Article
Psychology, Developmental
Craig A. Erickson, Charles R. Tessier, Christina Gross, Ernest Pedapati, Logan K. Wink, Kelli C. Dominick, Rebecca C. Shaffer, Hilary Rosselot, Michael P. Hong, Andrew P. Bantel, Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, Paul S. Horn, Ryan Adams, John A. Sweeney
Summary: This study investigated the activity of ERK1/2 in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The results showed that lymphocytic ERK1/2 activation was faster in individuals with ASD, and this was correlated with greater social impairment. The differences in ERK1/2 activation were more pronounced in younger individuals.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Voros, Orsolya Kiss, Tamas Ollmann, Kitti Mintal, Laszlo Peczely, Olga Zagoracz, Erika Kertes, Veronika Kallai, Bettina Reka Laszlo, Beata Berta, Attila Toth, Laszlo Lenard, Kristof Laszlo
Summary: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a significant portion of children worldwide. Impaired social interaction is a core symptom of ASD and finding effective treatments is crucial. This study investigated the impact of oxytocin (OT) on social interaction in a rat model of ASD induced by valproate (VPA). The results demonstrated that intraamygdaloid OT increased social interaction time in VPA-treated rats, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic intervention for ASD.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristof Laszlo, David Voros, Orsolya Kiss, Bettina Reka Laszlo, Tamas Ollmann, Laszlo Peczely, Kitti Mintal, Attila Toth, Anita Kovacs, Olga Zagoracz, Erika Kertes, Veronika Kallai, Beata Berta, Zoltan Karadi, Laszlo Lenard
Summary: This study found that oxytocin injected into the central nucleus of the amygdala has positive reinforcing effects in a rat model of autism induced by valproate. The effects are specific to oxytocin receptors and are blocked by a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. The findings suggest a potential role for oxytocin and the dopaminergic system in the treatment of autism.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel S. Quintana, Alexander Lischke, Sally Grace, Dirk Scheele, Yina Ma, Benjamin Becker
Summary: Recent advances in human and animal research provide converging evidence for functionally relevant effects of intranasal oxytocin administration, supporting the idea that direct nose-to-brain delivery underlies the behavioral effects of oxytocin on social cognition and behavior. Furthermore, discussions on previously debated methodological issues, such as pre-registration, reproducibility, statistical power, interpretation of non-significant results, dosage, and sex differences, are integrated with suggestions for the next steps in translating intranasal oxytocin into psychiatric applications.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristof Laszlo, Orsolya Kiss, David Voros, Kitti Mintal, Tamas Ollmann, Laszlo Peczely, Anita Kovacs, Olga Zagoracz, Erika Kertes, Veronika Kallai, Bettina Laszlo, Edina Hormay, Beata Berta, Attila Toth, Zoltan Karadi, Laszlo Lenard
Summary: In this study, the potential anxiolytic effect of oxytocin (OT) in the amygdala was investigated using the elevated plus maze test in a rodent model of autism induced by valproate (VPA). The results showed that bilateral OT microinjection into the central nucleus of the amygdala reduced anxiety levels in autistic rats.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Candice L. Malone, Nathaniel S. Rieger, Jeremy A. Spool, Alexis Payette, Lauren V. Riters, Catherine A. Marler
Summary: Monogamous California mice exhibit behavioral convergence across two conspecific intruder challenges, which is associated with mRNA expression of oxytocin, androgen, and estrogen alpha receptors in the medial amygdala and anterior olfactory nucleus. This suggests the involvement of multiple mechanisms in behavioral convergence.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Tanya L. Procyshyn, Michael Lombardo, Meng-Chuan Lai, Nazia Jassim, Bonnie Auyeung, Sarah K. Crockford, Julia B. Deakin, Sentil Soubramanian, Akeem Sule, David Terburg, Simon Baron-Cohen, Richard A. Bethlehem
Summary: This study found that oxytocin affects the basolateral amygdala in autistic women, increasing activation in the left basolateral amygdala and enhancing functional connectivity with brain regions associated with socio-emotional information processing, reducing group differences observed in the placebo condition.
SOCIAL COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Saijun Huang, Jiaying Zeng, Ruoyu Sun, Hong Yu, Haimou Zhang, Xi Su, Paul Yao
Summary: Prenatal exposure to progestin causes oxytocin suppression, leading to social deficits in mouse offspring.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Chihiro Yoshihara, Kenichi Tokita, Teppo Maruyama, Misato Kaneko, Yousuke Tsuneoka, Kansai Fukumitsu, Eri Miyazawa, Kazutaka Shinozuka, Arthur J. Huang, Katsuhiko Nishimori, Thomas J. McHugh, Minoru Tanaka, Shigeyoshi Itohara, Kazushige Touhara, Kazunari Miyamichi, Kumi O. Kuroda
Summary: Maternal mammals exhibit heightened motivation to care for offspring, and this behavior is at least partially mediated by upregulation of amylin-Calcr signaling in distinct neuronal populations of the medial preoptic area. These Calcr+ MPOA neurons are required for both maternal and allomaternal nurturing behaviors, with modified connectomics postpartum potentially influencing risk-taking maternal care.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Xue-Jun Kong, Jun Liu, Kevin Liu, Madelyn Koh, Hannah Sherman, Siyu Liu, Ruiyi Tian, Piyawat Sukijthamapan, Jiuju Wang, Michelle Fong, Lei Xu, Cullen Clairmont, Min-Seo Jeong, Alice Li, Maria Lopes, Veronica Hagan, Tess Dutton, Suk-Tak (Phoebe) Chan, Hang Lee, Amy Kendall, Kenneth Kwong, Yiqing Song
Summary: The combination therapy of probiotics PS128 and oxytocin has shown significant therapeutic effects on individuals with ASD, including improvements in social behavior and overall clinical outcomes. Additionally, positive changes in gut microbiome were observed after combination therapy, which may be closely related to the improvement in social cognition in patients.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Galina V. V. Portnova, Elena V. V. Proskurnina, Ivan V. V. Skorokhodov, Svetlana V. V. Sokolova, Alexey N. N. Semirechenko, Anton A. A. Varlamov
Summary: Individuals with ASD often have issues with tactile sensory processing, characterized by hypersensitivity and negative emotions induced by tactile contact. Our study investigated the effects of impersonal tactile stimulation on adults with ASD, finding that oxytocin levels were lower in individuals with ASD but increased after tactile stimulation. Contrary to expectations, the increase in oxytocin levels negatively correlated with subjective pleasantness, potentially indicating a stress-induced effect. Antioxidant levels did not differ between ASD and control groups initially, but significantly increased in the ASD group by the end of the study. EEG findings suggested that elevated antioxidant levels helped alleviate cognitive control.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kansai Fukumitsu, Misato Kaneko, Teppo Maruyama, Chihiro Yoshihara, Arthur J. Huang, Thomas J. McHugh, Shigeyoshi Itohara, Minoru Tanaka, Kumi O. Kuroda
Summary: Social animals experience stress upon isolation and actively engage in contact with conspecifics. This study demonstrates that amylin-calcitonin receptor signaling in the medial preoptic area mediates affiliative social contacts among adult female mice. Isolation leads to active contact-seeking behavior and depressive-like behavior, along with a decrease in Amylin mRNA expression. Reuniting with peers induces physical contacts and a recovery of Amylin mRNA expression.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Joshua K. Lee, Derek S. Andrews, Arzu Ozturk, Marjorie Solomon, Sally Rogers, David G. Amaral, Christine Wu Nordahl
Summary: This study investigated the volumetric development of brain regions connected with the amygdala in children with autism. The results showed that there were persistent and increasing differences in the development of these brain regions in children with autism compared to typically developing children. These differences were associated with social impairments and varied between males and females.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Bo Zhou, Xiaoli Zheng, Yunhua Chen, Xuehui Yan, Jinggang Peng, Yibu Liu, Yi Zhang, Lei Tang, Min Wen
Summary: AVP can significantly improve the social interaction disorder of VPA-induced autism model by modulating the vasopressin pathways. Transcriptome sequencing results showed significant impairments in the nervous system developmental processes in the VPA-induced autism model group compared to the normal group. Pathway enrichment analysis showed dysregulation in the PI3K/AKT and Wnt pathways in the VPA-induced autism model group. AVP treatment improved deficits in oligodendrocyte development and function and enriched pathways related to NOTCH, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and focal adhesion signaling pathways.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Matthijs Moerkerke, Mathieu Peeters, Lyssa de Vries, Nicky Daniels, Jean Steyaert, Kaat Alaerts, Bart Boets
Summary: The meta-analysis showed that children with ASD have lower levels of endogenous OT compared to neurotypical controls, but this difference seems to disappear in adolescent and adult populations. Differences in OT levels between individuals with and without ASD were mainly present in studies with male participants, highlighting the need for more research using homogeneous methods.