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Medicina Sep 2023Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social cognition and communication, restricted interests, and stereotyped behaviors. Frequently... (Review)
Review
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social cognition and communication, restricted interests, and stereotyped behaviors. Frequently associated with sensory dysfunction, other neurodevelopmental disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, epilepsy and/or sleep disorders. This condition will accompany people throughout their lives, which will generate various support and treatment needs. Although there are no drugs that modify the core symptoms of autism, various drugs have shown their usefulness in associated conditions. Atypical antipsychotics for hyperactivity, impulsivity, agitation, auto or heteroaggression crises. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors, to decrease anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and irritability/agitation. Stimulants and atomoxetine used for hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Clonidine and guanfacine show some efficacy on hyperactivity and stereotyped behaviors. Buspirone has been used for restrictive behaviors and anxiety. There are drugs in the research phase such as oxytocin, vasopressin and even some developed for specific entities related to autism such as arbaclofen in Fragile X and Trofinetide that has just been approved for use in Rett syndrome. As specific entities and their pathophysiology are identified, it is likely that tailored treatments will be developed for each entity associated with autism..
Topics: Humans; Autistic Disorder; Stereotyped Behavior; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorder
PubMed: 37714122
DOI: No ID Found -
Nature Sep 2023Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is important for maternal physiology and childcare, including parturition and milk ejection during nursing. Suckling triggers the release...
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is important for maternal physiology and childcare, including parturition and milk ejection during nursing. Suckling triggers the release of oxytocin, but other sensory cues-specifically, infant cries-can increase the levels of oxytocin in new human mothers, which indicates that cries can activate hypothalamic oxytocin neurons. Here we describe a neural circuit that routes auditory information about infant vocalizations to mouse oxytocin neurons. We performed in vivo electrophysiological recordings and photometry from identified oxytocin neurons in awake maternal mice that were presented with pup calls. We found that oxytocin neurons responded to pup vocalizations, but not to pure tones, through input from the posterior intralaminar thalamus, and that repetitive thalamic stimulation induced lasting disinhibition of oxytocin neurons. This circuit gates central oxytocin release and maternal behaviour in response to calls, providing a mechanism for the integration of sensory cues from the offspring in maternal endocrine networks to ensure modulation of brain state for efficient parenting.
Topics: Animals; Female; Mice; Cues; Hypothalamus; Maternal Behavior; Neural Pathways; Neurons; Oxytocin; Photometry; Thalamic Nuclei; Vocalization, Animal; Wakefulness
PubMed: 37730989
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06540-4 -
Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology Nov 2023This narrative describes a personal journey that led to the discovery of a profound connection between microbial symbionts and oxytocin. Pivotal oxytocin discoveries... (Review)
Review
This narrative describes a personal journey that led to the discovery of a profound connection between microbial symbionts and oxytocin. Pivotal oxytocin discoveries began to emerge in 2011 while this researcher's multidisciplinary team explored gut microbial priming of the immune system and perinatal health. Inspired by oxytocin's role in early life events of milk release, neural connections, and social bonding, the team hypothesized a symbiotic relationship between microbes and oxytocin. Scientific experiments demonstrated that specific milk-borne microbes boosted oxytocin levels through a vagus nerve-mediated gut-brain pathway, affecting immune functions and wound healing capacity in the host animal. The exploration then expanded to microbial impacts on reproductive fitness, body weight, and even mental health. Overarching hypotheses envisioned a nurturing symbiosis promoting survival and societal advancement. Ultimately, this oxytocin-mediated partnership between microbes and mammals is portrayed as a harmonious legacy of neurological stability, empathy, and universal wisdom, transcending generations. The author's personal journey underscores the beauty and inspiration found in her scientific exploration.
PubMed: 38108028
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100212 -
Molecular Psychiatry Aug 2023Social behaviors, how individuals act cooperatively and competitively with conspecifics, are widely seen across species. Rodents display various social behaviors, and... (Review)
Review
Social behaviors, how individuals act cooperatively and competitively with conspecifics, are widely seen across species. Rodents display various social behaviors, and many different behavioral paradigms have been used for investigating their neural circuit bases. Social behavior is highly vulnerable to brain network dysfunction caused by neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Studying mouse models of ASD provides a promising avenue toward elucidating mechanisms of abnormal social behavior and potential therapeutic targets for treatment. In this review, we outline recent progress and key findings on neural circuit mechanisms underlying social behavior, with particular emphasis on rodent studies that monitor and manipulate the activity of specific circuits using modern systems neuroscience approaches. Social behavior is mediated by a distributed brain-wide network among major cortical (e.g., medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior cingulate cortex, and insular cortex (IC)) and subcortical (e.g., nucleus accumbens, basolateral amygdala (BLA), and ventral tegmental area) structures, influenced by multiple neuromodulatory systems (e.g., oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin). We particularly draw special attention to IC as a unique cortical area that mediates multisensory integration, encoding of ongoing social interaction, social decision-making, emotion, and empathy. Additionally, a synthesis of studies investigating ASD mouse models demonstrates that dysfunctions in mPFC-BLA circuitry and neuromodulation are prominent. Pharmacological rescues by local or systemic (e.g., oral) administration of various drugs have provided valuable clues for developing new therapeutic agents for ASD. Future efforts and technological advances will push forward the next frontiers in this field, such as the elucidation of brain-wide network activity and inter-brain neural dynamics during real and virtual social interactions, and the establishment of circuit-based therapy for disorders affecting social functions.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Prefrontal Cortex; Brain; Nucleus Accumbens; Social Behavior
PubMed: 37612363
DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02201-0 -
Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology Nov 2023The mammalian host microbiome affects many targets throughout the body, at least in part through an integrated gut-brain-immune axis and neuropeptide hormone oxytocin.... (Review)
Review
The mammalian host microbiome affects many targets throughout the body, at least in part through an integrated gut-brain-immune axis and neuropeptide hormone oxytocin. It was discovered in animal models that microbial symbionts, such as , leverage perinatal niches to promote multigenerational good health and reproductive fitness. While roles for oxytocin were once limited to women, such as giving birth and nurturing offspring, oxytocin is now also proposed to have important roles linking microbial symbionts with overall host fitness and survival throughout the evolutionary journey.
PubMed: 38108027
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100205