Oxytocin and vasopressin: Signalling, behavioural modulation and potential therapeutic effects

Autor(es)

Rae, Mariana ; Lemos Duarte, Mariana ; Gomes, Ivone ; Camarini, Rosana ; Devi, Lakshmi A.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: British Journal of Pharmacology; v. 179, n. 8, p. 21-pg., 2021-05-21.

Resumo

Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are endogenous ligands for OT and AVP receptors in the brain and in the peripheral system. Several studies demonstrate that OT and AVP have opposite roles in modulating stress, anxiety and social behaviours. Interestingly, both peptides and their receptors exhibit high sequence homology which could account for the biased signalling interaction of the peptides with OT and AVP receptors. However, how and under which conditions this crosstalk occurs in vivo remains unclear. In this review we shed light on the complexity of the roles of OT and AVP, by focusing on their signalling and behavioural differences and exploring the crosstalk between the receptor systems. Moreover, we discuss the potential of OT and AVP receptors as therapeutic targets to treat human disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia and drug abuse. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 18/05038-0 - Efeito do enriquecimento ambiental sobre a resiliência ao estresse crônico imprevisível: regulação epigenética do gene BDNF e consequências sobre o consumo de etanol
• Beneficiário: Rosana Camarini
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular