Oxytocin is a pituitary hormone able to produce a multitude of heterogeneous central and peripheral responses. Within the central nervous system, oxytocin is synthesized by the hypothalamic parvocellular neurons and released in many different brain areas where it acts as a neuromodulator. It exerts pro-social and anxiolytic effects by promoting attachment, trust, maternal bonding, social affiliation, and eating and metabolic functions. Imbalances in the oxytocinergic system are implicated in neuropsychiatric diseases associated with altered socio-emotional competence, such as autism spectrum disorder, clinical depression, and eating disorders. Also, oxytocin impairments could affect memory formation/persistence and they have been found in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, and in several cancers.
Although substantial progress has been achieved in understanding single pieces of the complex neurobiology of the oxytocinergic system, the puzzle is far from being complete. It is still unclear how this single neuropeptide could exert such pleiotropic neuromodulatory effects. Extending the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying the complex roles of the oxytocin will be of great interest, as this molecule has the potentiality to be used as a drug treatment.
This Research Topic aims at exploring the specific effects exerted by oxytocin in different brain areas where it is released. This problem could be tackled from multiple angles, spanning from molecular to systemic approaches. By combining the different approaches, a complete and multi-level picture of the molecule's actions could emerge. The comparison between the effects in health and disease would be also beneficial to determine how the impairment of the oxytocinergic system (in specific brain areas or in the whole brain) could impact precise functions or behaviors.
Original research articles, review articles, perspective articles, case reports, and brief communications will be considered for publication. Basic and pre-clinical research studies carried out on animal models and aimed at deepening the understanding of the neuromodulatory mechanisms exerted by oxytocin in health and disease are encouraged. Behavior and functional imaging studies on patients are also welcomed.
The scope and focus areas of the present Research Topic include but are not limited to:
- delineation of the multiple oxytocinergic central projections and the oxytocin receptors distribution in the brain;
- identification of the oxytoninergic pathways, as well as local release patterns and intraneuronal oxytocin receptor signaling;
- in vivo and in vitro studies to map functionally distinct oxytocin-sensitive cell types in different brain regions;
- cross-talk studies aimed at dissecting the interactions between oxytocin and other neurotransmitters/neuropeptides;
- in vivo and in vitro studies on animal models of diseases that could be related to impairments in the oxytocinergic system;
- imaging studies aimed at relating impairments in production, release, or functionality of oxytocin in specific brain areas with behavior or cognitive dysfunctions.
Oxytocin is a pituitary hormone able to produce a multitude of heterogeneous central and peripheral responses. Within the central nervous system, oxytocin is synthesized by the hypothalamic parvocellular neurons and released in many different brain areas where it acts as a neuromodulator. It exerts pro-social and anxiolytic effects by promoting attachment, trust, maternal bonding, social affiliation, and eating and metabolic functions. Imbalances in the oxytocinergic system are implicated in neuropsychiatric diseases associated with altered socio-emotional competence, such as autism spectrum disorder, clinical depression, and eating disorders. Also, oxytocin impairments could affect memory formation/persistence and they have been found in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, and in several cancers.
Although substantial progress has been achieved in understanding single pieces of the complex neurobiology of the oxytocinergic system, the puzzle is far from being complete. It is still unclear how this single neuropeptide could exert such pleiotropic neuromodulatory effects. Extending the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying the complex roles of the oxytocin will be of great interest, as this molecule has the potentiality to be used as a drug treatment.
This Research Topic aims at exploring the specific effects exerted by oxytocin in different brain areas where it is released. This problem could be tackled from multiple angles, spanning from molecular to systemic approaches. By combining the different approaches, a complete and multi-level picture of the molecule's actions could emerge. The comparison between the effects in health and disease would be also beneficial to determine how the impairment of the oxytocinergic system (in specific brain areas or in the whole brain) could impact precise functions or behaviors.
Original research articles, review articles, perspective articles, case reports, and brief communications will be considered for publication. Basic and pre-clinical research studies carried out on animal models and aimed at deepening the understanding of the neuromodulatory mechanisms exerted by oxytocin in health and disease are encouraged. Behavior and functional imaging studies on patients are also welcomed.
The scope and focus areas of the present Research Topic include but are not limited to:
- delineation of the multiple oxytocinergic central projections and the oxytocin receptors distribution in the brain;
- identification of the oxytoninergic pathways, as well as local release patterns and intraneuronal oxytocin receptor signaling;
- in vivo and in vitro studies to map functionally distinct oxytocin-sensitive cell types in different brain regions;
- cross-talk studies aimed at dissecting the interactions between oxytocin and other neurotransmitters/neuropeptides;
- in vivo and in vitro studies on animal models of diseases that could be related to impairments in the oxytocinergic system;
- imaging studies aimed at relating impairments in production, release, or functionality of oxytocin in specific brain areas with behavior or cognitive dysfunctions.
