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm, Evolution of Neuromuscular Diseases: Innovative Concepts and Practices, Versailles78000, France
| | - Barbara Spix
- Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich80336, Germany
| | - Maude Têtu
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
| | - Franck-Olivier Gilmaire
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
| | - Sloane Paulcan
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
| | - Jacques Callebert
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris75010, France
- Inserm UMR-S 1144 Universités Paris Descartes-Paris Diderot, Optimisation Thérapeutique en Neuropsychopharmacologie - Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Paris Descartes,ParisParis 75006, France
| | - Cyrille Vaillend
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
| | - Franz Bracher
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich81377, Germany
| | - Christian Grimm
- Walther Straub Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich80336, Germany
| | - Philippe Fossier
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
| | - Sabine de la Porte
- Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Inserm, Evolution of Neuromuscular Diseases: Innovative Concepts and Practices, Versailles78000, France
| | - Hirotaka Sakamoto
- Ushimado Marine Institute, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Ushimado, Setouchi, Okayama701-4303, Japan
| | - John Morris
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3QX, UK
| | - Antony Galione
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, OxfordOX1 3QT, UK
| | - Sylvie Granon
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
| | - José-Manuel Cancela
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute, CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, Paris-Saclay University, Saclay91400, France
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Artık A, Çengel Kültür SE, Portakal O, Karaboncuk AY. The association between autistic traits and serum testosterone, oxytocin, and androstenedione levels in prepubertal male drug naive children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci 2023; 83:98-107. [PMID: 36398591 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10241] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might have similar problems as in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and show impairment in social behaviour. Also, there is a relationship between social relationship skills and ToM (theory of mind) skills of children with ADHD. Besides, ASD is associated with prenatal exposure to high levels of androgens, and oxytocin plays a role in the modulation of emotions, coping with stress, and social behaviour like ASD. In this study, the relationship between autistic traits and serum oxytocin, testosterone, and androstenedione levels in prepubertal male drug naive children with ADHD has been investigated. METHOD Eighty-three prepubertal children, who were diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 6-10 years old, are included in the study. For the study, intelligence levels were evaluated by using WISC-4, and autistic traits were measured by using both social responsiveness scale and theory of mind tests. In addition, serum oxytocin, testosterone, and androstenedione levels were measured by using ELISA. RESULTS It has been found that serum testosterone levels of patients with lower autistic traits are significantly lower than those with moderate and severe autistic traits, while the serum oxytocin levels are significantly higher. Also, patients with severe autistic traits have had significantly higher serum androstenedione levels than those with lower and moderate autistic traits. CONCLUSION This study suggests that patients who have higher autistic traits have elevated testosterone and androstenedione levels and lower serum oxytocin levels. Further studies are needed to clarify this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulbaki Artık
- Faculty of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Uşak University, Uşak, Turkey
| | - Sadriye Ebru Çengel Kültür
- Faculty of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Department, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Oytun Portakal
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Bora E, Erdogan M, Karaali R, Cakir A, Erbas O. Nasal Oxytocin’s Anticonvulsant Effects on Pentylenetetrazol- induced Convulsions in Rats. INT J PHARMACOL 2023. [DOI: 10.3923/ijp.2023.178.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Huang X, Chen M, Fu R, He W, He Y, Shentu H, Zhu S. Efficacy of kangaroo mother care combined with neonatal phototherapy in newborns with non-pathological jaundice: A meta-analysis. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1098143. [PMID: 37082708 PMCID: PMC10112003 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1098143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe kangaroo-mother care method (KMC) is a skin-to-skin contact-centered care approach with numerous benefits for neonates, but its impact on the treatment of jaundiced neonates is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of KMC combined with neonatal phototherapy (NNPT) in treating neonates with non-pathological jaundice.MethodsRelevant articles were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from database establishment to April 2022. The outcomes included, without limitation, serum bilirubin levels, and duration of phototherapy.ResultsThis meta-analysis included five studies (4 randomized controlled trials and 1 observational study) involving four hundred eighty-two neonates with non-pathological jaundice. The results showed that the group receiving KMC combined with NNPT had lower serum bilirubin at 72 h after intervention [weighted mean difference (WMD) = −1.51, p = 0.03], shorter duration of phototherapy [standard mean difference (SMD) = −1.45, p < 0.001] and shorter duration of hospitalization (SMD = −1.32, p = 0.002) compared to NNPT group. There was no difference in peak bilirubin in both groups of neonates (WMD = −0.12, p = 0.62).ConclusionsKMC combined with NNPT helped to treat non-pathological jaundice in newborns compared to NNPT alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Huang
- Department of Pediatric, Ningbo Yinzhou No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Meiling Chen
- The Public Health College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Rongrong Fu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei He
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Chemistry Synthesis Technology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yujing He
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haojie Shentu
- The Medical Imaging College, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Suping Zhu
- Department of Pediatric, Ningbo Yinzhou No. 2 Hospital, Ningbo, China
- Correspondence: Suping Zhu
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Motaghinejad M, Gholami M, Emanuele E. Constant romantic feelings and experiences can protect against neurodegeneration: Potential role of oxytocin-induced nerve growth factor/protein kinase B/Cyclic response element-binding protein and nerve growth factor/protein kinase B/Phospholipase C-Gamma signaling pathways. BIOMEDICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH JOURNAL (BBRJ) 2023. [DOI: 10.4103/bbrj.bbrj_28_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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Wiley KS, Camilo C, Gouveia G, Euclydes V, Panter-Brick C, Matijasevich A, Ferraro AA, Fracolli LA, Chiesa AM, Miguel EC, Polanczyk GV, Brentani H. Maternal distress, DNA methylation, and fetal programing of stress physiology in Brazilian mother-infant pairs. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22352. [PMID: 36567654 PMCID: PMC9792831 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Maternal prenatal psychosocial stress is associated with adverse hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) function among infants. Although the biological mechanisms influencing this process remain unknown, altered DNA methylation is considered to be one potential mechanism. We investigated associations between maternal prenatal psychological distress, infant salivary DNA methylation, and stress physiology at 12 months. Mother's distress was measured via depression and anxiety in early and late pregnancy in a cohort of 80 pregnant adolescents. Maternal hair cortisol was collected during pregnancy. Saliva samples were collected from infants at 12 months to quantify DNA methylation of three stress-related genes (FKBP5, NR3C1, OXTR) (n = 62) and diurnal cortisol (n = 29). Multivariable linear regression was used to test for associations between prenatal psychological distress, and infant DNA methylation and cortisol. Hair cortisol concentrations in late pregnancy were negatively associated with two sites of FKBP5 (site 1: B = -22.33, p = .003; site 2: B = -15.60, p = .012). Infants of mothers with elevated anxiety symptoms in late pregnancy had lower levels of OXTR2 CpG2 methylation (B = -2.17, p = .03) and higher evening salivary cortisol (B = 0.41, p = .03). Furthermore, OXTR2 methylation was inversely associated with evening cortisol (B = -0.14, p-value ≤ .001). Our results are, to our knowledge, the first evidence that the methylation of the oxytocin receptor may contribute to the regulation of HPAA during infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle S. Wiley
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Caroline Camilo
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Gisele Gouveia
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Verônica Euclydes
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Alicia Matijasevich
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Archanjo Ferraro
- Departamento de Pediatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lislaine Aparecida Fracolli
- Departamento de Enfermagem Em Saúde Coletiva da Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anna Maria Chiesa
- Departamento de Enfermagem Em Saúde Coletiva da Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Euripedes Constantino Miguel
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Guilherme V. Polanczyk
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helena Brentani
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Tian X, Wang C, Yu B, Fan Y, Zhang L, Zhang X. 9.4 T static magnetic field ameliorates imatinib mesylate-induced toxicity and depression in mice. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2023; 50:314-327. [PMID: 36166081 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-022-05976-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE 9.4 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been initially tested on healthy human volunteers, but its future application will benefit more from experiments with animal disease models. In the meantime, high static magnetic fields (SMFs) have been shown to improve mice mental health and have anti-tumor potentials. METHODS We compared the anti-tumor effects of 9.4 T SMF with or without a commonly used chemotherapy drug imatinib mesylate on BALB/c (Nu/Nu) mice bearing gastrointestinal stromal tumor GIST-T1 cells. The body weight, food/water consumption, complete blood count, blood biochemistry, tumor weight, HE and Ki67 stains were examined. Locomotor activity and cognitive functions were also measured by four behavior tests, including open field, elevated plus maze, three-chamber and tail suspension tests. RESULTS We found that the tumor growth was inhibited up to 62.88% when treated with 9.4 T SMF alone for 200 h. More importantly, 9.4 T SMF combined with 20 mg/kg imatinib mesylate can result in 92.75% tumor suppression, which is close to the anti-tumor effect of high dose (80 mg/kg) imatinib. However, 80 mg/kg imatinib caused severe side effects, including significantly reduced gain of body weight, abnormal liver function and depressive behaviors in mice. In contrast, 9.4 T SMF treatment significantly reduced these side effects, especially for the depressive behaviors. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that 9.4 T SMF not only has anti-tumor effects on its own, but also could improve the anti-tumor effect of imatinib mesylate, reduce its toxicity and improve the mice mental health, which unraveled the great clinical potentials of high SMF in future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Tian
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Chentai Wang
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Biao Yu
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shushanhu Road #350, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
| | - Yixiang Fan
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shushanhu Road #350, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China
- Science Island Branch of Graduate School, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230021, Anhui, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shushanhu Road #350, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
- High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shushanhu Road #350, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, China.
- Science Island Branch of Graduate School, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230021, Anhui, China.
- International Magnetobiology Frontier Research Center, Science Island, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China.
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Paksoy T, Ustaoğlu G, Şehirli AÖ, Ünsal RBK, Sayıner S, Orhan K, Aycı NB, Çetinel Ş, Aksoy U. Evaluation of the oxytocin effect in a rat model with experimental periodontitis. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 395:1599-1608. [PMID: 36114855 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02293-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of oxytocin on the development of periodontitis based on its properties against bone loss and resorption. Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were divided into four equal groups: control, periodontitis + saline, periodontitis + 0.5 mg/kg/day oxytocin, and periodontitis + 1 mg/kg/day oxytocin. Periodontitis groups received 4.0 silk ligatures around their cervixes of the right and left mandibular incisors in an "8" shape, kept for 14 days. Animals in oxytocin groups were injected once every day during 14 days with oxytocin. The mandibles were fixed and scanned using microcomputed tomography to quantify bone resorption and volumetric measurements. Blood samples were collected to analyze the concentrations of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κΒ ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Histopathological evaluations were conducted to examine the gingiva and alveolar bone. Oxytocin prevented the development of periodontitis by decreasing ligament deteriorations and leukocytes in the gingival connective tissue and promoting reintegration with the alveolar bone. Bone resorption in all regions was less in the periodontitis + 1 mg/kg/day oxytocin group than in the periodontitis + saline group. Although TNF-α, IL-6, and RANKL values were lower in the periodontitis + 1 mg/kg/day oxytocin group, OPG was higher than that in the periodontitis + saline group. M-CSF, MMP-8, and MDA were lower in the oxytocin groups than in the periodontitis + saline group. Oxytocin may be an effective agent for periodontal diseases because it decreased bone resorption, oxidative stress, and inflammation in an experimental periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuğçe Paksoy
- Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, İstanbul Atlas University, İstanbul, Turkey.
| | - Gülbahar Ustaoğlu
- Department of Periodontology, Gülhane Faculty of Dentistry, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Özer Şehirli
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Dentistry, Near East University, Mersin 10, Turkey
| | - Revan Birke Koca Ünsal
- Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Kyrenia, Mersin 10, Turkey
| | - Serkan Sayıner
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Near East University, Mersin 10, Turkey
| | - Kaan Orhan
- Department of DentoMaxillofacial Radiology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nurdan Bülbül Aycı
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Tekirdağ, Turkey
| | - Şule Çetinel
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Marmara University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Umut Aksoy
- Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Near East University, Mersin 10, Turkey
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Tsingotjidou AS. Oxytocin: A Multi-Functional Biomolecule with Potential Actions in Dysfunctional Conditions; From Animal Studies and Beyond. Biomolecules 2022; 12:1603. [PMID: 36358953 PMCID: PMC9687803 DOI: 10.3390/biom12111603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a hormone secreted from definite neuroendocrine neurons located in specific nuclei in the hypothalamus (mainly from paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei), and its main known function is the contraction of uterine and/or mammary gland cells responsible for parturition and breastfeeding. Among the actions of the peripherally secreted oxytocin is the prevention of different degenerative disorders. These actions have been proven in cell culture and in animal models or have been tested in humans based on hypotheses from previous studies. This review presents the knowledge gained from the previous studies, displays the results from oxytocin intervention and/or treatment and proposes that the well described actions of oxytocin might be connected to other numerous, diverse actions of the biomolecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia S Tsingotjidou
- Laboratory of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54 124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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Caniceiro AB, Bueschbell B, Schiedel AC, Moreira IS. Class A and C GPCR Dimers in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:2081-2141. [PMID: 35339177 PMCID: PMC9886835 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220327221830] [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: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases affect over 30 million people worldwide with an ascending trend. Most individuals suffering from these irreversible brain damages belong to the elderly population, with onset between 50 and 60 years. Although the pathophysiology of such diseases is partially known, it remains unclear upon which point a disease turns degenerative. Moreover, current therapeutics can treat some of the symptoms but often have severe side effects and become less effective in long-term treatment. For many neurodegenerative diseases, the involvement of G proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs), which are key players of neuronal transmission and plasticity, has become clearer and holds great promise in elucidating their biological mechanism. With this review, we introduce and summarize class A and class C GPCRs, known to form heterodimers or oligomers to increase their signalling repertoire. Additionally, the examples discussed here were shown to display relevant alterations in brain signalling and had already been associated with the pathophysiology of certain neurodegenerative diseases. Lastly, we classified the heterodimers into two categories of crosstalk, positive or negative, for which there is known evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B. Caniceiro
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; ,These authors contributed equally to this work.
| | - Beatriz Bueschbell
- PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal; ,These authors contributed equally to this work.
| | - Anke C. Schiedel
- Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Institute, University of Bonn, D-53121 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Irina S. Moreira
- University of Coimbra, Department of Life Sciences, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; ,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal,Address correspondence to this author at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; E-mail:
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Light exposure during early life promotes learning in adulthood. SCIENCE CHINA LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 66:887-888. [PMID: 36322323 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2222-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Manjila SB, Betty R, Kim Y. Missing pieces in decoding the brain oxytocin puzzle: Functional insights from mouse brain wiring diagrams. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1044736. [PMID: 36389241 PMCID: PMC9643707 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1044736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypothalamic neuropeptide, oxytocin (Oxt), has been the focus of research for decades due to its effects on body physiology, neural circuits, and various behaviors. Oxt elicits a multitude of actions mainly through its receptor, the Oxt receptor (OxtR). Despite past research to understand the central projections of Oxt neurons and OxtR- coupled signaling pathways in different brain areas, it remains unclear how this nonapeptide exhibits such pleiotropic effects while integrating external and internal information. Most reviews in the field either focus on neuroanatomy of the Oxt-OxtR system, or on the functional effects of Oxt in specific brain areas. Here, we provide a review by integrating brain wide connectivity of Oxt neurons and their downstream circuits with OxtR expression in mice. We categorize Oxt connected brain regions into three functional modules that regulate the internal state, somatic visceral, and cognitive response. Each module contains three neural circuits that process distinct behavioral effects. Broad innervations on functional circuits (e.g., basal ganglia for motor behavior) enable Oxt signaling to exert coordinated modulation in functionally inter-connected circuits. Moreover, Oxt acts as a neuromodulator of neuromodulations to broadly control the overall state of the brain. Lastly, we discuss the mismatch between Oxt projections and OxtR expression across various regions of the mouse brain. In summary, this review brings forth functional circuit-based analysis of Oxt connectivity across the whole brain in light of Oxt release and OxtR expression and provides a perspective guide to future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yongsoo Kim
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, United States
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Hu S, Wang Y, Han X, Dai M, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Weng S, Xiao L. Activation of oxytocin receptors in mouse GABAergic amacrine cells modulates retinal dopaminergic signaling. BMC Biol 2022; 20:205. [PMID: 36127701 PMCID: PMC9490981 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01405-0] [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: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Oxytocin, secreted by oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamus, is an endogenous neuropeptide involved in modulating multiple sensory information processing pathways, and its roles in the brain have been associated with prosocial, maternal, and feeding-related behaviors. Visual information is necessary for initiating these behaviors, with the retina consisting of the first stage in the visual system mediating external stimulus perception. Oxytocin has been detected in the mammalian retina; however, the expression and possible function of oxytocin receptors (OxtR) in the retina remain unknown. Here, we explore the role of oxytocin in regulating visual information processing in the retina. Results We observed that OxtR mRNA and protein are expressed in the mouse retina. With Oxtr-Cre transgenic mice, immunostaining, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we found that OxtRs are mainly expressed in GABAergic amacrine cells (ACs) in both the inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL). Further immunoreactivity studies showed that GABAergic OxtR+ neurons are mainly cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons in the INL and are cholinergic and corticotrophin-releasing hormone neurons in the GCL. Surprisingly, a high level of Oxtr mRNAs was detected in retinal dopaminergic neurons, and exogenous oxytocin application activated dopaminergic neurons to elevate the retinal dopamine level. Relying on in vivo electroretinographic recording, we found that activating retinal OxtRs reduced the activity of bipolar cells via OxtRs and dopamine receptors. Conclusions These data indicate the functional expression of OxtRs in retinal GABAergic ACs, especially dopaminergic ACs, and expand the interactions between oxytocinergic and dopaminergic systems. This study suggests that visual perception, from the first stage of information processing in the retina, is modulated by hypothalamic oxytocin signaling. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01405-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songhui Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yurong Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xu Han
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Min Dai
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yongxing Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shijun Weng
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lei Xiao
- The State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and the Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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The Role of Intraamygdaloid Oxytocin and D2 Dopamine Receptors in Reinforcement in the Valproate-Induced Autism Rat Model. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092309. [PMID: 36140411 PMCID: PMC9496370 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting around 1 out of 68 children and its incidence shows an increasing tendency. There is currently no effective treatment for ASD. In autism research, the valproate (VPA)-induced autism rodent model is widely accepted. Our previous results showed that intraamygdaloid oxytocin (OT) has anxiolytic effects on rats showing autistic signs under the VPA-induced autism model. Methods: rats were stereotaxically implanted with guide cannulae bilaterally and received intraamygdaloid microinjections. In the present study, we investigated the possible role of intraamygdaloid OT and D2 dopamine (DA) receptors on reinforcement using VPA-treated rats in a conditioned place preference test. OT and/or an OT receptor antagonist or a D2 DA antagonist were microinjected into the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Results: valproate-treated rats receiving 10 ng OT spent significantly longer time in the treatment quadrant during the test session of the conditioned place preference test. Prior treatment with an OT receptor antagonist or with a D2 DA receptor antagonist blocked the positive reinforcing effects of OT. The OT receptor antagonist or D2 DA antagonist in themselves did not influence the time rats spent in the treatment quadrant. Conclusions: Our results show that OT has positive reinforcing effects under the VPA-induced autism rodent model and these effects are OT receptor-specific. Our data also suggest that the DAergic system plays a role in the positive reinforcing effects of OT because the D2 DA receptor antagonist can block these actions.
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Nishimura H, Yoshimura M, Shimizu M, Sanada K, Sonoda S, Nishimura K, Baba K, Ikeda N, Motojima Y, Maruyama T, Nonaka Y, Baba R, Onaka T, Horishita T, Morimoto H, Yoshida Y, Kawasaki M, Sakai A, Muratani M, Conway-Campbell B, Lightman S, Ueta Y. Endogenous oxytocin exerts anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in rats. Commun Biol 2022; 5:907. [PMID: 36064593 PMCID: PMC9445084 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03879-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is involved in pain transmission, although the detailed mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we generate a transgenic rat line that expresses human muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (hM3Dq) and mCherry in oxytocin neurons. We report that clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) treatment of our oxytocin-hM3Dq-mCherry rats exclusively activates oxytocin neurons within the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, leading to activation of neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), and differential gene expression in GABA-ergic neurons in the L5 spinal dorsal horn. Hyperalgesia, which is robustly exacerbated in experimental pain models, is significantly attenuated after CNO injection. The analgesic effects of CNO are ablated by co-treatment with oxytocin receptor antagonist. Endogenous oxytocin also exerts anti-inflammatory effects via activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis. Moreover, inhibition of mast cell degranulation is found to be involved in the response. Taken together, our results suggest that oxytocin may exert anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects via both neuronal and humoral pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruki Nishimura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Yoshimura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. .,Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Makiko Shimizu
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Kenya Sanada
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Satomi Sonoda
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Nishimura
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Baba
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Naofumi Ikeda
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yasuhito Motojima
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Takashi Maruyama
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yuki Nonaka
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Ryoko Baba
- Department of Anatomy (II), School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Tatsushi Onaka
- Division of Brain and Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Takafumi Horishita
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Morimoto
- Department of Anatomy (II), School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yoshida
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Makoto Kawasaki
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Akinori Sakai
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Masafumi Muratani
- Genome Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Becky Conway-Campbell
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stafford Lightman
- Translational Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Yoichi Ueta
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
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Mühle C, Mazza M, Weinland C, von Zimmermann C, Bach P, Kiefer F, Grinevich V, Zoicas I, Kornhuber J, Lenz B. Elevated Oxytocin Receptor Blood Concentrations Predict Higher Risk for, More, and Earlier 24-Month Hospital Readmissions after In-Patient Detoxification in Males with Alcohol Use Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179940. [PMID: 36077337 PMCID: PMC9455990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major global mental health challenge. Knowledge concerning mechanisms underlying AUD and predictive biomarkers of AUD progression and relapse are insufficient. Recently, addiction research is focusing attention on the oxytocin system. However, to our knowledge, blood concentrations of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) have not yet been studied in AUD. Here, in sex-separated analyses, OXTR serum concentrations were compared between early-abstinent in-patients with AUD (113 men, 87 women) and age-matched healthy controls (133 men, 107 women). The OXTR concentrations were correlated with sex hormone and oxytocin concentrations and alcohol-related hospital readmissions during a 24-month follow-up. In male patients with AUD, higher OXTR concentrations were found in those with an alcohol-related readmission than in those without (143%; p = 0.004), and they correlated with more prospective readmissions (ρ = 0.249; p = 0.008) and fewer days to the first readmission (ρ = −0.268; p = 0.004). In men and women, OXTR concentrations did not significantly differ between patients with AUD and controls. We found lower OXTR concentrations in smokers versus non-smokers in female patients (61%; p = 0.001) and controls (51%; p = 0.003). In controls, OXTR concentrations correlated with dihydrotestosterone (men, ρ = 0.189; p = 0.030) and testosterone concentrations (women, ρ = 0.281; p = 0.003). This clinical study provides novel insight into the role of serum OXTR levels in AUD. Future studies are encouraged to add to the available knowledge and investigate clinical implications of OXTR blood concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Mühle
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +49-9131-85-44738; Fax: +49-9131-85-36381
| | - Massimiliano Mazza
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J 5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christian Weinland
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Claudia von Zimmermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Patrick Bach
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J 5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Falk Kiefer
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J 5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Valery Grinevich
- Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J 5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Iulia Zoicas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bernd Lenz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, J 5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
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Shyu Y, Liao P, Huang T, Yang C, Lu M, Huang S, Lin X, Liou C, Kao Y, Lu C, Peng H, Chen J, Cherng W, Yang N, Chen Y, Pan H, Jiang S, Hsu C, Lin G, Yuan S, Hsu PW, Wu K, Lee T, Shen CJ. Genetic Disruption of KLF1 K74 SUMOylation in Hematopoietic System Promotes Healthy Longevity in Mice. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2201409. [PMID: 35822667 PMCID: PMC9443461 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202201409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The quest for rejuvenation and prolonged lifespan through transfusion of young blood has been studied for decades with the hope of unlocking the mystery of the key substance(s) that exists in the circulating blood of juvenile organisms. However, a pivotal mediator has yet been identified. Here, atypical findings are presented that are observed in a knockin mouse model carrying a lysine to arginine substitution at residue 74 of Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1/EKLF), the SUMOylation-deficient Klf1K74R/K74R mouse, that displayed significant improvement in geriatric disorders and lifespan extension. Klf1K74R/K74R mice exhibit a marked delay in age-related physical performance decline and disease progression as evidenced by physiological and pathological examinations. Furthermore, the KLF1(K74R) knockin affects a subset of lymphoid lineage cells; the abundance of tumor infiltrating effector CD8+ T cells and NKT cells is increased resulting in antitumor immune enhancement in response to tumor cell administration. Significantly, infusion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from Klf1K74R/K74R mice extends the lifespan of the wild-type mice. The Klf1K74R/K74R mice appear to be an ideal animal model system for further understanding of the molecular/cellular basis of aging and development of new strategies for antiaging and prevention/treatment of age-related diseases thus extending the healthspan as well as lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu‐Chiau Shyu
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
- Department of NursingChang Gung University of Science and TechnologyTaoyuan333Taiwan
| | - Po‐Cheng Liao
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Ting‐Shou Huang
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
- Department of General SurgeryChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
- School of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of MedicineChang Gung UniversityTaoyuan333Taiwan
| | - Chun‐Ju Yang
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Mu‐Jie Lu
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Shih‐Ming Huang
- Department of Radiation OncologyChung‐Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Xin‐Yu Lin
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Cai‐Cin Liou
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Hsiang Kao
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Chi‐Huan Lu
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Hui‐Ling Peng
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Jim‐Ray Chen
- Department of PathologyChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Wen‐Jin Cherng
- Department of CardiologyChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkou branchTaoyuan333Taiwan
| | - Ning‐I Yang
- Department of CardiologyChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Yung‐Chang Chen
- Department of NephrologyChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkou branchTaoyuan333Taiwan
- Department of MedicineSchool of MedicineChang Gung UniversityTaoyuan333Taiwan
| | - Heng‐Chih Pan
- Community Medicine Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Si‐Tse Jiang
- Department of General SurgeryChang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
- Department of Research and DevelopmentNational Laboratory Animal CenterTainan741Taiwan
| | - Chih‐Chin Hsu
- Department of MedicineSchool of MedicineChang Gung UniversityTaoyuan333Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationChang Gung Memorial Hospital Keelung branchKeelung204Taiwan
| | - Gigin Lin
- Department of Medical Imaging and InterventionChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkou branchTaoyuan333Taiwan
- Clinical Metabolomics Core LabChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkou branchTaoyuan333Taiwan
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological SciencesChang Gung UniversityTaoyuan333Taiwan
| | - Shin‐Sheng Yuan
- Institute of Statistical ScienceAcademia SinicaTaipei115Taiwan
| | - Paul Wei‐Che Hsu
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic MedicineNational Health Research InstituteZhunan350Taiwan
| | - Kou‐Juey Wu
- Cancer Genome Research CenterChang Gung Memorial HospitalLinkou branchTaoyuan333Taiwan
| | - Tung‐Liang Lee
- Pro‐Clintech Co. Ltd.Keelung204Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipei115Taiwan
| | - Che‐Kun James Shen
- Institute of Molecular BiologyAcademia SinicaTaipei115Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Medical NeuroscienceTaipei Medical UniversityTaipei110Taiwan
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Opioid-Induced Sexual Dysfunction in Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14164046. [PMID: 36011039 PMCID: PMC9406921 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14164046] [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: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Sexual disorders affect up to 80% of cancer patients, depending on the type of cancer, yet they are commonly overlooked and untreated. Opioid-induced sexual dysfunction (OISD) is reported in half of opioid users. The pathophysiology of OISD—still a subject for research—may include disorders of both the endocrine and nervous systems, expressed in, among other things, erectile dysfunction and declined sexual desire, sexual arousal, orgasm, and general satisfaction with one’s sex life. The etiology of sexual dysfunction in cancer patients is usually multifactorial, so the management should be multifaceted and individualized by targeting pathophysiological factors. The treatment options for OISD are few and include testosterone replacement therapy, bupropion, opioid antagonists, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, plant-derived substances, and non-pharmacological treatments, although the evidence is insufficient. One of the treatment options may also be a choice of an opioid that is less likely to cause sexual dysfunction, yet further research is necessary. Abstract Sexual dysfunction is common in patients with advanced cancer, although it is frequently belittled, and thus consistently underdiagnosed and untreated. Opioid analgesics remain fundamental and are widely used in cancer pain treatment. However, they affect sexual functions primarily due to their action on the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis. Other mechanisms such as the impact on the central and peripheral nervous systems are also possible. The opioid-induced sexual dysfunction includes erectile dysfunction, lack of desire and arousal, orgasmic disorder, and lowered overall sexual satisfaction. Around half of the individuals taking opioids chronically may be affected by sexual dysfunction. The relative risk of sexual dysfunction in patients on chronic opioid therapy and opioid addicts increased two-fold in a large meta-analysis. Opioids differ in their potential to induce sexual dysfunctions. Partial agonists and short-acting opioids may likely cause sexual dysfunction to a lesser extent. Few pharmaceutical therapies proved effective: testosterone replacement therapy, PDE5 inhibitors, bupropion, trazodone, opioid antagonists, and plant-derived medicines such as Rosa damascena and ginseng. Non-pharmacological options, such as psychosexual or physical therapies, should also be considered. However, the evidence is scarce and projected primarily from non-cancer populations, including opioid addicts. Further research is necessary to explore the problem of sexuality in cancer patients and the role of opioids in inducing sexual dysfunction.
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Murat Öztürk D, Sayiner FD, Polat Corumlu E, Ulupinar E. Behavioral and hormonal effects of prenatal and maternal separation stresses in postpartum rats. Women Health 2022; 62:633-643. [DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2022.2100563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Duygu Murat Öztürk
- Midwifery Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Amasya University, Amasya, Turkey
| | - Fatma Deniz Sayiner
- Midwifery Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Elif Polat Corumlu
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Department, Health Science Institute, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Emel Ulupinar
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Department, Health Science Institute, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
- Anatomy Department, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey
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Oxytocin-based therapies for treatment of Prader-Willi and Schaaf-Yang syndromes: evidence, disappointments, and future research strategies. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:318. [PMID: 35941105 PMCID: PMC9360032 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02054-1] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin is being developed as a potential treatment for various neuropsychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Early studies using intranasal oxytocin in patients with ASD yielded encouraging results and for some time, scientists and affected families placed high hopes on the use of intranasal oxytocin for behavioral therapy in ASD. However, a recent Phase III trial obtained negative results using intranasal oxytocin for the treatment of behavioral symptoms in children with ASD. Given the frequently observed autism-like behavioral phenotypes in Prader-Willi and Schaaf-Yang syndromes, it is unclear whether oxytocin treatment represents a viable option to treat behavioral symptoms in these diseases. Here we review the latest findings on intranasal OT treatment, Prader-Willi and Schaaf-Yang syndromes, and propose novel research strategies for tailored oxytocin-based therapies for affected individuals. Finally, we propose the critical period theory, which could explain why oxytocin-based treatment seems to be most efficient in infants, but not adolescents.
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Salivary Biomarker Profiles and Chronic Fatigue among Nurses Working Rotation Shifts: An Exploratory Pilot Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10081416. [PMID: 36011073 PMCID: PMC9407778 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10081416] [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: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although nurses’ fatigue affects their well-being and patient safety, no effective objective measurements exist. We explored the profiles of salivary biomarkers associated with nurses’ chronic fatigue across several shifts. This longitudinal study involved 45 shiftwork nurses and collected their saliva samples before two night and two day shifts for a month. Chronic fatigue was measured using the Cumulative Fatigue Symptom Index before the first night shift. Biomarker profiles were analyzed using hierarchical cluster analysis, and chronic fatigue levels were compared between the profiles. Cortisol profiles were classified into high- and low-level groups across two day shifts; the low-level group presented significantly higher irritability and unwillingness to work. Secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) profiles across the four shifts were classified into high- and low-level groups; the high-level group had significantly higher depressive feelings, decreased vitality, irritability, and unwillingness to work. Cortisol (two day shifts) and s-IgA (four shifts) profiles were combined, and (i) cortisol low-level and s-IgA high-level and (ii) cortisol high-level and s-IgA low-level groups were identified. The former group had significantly higher chronic fatigue sign and irritability than the latter group. The profiles of salivary cortisol and s-IgA across several shifts were associated with nurses’ chronic fatigue.
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Anapindi KDB, Romanova EV, Checco JW, Sweedler JV. Mass Spectrometry Approaches Empowering Neuropeptide Discovery and Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rev 2022; 74:662-679. [PMID: 35710134 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.121.000423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of insulin in the early 1900s ushered in the era of research related to peptides acting as hormones and neuromodulators, among other regulatory roles. These essential gene products are found in all organisms, from the most primitive to the most evolved, and carry important biologic information that coordinates complex physiology and behavior; their misregulation has been implicated in a variety of diseases. The evolutionary origins of at least 30 neuropeptide signaling systems have been traced to the common ancestor of protostomes and deuterostomes. With the use of relevant animal models and modern technologies, we can gain mechanistic insight into orthologous and paralogous endogenous peptides and translate that knowledge into medically relevant insights and new treatments. Groundbreaking advances in medicine and basic science influence how signaling peptides are defined today. The precise mechanistic pathways for over 100 endogenous peptides in mammals are now known and have laid the foundation for multiple drug development pipelines. Peptide biologics have become valuable drugs due to their unique specificity and biologic activity, lack of toxic metabolites, and minimal undesirable interactions. This review outlines modern technologies that enable neuropeptide discovery and characterization, and highlights lessons from nature made possible by neuropeptide research in relevant animal models that is being adopted by the pharmaceutical industry. We conclude with a brief overview of approaches/strategies for effective development of peptides as drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neuropeptides, an important class of cell-cell signaling molecules, are involved in maintaining a range of physiological functions. Since the discovery of insulin's activity, over 100 bioactive peptides and peptide analogs have been used as therapeutics. Because these are complex molecules not easily predicted from a genome and their activity can change with subtle chemical modifications, mass spectrometry (MS) has significantly empowered peptide discovery and characterization. This review highlights contributions of MS-based research towards the development of therapeutic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna D B Anapindi
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - Elena V Romanova
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - James W Checco
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
| | - Jonathan V Sweedler
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois (K.D.B.A., E.V.R., J.V.S.) and Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (J.W.C.)
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Progress in Personalized Psychiatric Therapy with the Example of Using Intranasal Oxytocin in PTSD Treatment. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12071067. [PMID: 35887564 PMCID: PMC9317706 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12071067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental disorder that results in the frequent coexistence of other diseases, lowers patients’ quality of life, and has a high annual cost of treatment. However, despite the variety of therapeutic approaches that exist, some patients still do not achieve the desired results. In addition, we may soon face an increase in the number of new PTSD cases because of the current global situation—both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing armed conflicts. Hence, in recent years, many publications have sought a new, more personalized treatment approach. One such approach is the administration of intranasal oxytocin (INOXT), which, due to its pleiotropic effects, seems to be a promising therapeutic option. However, the current findings suggest that it might only be helpful for a limited, strictly selected group of patients.
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Medina C, Krawczyk MC, Millan J, Blake MG, Boccia MM. Oxytocin-Cholinergic Central Interaction: Implications for Non-Social Memory Formation. Neuroscience 2022; 497:73-85. [PMID: 35752429 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.028] [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: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are two closely related neuropeptides implicated in learning and memory processes, anxiety, nociception, addiction, feeding behavior and social information processing. Regarding learning and memory, OT has induced long-lasting impairment in different behaviors, while the opposite was observed with AVP. We have previously evaluated the effect of peripheral administration of OT or its antagonist (AOT) on the inhibitory avoidance response of mice and on the modulation of cholinergic mechanisms. Here, we replicate and validate those results, but this time through central administration of neuropeptides, considering their poor passage through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). When we delivered OT (0.10 ng/mouse) and its antagonist (0.10 ng/mouse) through intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections, the neuropeptide impaired and AOT enhanced the behavioral performance on an inhibitory avoidance response evaluated 48 h after training in a dose-dependent manner. On top of that, we investigated a possible central interaction between OT and the cholinergic system. Administration of anticholinesterases inhibitors with access to the central nervous system (CNS), the activation of muscarinic acetylcholine (Ach) receptors and the increase of evoked ACh release using linopirdine (Lino) (3-10 µg/kg, IP), reversed the impairment of retention performance induced by OT. Besides, either muscarinic or nicotinic antagonists with unrestricted access to the CNS reduced the magnitude of the performance-facilitating effect of AOT's central infusion. We suggest that OT might induce a cholinergic hypofunction state, resulting in an impairment of IA memory formation, a process for which the cholinergic system is crucially necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Medina
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M C Krawczyk
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Millan
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M G Blake
- Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica (IFIBIO UBA-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M M Boccia
- Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología de los Procesos de Memoria, Cátedra de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Whole-Brain Wiring Diagram of Oxytocin System in Adult Mice. J Neurosci 2022; 42:5021-5033. [PMID: 35606144 PMCID: PMC9233446 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0307-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin (Oxt) neurons regulate diverse physiological responses via direct connections with different neural circuits. However, the lack of comprehensive input-output wiring diagrams of Oxt neurons and their quantitative relationship with Oxt receptor (Oxtr) expression presents challenges to understanding circuit-specific Oxt functions. Here, we establish a whole-brain distribution and anatomic connectivity map of Oxt neurons, and their relationship with Oxtr expression using high-resolution 3D mapping methods in adult male and female mice. We use a flatmap to describe Oxt neuronal expression in four hypothalamic domains including under-characterized Oxt neurons in the tuberal nucleus (TU). Oxt neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) broadly project to nine functional circuits that control cognition, brain state, and somatic visceral response. In contrast, Oxt neurons in the supraoptic (SO) and accessory (AN) nuclei have limited central projection to a small subset of the nine circuits. Surprisingly, quantitative comparison between Oxt output and Oxtr expression showed no significant correlation across the whole brain, suggesting abundant indirect Oxt signaling in Oxtr-expressing areas. Unlike output, Oxt neurons in both the PVH and SO receive similar monosynaptic inputs from a subset of the nine circuits mainly in the thalamic, hypothalamic, and cerebral nuclei areas. Our results suggest that PVH-Oxt neurons serve as a central modulator to integrate external and internal information via largely reciprocal connection with the nine circuits while the SO-Oxt neurons act mainly as unidirectional Oxt hormonal output. In summary, our Oxt wiring diagram provides anatomic insights about distinct behavioral functions of Oxt signaling in the brain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Oxytocin (Oxt) neurons regulate diverse physiological functions from prosocial behavior to pain sensation via central projection in the brain. Thus, understanding detailed anatomic connectivity of Oxt neurons can provide insight on circuit-specific roles of Oxt signaling in regulating different physiological functions. Here, we use high-resolution mapping methods to describe the 3D distribution, monosynaptic input and long-range output of Oxt neurons, and their relationship with Oxt receptor (Oxtr) expression across the entire mouse brain. We found Oxt connections with nine functional circuits controlling cognition, brain state, and somatic visceral response. Furthermore, we identified a quantitatively unmatched Oxt-Oxtr relationship, suggesting broad indirect Oxt signaling. Together, our comprehensive Oxt wiring diagram advances our understanding of circuit-specific roles of Oxt neurons.
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Diep PT, Chaudry M, Dixon A, Chaudry F, Kasabri V. Oxytocin, the panacea for long-COVID? a review. Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2022; 43:363-371. [DOI: 10.1515/hmbci-2021-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
In this hypothesis paper we explore the underlying mechanisms for long-COVID and how the oxytocinergic neurones could be infected by SARS-CoV-2 leading to a reduction in plasma oxytocin (OXT). Furthermore, we aim to review the relevance of OXT and hypothalamic function in recovery from long-COVID symptoms and pathology, through exploring the pro-health effects of the OXT neuropeptide.
Methods
A review of published literature was surveyed using Google Scholar and PubMed.
Results
Numerous experimental data can be shown to correlate with OXT and long-COVID symptoms and conditions, thus providing strong circumstantial evidence to support our hypothesis. It is postulated that the reduction in plasma OXT due to acute and post-viral damage to the hypothalamus and oxytocinergic neurones contributes to the variable multi-system, remitting and relapsing nature of long-COVID. The intranasal route of OXT application was determined to be most appropriate and clinically relevant for the restoration of oxytocinergic function post COVID-19 infection.
Conclusions
We believe it is imperative to further investigate whether OXT alleviates the prolonged suffering of patients with long-COVID. Succinctly, OXT may be the much-needed post-pandemic panacea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuoc-Tan Diep
- Department of Pathology , NHS Foundation Trust - University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay , Kendal , UK
| | - Mohammed Chaudry
- Department of Pathology , NHS Foundation Trust - University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay , Kendal , UK
| | - Adam Dixon
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London , London , UK
| | | | - Violet Kasabri
- School of Pharmacy , University of Jordan , Amman , Jordan
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Zhang YX, Xing B, Li YC, Yan CX, Gao WJ. NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in prefrontal neurons underlies social memory retrieval in female mice. Neuropharmacology 2022; 204:108895. [PMID: 34813859 PMCID: PMC8688302 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108895] [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: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Social memory is the ability to discriminate familiar conspecific from the unknown ones. Prefrontal neurons are essentially required for social memory, but the mechanism associated with this regulation remains unknown. It is also unclear to what extent the neuronal representations of social memory formation and retrieval events overlap in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and which event drives social memory strength. Here we asked these questions by using a repeated social training paradigm for social recognition in FosTRAP mice. We found that after 4 days' repeated social training, female mice developed stable social memory. Specifically, repeated social training activated more cells that were labeled with tdTomato during memory retrieval compared with the first day of memory encoding. Besides, combining TRAP with c-Fos immunostaining, we found about 30% of the FosTRAPed cells were reactivated during retrieval. Moreover, the number of retrieval-induced but not first-day encoding-induced tdTomato neurons correlates with the social recognition ratio in the prelimbic but not other subregions. The activated cells during the retrieval session also showed increased NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission compared with that in non-labeled pyramidal neurons. Blocking NMDA receptors by MK-801 impaired social memory but not sociability. Therefore, our results reveal that repetitive training elevates mPFC involvement in social memory retrieval via enhancing NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, thus rendering stable social memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Xiang Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA,College of Forensic Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Bo Xing
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Yan-Chun Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Chun-Xia Yan
- College of Forensic Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
| | - Wen-Jun Gao
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA.
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László K, Kiss O, Vörös D, Mintál K, Ollmann T, Péczely L, Kovács A, Zagoracz O, Kertes E, Kállai V, László B, Hormay E, Berta B, Tóth A, Karádi Z, Lénárd L. Intraamygdaloid Oxytocin Reduces Anxiety in the Valproate-Induced Autism Rat Model. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020405. [PMID: 35203614 PMCID: PMC8962302 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder affecting about 1.5% of children, and its prevalence is increasing. Anxiety is one of the most common comorbid signs of ASD. Despite the increasing prevalence, the pathophysiology of ASD is still poorly understood, and its proper treatment has not been defined yet. In order to develop new therapeutic approaches, the valproate- (VPA) induced rodent model of autism can be an appropriate tool. Oxytocin (OT), as a prosocial hormone, may ameliorate some symptoms of ASD. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the possible anxiolytic effect of intraamygdaloid OT on VPA-treated rats using the elevated plus maze test. Results: Our results show that male Wistar rats prenatally exposed to VPA spent significantly less time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze apparatus and performed significantly less head dips from the open arms. Bilateral OT microinjection into the central nucleus of the amygdala increased the time spent in the open arms and the number of head dips and reduced the anxiety to the healthy control level. An OT receptor antagonist blocked the anxiolytic effects of OT. The antagonist by itself did not influence the time rats spent in the open arms. Conclusions: Our results show that intraamygdaloid OT has anxiolytic effects in autistic rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristóf László
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-72-53624; Fax: +36-72-536244
| | - Orsolya Kiss
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Dávid Vörös
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Kitti Mintál
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Tamás Ollmann
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Péczely
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Anita Kovács
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Olga Zagoracz
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Erika Kertes
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Veronika Kállai
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Bettina László
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Edina Hormay
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Beáta Berta
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Attila Tóth
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Karádi
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Center, Molecular Endocrinology and Neurophysiology Research Group, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
| | - László Lénárd
- Medical School, Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary; (O.K.); (D.V.); (K.M.); (T.O.); (L.P.); (A.K.); (O.Z.); (E.K.); (V.K.); (B.L.); (E.H.); (B.B.); (A.T.); (Z.K.); (L.L.)
- Neuroscience Center, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
- Szentágothai Center, Molecular Endocrinology and Neurophysiology Research Group, University of Pécs, 7624 Pécs, Hungary
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Crawley EM, Pye S, Forbes BE, Raston CL. Vortex Fluidic Mediated Oxidative Sulfitolysis of Oxytocin. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27031109. [PMID: 35164375 PMCID: PMC8840205 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27031109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In peptide production, oxidative sulfitolysis can be used to protect the cysteine residues during purification, and the introduction of a negative charge aids solubility. Subsequent controlled reduction aids in ensuring correct disulfide bridging. In vivo, these problems are overcome through interaction with chaperones. Here, a versatile peptide production process has been developed using an angled vortex fluidic device (VFD), which expands the viable pH range of oxidative sulfitolysis from pH 10.5 under batch conditions, to full conversion within 20 min at pH 9–10.5 utilising the VFD. VFD processing gave 10-fold greater conversion than using traditional batch processing, which has potential in many applications of the sulfitolysis reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M. Crawley
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia; (E.M.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Scott Pye
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia; (E.M.C.); (S.P.)
| | - Briony E. Forbes
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia;
| | - Colin L. Raston
- Flinders Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia; (E.M.C.); (S.P.)
- Correspondence:
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Ren HC, Ji LX, Chen TN, Liu YG, Liu RP, Wei DQ, Jia XZ, Ji GF. Revealing the Relationship between Electric Fields and the Conformation of Oxytocin Using Quasi-Static Amide-I Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectra. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:3758-3767. [PMID: 35128284 PMCID: PMC8811763 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c06600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
It is reported that the cis/trans conformation change of the peptide hormone oxytocin plays an important role in its receptors and activation and the cis conformation does not lead to antagonistic activity. Motivated by recent experiments and theories, the quasi-static amide-I 2D IR spectra of oxytocin are investigated using DFT/B3LYP (D3)/6-31G (d, p) in combination with the isotope labeling method under different electric fields. The theoretical amide-I IR spectra and bond length of the disulfide bond are consistent with the experimental values, which indicates that the theoretical modes are reasonable. Our theoretical results demonstrate that the oxytocin conformation is transformed from the cis conformation to the trans conformation with the change of the direction of the electric field, which is confirmed by the distance of the backbone carbonyl oxygen of Cys6 and Pro7, the Ramachandran plot of Cys6 and Pro7, the dihedral angle of Cβ-S-S-Cβ, and the rmsd of the oxytocin backbone. Moreover, the trans conformation as the result of the turn in the vicinity of Pro7 has a tighter secondary spatial structure than the cis conformation, including stronger hydrogen bonds, longer γ-turn geometry involving five amino acids, and a more stable disulfide bond. Our work provides new insights into the relationship between the conformation, the activation of the peptide hormone oxytocin, and the electric fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Chao Ren
- Xi’an
Modern Chemistry Research Institute, Xi’an 710065, China
| | - Lin-Xiang Ji
- Department
of Physics and Engineering Physics, University
of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N5E2, Canada
| | - Tu-Nan Chen
- The
First Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical
University, Chongqing 400038, China
| | - Yong-Gang Liu
- State
Key Laboratory of Environment-Friendly Energy Materials, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621900, China
| | - Rui-Peng Liu
- Xi’an
Modern Chemistry Research Institute, Xi’an 710065, China
| | - Dong-Qing Wei
- College
of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai
Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
- College of
Food Science and Engineering, Henan University
of Technology, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Xian-Zhen Jia
- Xi’an
Modern Chemistry Research Institute, Xi’an 710065, China
| | - Guang-Fu Ji
- National
Key Laboratory for Shock Wave and Detonation Physics Research, Institute
of Fluid Physics, Chinese Academy of Engineering
Physics, Mianyang 621900, China
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50
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Oxytocin, a Novel Treatment for Methamphetamine Use Disorder. Neurol Int 2022; 14:186-198. [PMID: 35225885 PMCID: PMC8883935 DOI: 10.3390/neurolint14010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment of substance abuse with oxytocin is a novel approach to a challenging public health issue that continues to contribute to a growing economic cost for societies worldwide. Methamphetamine addiction is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and despite advances in understanding the neurobiology of methamphetamine addiction, treatment options are limited. There are no medications that the Food and Drug Administration currently approves for stimulant use disorder. Off-label use of therapies for stimulant misuse include antidepressants, anxiolytics, and milder stimulants as replacement agents. Due to the shortcomings of these attempts to treat a complicated psychiatric disorder, recent attention to oxytocin therapy (OT) has gained momentum in clinical studies as a possible therapy in the context of social stress, social anxiety, social cognition, and psychosis. Oxytocin produces enhanced connectivity between cortical regions. The results from studies in rodents with OT suggest that central neuromodulation of oxytocin may be beneficial across transition states of stimulant dependence and may alleviate intense withdrawal symptoms. Studies of oxytocin in the context of other drugs of abuse, including cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol, also support the potential of oxytocin to treat stimulant use disorder, methamphetamine type. Methamphetamine abuse continues to be a significant cause of distress and dysfunction throughout the world. The effects of oxytocin on methamphetamine use outlined in this review should act as a catalyst for further investigation into the efficacy of treating stimulant use disorder, methamphetamine type with oxytocin in humans. More human-based research should initiate studies involving the long-term efficacy, side effects, and patient selection.
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