Elevated Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Oxytocin in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Leckman, James F.; Goodman, Wayne K.; North, William G.; Chappell, Phillip B.; Price, Lawrence H.; Pauls, David L.; Anderson, George M.; Riddle, Mark A.; McSwiggan-Hardin, Maureen; McDougle, Christopher J.; Barr, Linda C.; Cohen, Donald J.

doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1994.03950100030003

Cited by 187 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…A range of symptomatology found in OCD patients, example, those related to contamination obsessions and washing, and those not related to tics, is congruent with a number of behavioral effects seen after the central administration of OT in animal models. 76 Leckman et al 24 had not only observed increase of OT levels in the CSF of patients with OCD without tics, but also a significant correlation between the concentrations of OT and the severity of the obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Moreover, OCD includes cognitive and behavioral symptoms similar to those induced through a central injection of OT in animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although Leckman et al 24 have suggested a participation of OT in the pathophysiology of OCD, since high levels of this neuropeptide were found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with OCD without tics, Altemus et al 25 found no differences in CSF levels of OT when OCD patients were compared with control subjects. The latter research group does not discard that central circuits might be responsible for these result differences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neuroanatomical and cellular substrates of hypergrooming induced by microinjection of oxytocin in central nucleus of amygdala, an experimental model of compulsive behavior

et al. 2007

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Oxytocin (OT) is a neurosecretory nonapeptide synthesized in hypothalamic cells that project to the neurohypophysis as well as to widely distributed sites in the central nervous system. Central OT microinjections induce a variety of cognitive, sexual, reproductive, grooming and affiliative behaviors in animals. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) includes a range of cognitive and behavioral symptoms that bear some relationship with OT. Here, we study the neuroanatomical and cellular substrates of the hypergrooming induced by administration of OT in the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA). In this context, this hypergrooming is considered as a model of compulsive behavior. Our data suggest a link between the CeA and the hypothalamic grooming area (HGA). The HGA includes parts of the paraventricular nucleus and the dorsal hypothalamic area. Our data on colocalization of OT (immunohistochemistry for peptide), OT receptor (binding assay) and its retrogradely labeled cells after Fluoro-Gold injection in the CeA suggest that CeA and connections are important substrates of the circuit underlying this OT-dependent compulsive behavioral pattern.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroanatomical and cellular substrates of hypergrooming induced by microinjection of oxytocin in central nucleus of amygdala, an experimental model of compulsive behavior

et al. 2007

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“…However, it is not clear that these exogenous elevations of OT are related to differences in endogenous OT described here. There are several reports relating CSF and plasma levels of OT to human psychopathologies including OCD (Leckman et al, 1994), anorexia and depression (Frank et al, 2000), and Prader Willi syndrome (Martin et al, 1998). Differing basal levels and modulation of plasma OT levels have also been associated with differing levels of emotionality (Turner et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rearing Effects on Cerebrospinal Fluid Oxytocin Concentration and Social Buffering in Rhesus Monkeys

Winslow

Noble

Lyons

et al. 2002

Neuropsychopharmacol

293

204

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Mother-reared (MR) and nursery-reared (NR) male rhesus monkeys exhibit profound and persistent differences in social and emotional behavior. Compared to MR animals, NR monkeys show reduced reciprocal social behaviors and increased agonistic behavior and high levels of stereotypy. Cerebrospinal fluid oxytocin (CSF OT) in NR monkeys was significantly reduced compared to MR monkeys measured at 18, 24, and 36 months of age. Correlations between OT and individual social behavioral profiles measured across rearing conditions also revealed a significant association between OT and the expression of affiliative social behaviors including allogrooming and reciprocal intermale mounting at each age examined. In contrast, CSF vasopressin levels did not differ according to rearing history, but did correlate with fearful behaviors independent of rearing history. Differential rearing was not associated with differences in basal or stressrelated plasma cortisol, although these levels did progressively decline as monkeys matured. MR but not NR monkeys were able to use a social companion to buffer their response to a stressor, but OT levels did not appear to be sensitive to the presence of a social companion in either group. These results are consistent with earlier reports from studies of rodents suggesting an important role for central OT pathways in the development of social affiliation.

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“…Elevated oxytocin levels have been found in patients with non-tic-related obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) (Leckman et al, 1994), in children and adolescents with OCD and in Prader-Willi syndrome (Martin et al, 1998), a disorder with a high risk for comorbid OCD. One recent study was unable to confirm these results (Altemus et al, 1999); however unlike the Leckman study, this study did not separate patients with tics, or a family history of tics from those without tics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxytocin Infusion Reduces Repetitive Behaviors in Adults with Autistic and Asperger's Disorders

Hollander

Novotny

Hanratty

et al. 2003

Neuropsychopharmacol

621

403

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Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by dysfunction in three core behavioral domains: repetitive behaviors, social deficits, and language abnormalities. There is evidence that abnormalities exist in peptide systems, particularly the oxytocin system, in autism spectrum patients. Furthermore, oxytocin and the closely related peptide vasopressin are known to play a role in social and repetitive behaviors. This study examined the impact of oxytocin on repetitive behaviors in 15 adults with autism or Asperger's disorder via randomized double-blind oxytocin and placebo challenges. The primary outcome measure was an instrument rating six repetitive behaviors: need to know, repeating, ordering, need to tell/ask, self-injury, and touching. Patients with autism spectrum disorders showed a significant reduction in repetitive behaviors following oxytocin infusion in comparison to placebo infusion. Repetitive behavior in autism spectrum disorders may be related to abnormalities in the oxytocin system, and may be partially ameliorated by synthetic oxytocin infusion.

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Elevated Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Oxytocin in Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

Cited by 187 publications

References 64 publications

Neuroanatomical and cellular substrates of hypergrooming induced by microinjection of oxytocin in central nucleus of amygdala, an experimental model of compulsive behavior

Neuroanatomical and cellular substrates of hypergrooming induced by microinjection of oxytocin in central nucleus of amygdala, an experimental model of compulsive behavior

Rearing Effects on Cerebrospinal Fluid Oxytocin Concentration and Social Buffering in Rhesus Monkeys

Oxytocin Infusion Reduces Repetitive Behaviors in Adults with Autistic and Asperger's Disorders

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