Article
Psychiatry
Katharina S. Goerlich, Mikhail Votinov
Summary: Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties in emotion recognition and regulation, and is associated with deficits in social cognition. It is considered a risk factor for various psychiatric and medical conditions. Hormones, including oxytocin, vasopressin, testosterone, estradiol, cortisol, and thyroid hormones, have been found to affect social-emotional cognition and behavior. However, research on the effects of hormones on alexithymia and related impairments is limited. This article provides an overview of the evidence linking alexithymia to abnormalities in hormone levels, particularly cortisol, oxytocin, and thyroid hormones, and calls for further research on the influence of sex hormones.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Risani Mukhopadhyay, Navya B. Prabhu, Shama Prasada Kabekkodu, Padmalatha S. Rai
Summary: This review analyzes the effects of BPA on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and finds that BPA can disrupt the expression of important genes involved in pathways and endocrine regulation, leading to the clinical manifestations of PCOS.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Iwona Szadkowska, Agnieszka Guligowska, Anna Jegier, Marek Pawlikowski, Hanna Pisarek, Katarzyna Winczyk, Tomasz Kostka
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between sex hormones levels and cardiac structure and function in older women. The results suggest that higher serum testosterone levels may contribute to pathological cardiac remodeling, especially in hypertensive women.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ewa Szczepanska-Sadowska, Agnieszka Wsol, Agnieszka Cudnoch-Jedrzejewska, Tymoteusz Zera
Summary: Oxytocin and vasopressin play important roles in the brain and peripheral organs, and their secretion is influenced by various factors. Inappropriate regulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
G. Wirobski, F. S. Schaebs, F. Range, S. Marshall-Pescini, T. Deschner
Summary: The study validated a commercial Enzyme Immunoassay for measuring oxytocin metabolite concentrations in dog, wolf, and human urine samples, with improved performance compared to a previously validated assay.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Ricardo Mondragon-Ceballos, Genesis Chantal Hernandez-Vazquez, Susana Rojas-Maya, Monica Dafne Garcia-Granados, Jaqueline Lugo-Ferrer, Leonor Estela Hernandez-Lopez
Summary: In stump-tailed macaques, male-female friendships promote higher post-copulatory oxytocin concentrations and better physiological conditions for males. As closeness between males and females increases, sperm concentration, immotile and motile sperm decrease gradually.
Article
Neurosciences
Paul J. Marvar, Raul Andero, Rene Hurlemann, Tiffany R. Lago, Moriel Zelikowsky, Joanna Dabrowska
Summary: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with dysregulation of limbic neuropeptides, with studies showing that blocking certain pathways can weaken fear memory consolidation, enhance fear extinction, and improve threat discrimination. Novel approaches targeting these pathways offer promising potential for treating core elements of PTSD pathophysiology.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Radoslava Vlckova, Drahomira Sopkova, Zuzana Andrejcakova, Martina Lecova, Dusan Fabian, Zuzana Sefcikova, Alireza Seidavi, Alexander Sirotkin
Summary: The study showed that flaxseed and gonadotropins could mitigate the adverse effects of xylene on mouse ovaries and protect the reproductive system through changes in hormone release and reception.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Magdalena Meyer, Benjamin Jurek, Mercedes Alfonso-Prieto, Rui Ribeiro, Vladimir M. Milenkovic, Julia Winter, Petra Hoffmann, Christian H. Wetzel, Alejandro Giorgetti, Paolo Carloni, Inga D. Neumann
Summary: This study reveals the cellular mechanism linking the oxytocin receptor gene mutation (OXTR rs4686302 SNP) with genetic dysregulations associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The mutation leads to increased OXTR protein stability, changes in Ca2+ dynamics, and reduced activation of the MAPK pathway. Whole-genome and RNA sequencing analysis showed numerous differentially regulated genes in the mutant cells, including 429 genes associated with ASD. Computational modeling suggested that the OXTR mutation affects downstream events by altering receptor activation and signaling, consistent with the in vitro results.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zoltan Dekan, Thomas Kremsmayr, Peter Keov, Mathilde Godin, Ngari Teakle, Leopold Durrauer, Huang Xiang, Dalia Gharib, Christian Bergmayr, Roland Hellinger, Marina Gay, Marta Vilaseca, Dennis Kurzbach, Fernando Albericio, Paul F. Alewood, Christian W. Gruber, Markus Muttenthaler
Summary: The study investigated dimerization as a strategy for developing ligands with novel pharmacology and found that all disulfide-linked dimers retained nanomolar potency except for head-to-tail cyclized constructs. Dimer orientation had little impact on activity, but in some cases, an antagonist to agonist switch was observed.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Teresa Zarinan, Julio Mayorga, Eduardo Jardon-Valadez, Ruben Gutierrez-Sagal, Jose Luis Maravillas-Montero, Nancy R. Mejia-Dominguez, Ivan Martinez-Luis, Omar G. Yacini-Torres, Ma del-Carmen Cravioto, Eric Reiter, Alfredo Ulloa-Aguirre
Summary: A novel missense mutation (I423T) in the FSHR second transmembrane domain was identified in a woman with primary ovarian failure, leading to impaired receptor expression and signaling. Meanwhile, the D408Y mutation severely affected membrane expression and signal transduction. Molecular dynamics simulations showed important disruptions in both mutant FSHRs, explaining the differences in expression levels, signaling, and phenotypic expression between I423T and D408Y mutant FSHRs.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miguel A. Ortega, Cielo Garcia-Montero, Oscar Fraile-Martinez, Diego De Leon-Oliva, Diego Liviu Boaru, Coral Bravo, Juan A. De Leon-Luis, Miguel A. Saez, Angel Asunsolo, Ignacio Romero-Gerechter, Alejandro Sanz-Giancola, Raul Diaz-Pedrero, Laura Lopez-Gonzalez, Luis G. Guijarro, Silvestra Barrena-Blazquez, Julia Bujan, Natalio Garcia-Honduvilla, Melchor Alvarez-Mon, Miguel Angel Alvarez-Mon, Guillermo Lahera
Summary: Psychosis is a mental health condition characterized by a loss of touch with reality. A first-episode psychosis during pregnancy can have adverse effects on both the mother and newborn. This study aimed to analyze the gene and protein expression of oxytocin (OXT), oxytocin receptor (OXTR), vasopressin (AVP), and vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1a) in the placental tissue of pregnant women after a first-episode psychosis. The results showed increased gene and protein expression of OXT, AVP, OXTR, and AVPR1A in the placental tissue of these women. This suggests that an abnormal paracrine/endocrine activity of the placenta may be associated with a first-episode psychosis during pregnancy, negatively impacting the well-being of both the mother and fetus.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Chiranjivi Neupane, Ramesh Sharma, Yoon Hyung Pai, So Yeong Lee, Byeong Hwa Jeon, Hyun-Woo Kim, Javier E. Stern, Jin Bong Park
Summary: Chronic salt loading recruits NR2D subunit-containing NMDARs to generate an Mg2+-resistant tonic I-NMDA in nondepolarized VP neurons, affecting the E/I balance, with NR2D activation being a key factor in this mechanism.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
C. Sue Carter
Summary: Oxytocin plays a crucial role in selective sociality and the consequences of early experience. It is critical for emotional safety, healthy sexuality, and overall physical and mental health. Oxytocin coordination social bonds and physiological reactions, and research on species like prairie voles has provided valuable insights into its behavioral importance.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olga Wronikowska-Denysiuk, Weronika Mrozek, Barbara Budzynska
Summary: Drug abuse is a global problem that has negative consequences on physical, mental, and economic aspects. The oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) systems have shown potential as therapeutic targets for drug abuse treatment. Both OT and AVP can reduce drug consumption and ameliorate their rewarding effects. Additionally, these neuropeptides are involved in social and reward behaviors. Therefore, understanding the relationship between OT and AVP and the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse may contribute to more successful drug development.