Autism and oxytocin: new developments in translational approaches to therapeutics.

Neurotherapeutics : the Journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics
Joshua J Green, Eric Hollander

Abstract

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by dysfunction in three core symptom domains: speech and communication deficits, repetitive or compulsive behaviors with restricted interests, and social impairment. The neuropeptide oxytocin, along with the structurally similar peptide arginine vasopressin, may play a role in the etiology of autism, and especially in the social impairment domain. Oxytocin is a nonapeptide (i.e., it has nine amino acids). It is synthesized in magnocellular neurons in the paraventricular nucleus and the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus and is released into the bloodstream by way of axon terminals in the posterior pituitary. Oxytocin is released both peripherally, where it is involved in milk letdown and the facilitation of uterine contractions, and centrally, where it acts as a neuromodulator along with arginine vasopressin. Here, we discuss relevant translational research pertaining to the role of oxytocin in social and repetitive behaviors and consider clinical implications. We also discuss current research limitations, review recent preliminary findings from studies involving oxytocin in autism spectrum disorder patient populations, and point to possible directions for future research.

References

Dec 1, 1979·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·C A Pedersen, A J Prange
Jul 1, 1992·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T R Insel, L E Shapiro
Oct 2, 1991·European Journal of Pharmacology·T R Insel, J T Winslow
Oct 2, 1990·European Journal of Pharmacology·T B Van Wimersma GreidanusC Maigret
Jan 1, 1990·Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry·P SzatmariG Bartolucci
Jul 1, 1989·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·D TantamJ Stirling
Nov 1, 1988·Psychological Medicine·R P HobsonA Lee
Jan 1, 1987·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·S J Weeks, R P Hobson
Jan 1, 1987·Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry·A S Fleming, V Anderson
Jan 1, 1983·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·G Meisenberg, W H Simmons
May 7, 1982·Science·C A PedersenA J Prange
Jan 1, 1995·Psychological Medicine·A BaileyM Rutter
Sep 1, 1994·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·S DaviesD Tantam
Jul 1, 1996·Psychological Review·L WaterhouseC Modahl
Aug 1, 1996·Current Opinion in Pediatrics·S Folstein
Jan 15, 1997·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·E Nelson, J R Alberts
Jun 1, 1997·The American Journal of Psychiatry·T R Insel
Jun 1, 1997·Molecular Medicine Today·M M McCarthy, M Altemus
Jan 1, 1997·Brain Research Bulletin·K M KendrickE B Keverne
Mar 26, 1998·Biological Psychiatry·C ModahlH Levin
Feb 10, 1999·Biological Psychiatry·T R InselJ F Leckman
Mar 31, 1999·Psychoneuroendocrinology·C J McDougleL H Price
Jul 11, 2000·Nature Genetics·J N FergusonJ T Winslow
Mar 10, 2001·Current Opinion in Neurobiology·T R Insel, L J Young
Mar 31, 2001·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·S Baron-CohenI Plumb
Oct 19, 2001·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·F ChampagneM J Meaney
Nov 3, 2001·Biological Psychiatry·L GreenM Morris
Jul 11, 2002·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·M D RutherfordSally Wheelwright
Dec 24, 2002·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Eric HollanderSerge Mosovich
May 6, 2003·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Elena CholerisSonoko Ogawa
Aug 15, 2003·Neurologic Clinics·Jason J Barton
Sep 29, 2004·Nature Neuroscience·Larry J Young, Zuoxin Wang
Jan 25, 2005·Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews·Jacqueline N Crawley
Mar 8, 2005·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·Miranda M LimLarry J Young
Jun 3, 2005·Nature·Michael KosfeldErnst Fehr
Oct 27, 2005·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Yuki TakayanagiKatsuhiko Nishimori
Dec 13, 2005·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Peter KirschAndreas Meyer-Lindenberg
May 16, 2006·Journal of Leukocyte Biology·Paul AshwoodJudy Van de Water

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 13, 2011·Der Nervenarzt·L PoustkaF Poustka
Feb 22, 2012·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Rami Bou Khalil
Dec 12, 2012·Psychiatry Research·Jun EgawaToshiyuki Someya
Mar 14, 2013·Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology·Masaya TachibanaMasako Taniike
Nov 6, 2013·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Huiping HuangFrancesco Papaleo
Feb 4, 2014·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Jill D JacobsonScott A Sands
Dec 3, 2013·Psychopharmacology·Jacob A S VorstmanJan K Buitelaar
Jan 1, 2013·ISRN Neuroscience·Hai-Peng YangStephani C Wang
Jul 6, 2014·Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders·Regina TaurinesMarcel Romanos
Dec 3, 2014·Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America·Susan E Levy, Susan L Hyman
Oct 4, 2014·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·E Quattrocki, Karl Friston
May 1, 2012·Brain & Development·Arianna BenvenutoPaolo Curatolo
Jan 17, 2012·Hormones and Behavior·Richard P EbsteinPoh San Lai
Nov 22, 2011·Hormones and Behavior·Roger L H PobbeRobert J Blanchard
Jul 2, 2011·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Joseph R MoskalJaak Panksepp
Jun 8, 2015·Biological Psychiatry·Gareth Leng, Mike Ludwig
Jun 21, 2015·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Craig H KinsleyDanielle S Stolzenberg
Oct 26, 2011·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Damon T Page
Apr 6, 2011·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Donald W PfaffSylvie Goldman
Jul 26, 2014·Journal of Neuroendocrinology·W M KenkelC S Carter
Oct 16, 2015·The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry : the Official Journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·Genoveva UzunovaEric Hollander
Jan 30, 2015·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Bernard J Crespi
Sep 23, 2014·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Lize De CosterMarcel Brass
Mar 10, 2015·Molecular Autism·Agnese Di NapoliBhismadev Chakrabarti
Jun 13, 2012·Brain Research Bulletin·Xiaohong LiW Ted Brown
Apr 2, 2014·Medical Hypotheses·Leonardo Emberti GialloretiPaolo Curatolo
Apr 13, 2017·Autism Research : Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research·Christopher GillbergClare S Allely
Oct 4, 2018·American Journal of Primatology·Melissa D BaumanMichael L Platt
May 31, 2019·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Irene E Harmsen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Basal Ganglia

Basal Ganglia are a group of subcortical nuclei in the brain associated with control of voluntary motor movements, procedural and habit learning, emotion, and cognition. Here is the latest research.

Amygdala and Midbrain Dopamine

The midbrain dopamine system is widely studied for its involvement in emotional and motivational behavior. Some of these neurons receive information from the amygdala and project throughout the cortex. When the circuit and transmission of dopamine is disrupted symptoms may present. Here is the latest research on the amygdala and midbrain dopamine.

Autism

Autism spectrum disorder is associated with challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues. Here is the latest research on autism.

Amygdala: Sensory Processes

Amygdalae, nuclei clusters located in the temporal lobe of the brain, play a role in memory, emotional responses, and decision-making. Here is the latest research on sensory processes in the amygdala.

Autism: Treatment Targets

The absence of effective treatments for autism are due to the high clinical and genetic heterogeneity between affected individuals, restricted knowledge of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and the lack of reliable diagnostic biomarkers. Identification of more homogenous biological subgroups is therefore essential for the development of novel treatments based on the molecular mechanisms underpinning autism and autism spectrum disorders. Find the latest research on autism treatment targets here.