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Oxytocin Signaling in the Early Life of Mammals: Link to Neurodevelopmental Disorders Associated with ASD

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Behavioral Pharmacology of Neuropeptides: Oxytocin

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 35))

Abstract

Oxytocin plays a role in various functions including endocrine and immune functions but also parent–infant bonding and social interactions. It might be considered as a main neuropeptide involved in mediating the regulation of adaptive interactions between an individual and his/her environment. Recently, a critical role of oxytocin in early life has been revealed in sensory processing and multi-modal integration that are essential for normal postnatal neurodevelopment. An early alteration in the oxytocin-system may disturb its maturation and may have short-term and long-term pathological consequences such as autism spectrum disorders. Here, we will synthesize the existing literature on the development of the oxytocin system and its role in the early postnatal life of mammals (from birth to weaning) in a normal or pathological context. Oxytocin is required in critical windows of time that play a pivotal role and that should be considered for therapeutical interventions.

The original version of this chapter was revised. An erratum to this chapter can be found at DOI 10.1007/7854_2018_39.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, INMED UMR U901, INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, 13273, France

    Françoise Muscatelli & Valery Matarazzo

  2. Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, 34094, France

    Michel G. Desarménien

  3. Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides, German Cancer Research Center, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, BW, Germany

    Valery Grinevich

  4. Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, BW, Germany

    Valery Grinevich

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  1. Françoise Muscatelli
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  2. Michel G. Desarménien
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  3. Valery Matarazzo
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  4. Valery Grinevich
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Correspondence to Françoise Muscatelli .

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Rene Hurlemann

  2. Schaller Research Group on Neuropeptides German Cancer Research Center, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, BW, Germany

    Valery Grinevich

  3. Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, BW, Germany

    Valery Grinevich

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Muscatelli, F., Desarménien, M.G., Matarazzo, V., Grinevich, V. (2017). Oxytocin Signaling in the Early Life of Mammals: Link to Neurodevelopmental Disorders Associated with ASD. In: Hurlemann, R., Grinevich, V. (eds) Behavioral Pharmacology of Neuropeptides: Oxytocin. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 35. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2017_16

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