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The Role of the Oxytocin/Arginine Vasopressin System in Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Translational Anatomy and Cell Biology of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Part of the book series: Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology ((ADVSANAT,volume 224))

Abstract

The nonapeptides oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are two key mediators in regulating various aspects of mammalian social behaviours. There are several lines of evidence that genetic variants of the OXT/AVP system exist in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that this system is dysfunctional at least in some ASD entities. These findings have stimulated the interest to perform studies testing the potential therapeutic application of OXT/AVP in ASD. In this respect animal models are critical for investigating the pathophysiology and for compound screening leading to new therapeutic approaches. Based on findings in animal models that show alterations of the OXT/AVP system, it has been hypothesised that single- or multiple-dose administration or the stimulation of endogenous release can improve several social deficits. Here we comprehensively review the role of the OXT/AVP system in social recognition, social interaction and maternal behaviour in the light of different ASD animal models and patient studies. We further discuss implications for OXT/AVP-related pharmacological interventions to alleviate social deficits in ASD in the future.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the UULM-PUHSC Joint Center for Neuroscience fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Rong Zhang, Xin-Jie Xu, Hong-Feng Zhang & Ji-Sheng Han

  2. Department of Neurobiology, Health Science Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Rong Zhang, Xin-Jie Xu, Hong-Feng Zhang & Ji-Sheng Han

  3. Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, Ministry of Education/National Health and Family Planning Commission, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Rong Zhang, Xin-Jie Xu, Hong-Feng Zhang & Ji-Sheng Han

  4. Department of Scientific Research, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China

    Xin-Jie Xu

  5. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China

    Hong-Feng Zhang

  6. Wuxi shenpingxintai Medical Technology Co., Ltd., Wuxi, China

    Song-Ping Han

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  1. Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

    Michael J. Schmeisser

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    Tobias M. Boeckers

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Zhang, R., Xu, XJ., Zhang, HF., Han, SP., Han, JS. (2017). The Role of the Oxytocin/Arginine Vasopressin System in Animal Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Schmeisser, M., Boeckers, T. (eds) Translational Anatomy and Cell Biology of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology, vol 224. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52498-6_8

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