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Review
. 2015 Sep 24:9:335.
doi: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00335. eCollection 2015.

Oxytocin and vasopressin: linking pituitary neuropeptides and their receptors to social neurocircuits

Danielle A Baribeau  1 , Evdokia Anagnostou  2
Affiliations
Review

Oxytocin and vasopressin: linking pituitary neuropeptides and their receptors to social neurocircuits

Danielle A Baribeau et al. Front Neurosci. .

Abstract

Oxytocin and vasopressin are pituitary neuropeptides that have been shown to affect social processes in mammals. There is growing interest in these molecules and their receptors as potential precipitants of, and/or treatments for, social deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. Numerous behavioral-genetic studies suggest that there is an association between these peptides and individual social abilities; however, an explanatory model that links hormonal activity at the receptor level to complex human behavior remains elusive. The following review summarizes the known associations between the oxytocin and vasopressin neuropeptide systems and social neurocircuits in the brain. Following a micro- to macro- level trajectory, current literature on the synthesis and secretion of these peptides, and the structure, function and distribution of their respective receptors is first surveyed. Next, current models regarding the mechanism of action of these peptides on microcircuitry and other neurotransmitter systems are discussed. Functional neuroimaging evidence on the acute effects of exogenous administration of these peptides on brain activity is then reviewed. Overall, a model in which the local neuromodulatory effects of pituitary neuropeptides on brainstem and basal forebrain regions strengthen signaling within social neurocircuits proves appealing. However, these findings are derived from animal models; more research is needed to clarify the relevance of these mechanisms to human behavior and treatment of social deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Keywords: OXTR; autism; oxytocin; vasopressin; vasopressin receptor subtype 1a.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Example of receptor autoradiography study in voles showing higher density of vasopressin receptor 1a staining in monogamous prairie voles (top) as compared to polygamous meadow voles (middle). When receptor expression was increased using an adeno associated viral (AAV) vector, polygamous meadow voles demonstrated more preferential contact with their partners (bottom). Figure reproduced with permission from Science, (Donaldson and Young, 2008) adapted from research presented by Lim et al. (2004). *p < 0.05.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Parvocellular neurons (yellow) secrete oxytocin and vasopressin (red) to numerous brain regions, including the amygdala, brainstem, and anterior pituitary. Magnocellular neurons (green) in the hypothalamic nuclei secrete oxytocin and vasopressin into the peripheral circulation via the posterior pituitary (axonic secretion). Additionally, they secrete these peptides into the extracellular fluid the hypothalamus (dendritic secretion).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kirsch et al. (2005) showed that oxytocin attenuated amygdala activation in response to fearful stimuli. (A) shows activation at the amygdala, with neural responses to fearful faces shown on the left, and to fearful scenes on the right, under placebo conditions (top), and after treatment with oxytocin (bottom). (B) shows the main effect of the drug in the left amygdala, where the signal was strongest. (C) plots BOLD levels at the amygdala using a region of interest analysis. Reproduced with permission from J. Neurosci. (Kirsch et al., 2005).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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