The Relationship Between Oxytocin and Alcohol Dependence

Schimmer, Jonas; Patwell, Ryan; Küppers, Stephanie; Grinevich, Valery

doi:10.1007/7854_2023_444

Jonas Schimmer¹^na1,
Ryan Patwell¹^na1,
Stephanie Küppers¹^na1 &
…
Valery Grinevich¹^na1

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences

Abstract

The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is well known for its prosocial, anxiolytic, and ameliorating effects on various psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this chapter, we will first introduce the basic neurophysiology of the OT system and its interaction with other neuromodulatory and neurotransmitter systems in the brain. Next, we provide an overview over the current state of research examining the effects of acute and chronic alcohol exposure on the OT system as well as the effects of OT system manipulation on alcohol-related behaviors in rodents and humans. In rodent models of AUD, OT has been repeatedly shown to reduce ethanol consumption, particularly in models of acute alcohol exposure. In humans however, the results of OT administration on alcohol-related behaviors are promising but not yet conclusive. Therefore, we further discuss several physiological and methodological limitations to the effective application of OT in the clinic and how they may be mitigated by the application of synthetic OT receptor (OTR) agonists. Finally, we discuss the potential efficacy of cutting-edge pharmacology and gene therapies designed to specifically enhance endogenous OT release and thereby rescue deficient expression of OT in the brains of patients with severe forms of AUD and other incurable mental disorders.

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Abbreviations

5HTR:: 5-Hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor
AAV:: Adeno-associated virus
AN:: Accessory nuclei
AUD:: Alcohol use disorders
BBB:: Blood-brain barrier
BNST:: Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis
CeA:: Central amygdala
CIE:: Chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure
CNS:: Central nervous system
CPP:: Conditioned place preference
Cpu:: Caudate putamen
CRH:: Corticotropin-releasing hormone
CSF:: Cerebrospinal fluid
DA:: Dopamine
GABA:: Gamma-aminobutyric acid
HPA:: Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical
i.p.:: Intraperitoneal
i.v.:: Intravenous
ICV:: Intracerebroventricular
IN:: Intranasal
LS:: Lateral septum
magnOT:: Magnocellular oxytocin
MC4R:: Melanocortin receptor 4
MpoA:: Medial preoptic area
NA:: Noradrenaline
NAc:: Nucleus accumbens
OT:: Oxytocin
OTR:: Oxytocin receptor
parvOT:: Parvocellular oxytocin
PFC:: Prefrontal cortex
PP:: Posterior pituitary
PVN:: Paraventricular nucleus
s.c.:: Subcutaneous
SON:: Supraoptic nucleus
ST:: Serotonin
VMH:: Ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus
NVP:: Arginine vasopressin
VPa:: Ventral pallidum
VTA:: Ventral tegmental area
αMSH:: Alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone

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Acknowledgments

RP was a recipient of short-term Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) postdoctoral fellowship.

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Jonas Schimmer and Ryan Patwell contributed equally to this work.

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Department of Neuropeptide Research in Psychiatry, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
Jonas Schimmer, Ryan Patwell, Stephanie Küppers & Valery Grinevich

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Schimmer, J., Patwell, R., Küppers, S., Grinevich, V. (2023). The Relationship Between Oxytocin and Alcohol Dependence. In: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2023_444

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2023_444
Published: 12 September 2023
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