The two fold role of oxytocin in social developmental disorders: A cause and a remedy?. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lefevre, Arthur; Sirigu, Angela
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 63(2016)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 176
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Oxytocin -- Labor induction -- Early life experience -- Social behavior -- Autism; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.01.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Neo-natal oxytocin administration has been causally linked to social deficits in animals. Obstetric use of oxytocin and autism have been associated in humans. Oxytocin chronic administration in autistic patients has weak effects. Abstract: Oxytocin is widely used by obstetricians to induce or facilitate labor. The long lasting consequences of oxytocin administration remain however unknown. Here, we discuss recent evidence suggesting a link between oxytocin labor induction and developmental social impairments such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Because these associations are methodologically questionable, we provide a review of animal studies investigating the long term effects of neonatal injection of oxytocin to shed light on the biological mechanisms that mediate the contribution of early oxytocin supplementation on the development of social impairments. In contrast to this potential negative impact on development, oxytocin has been shown to ameliorate social skills of ASD patients. However, results of chronic oxytocin administration from animal experiments are contradictory. We also review recent studies looking at chronic oxytocin effects in animal and in humans. Obstetric and psychiatric uses of exogenous oxytocin both impact on oxytocinergic neurotransmission but the effects may be sharply dissimilar.