29,30 ), social reward 31, and responses to social novelty tests 31. Nlgn3 encodes a synaptic adhesion molecule 20-23, and Nlgn3 mutant mice exhibit a range of behavioural alterations, including motor stereotypies 23,24, alterations in social novelty preference 25-28 (but see refs. Here we explored oxytocin responses in mice that recapitulate a loss of function in the autism risk gene Nlgn3 17-19. However, the vast majority of genetic risk factors for autism have no known links to oxytocinergic signalling 1-3,16. Mutation of Cntnap2, a gene linked to ASD in humans, resulted in reduced levels of oxytocin in mice, and the addition of oxytocin improved social behaviour in this model 15. In mice, mutation of the genes encoding oxytocin or its receptor results in a loss of social recognition and social reward signalling 10-14. Consequently, signalling modulators and biomarkers for the oxytocin or vasopressin system are being explored for conditions with altered social interactions such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) 5,6. In humans, genetic variation of the oxytocin receptor ( OXTR ) gene is linked to individual differences in social behaviour 9. Oxytocin and vasopressin are two evolutionarily conserved neuropeptides with important functions in the control of social behaviours, in particular pair-bonding and social recognition 7,8. Social recognition and communication are crucial elements in the establishment and maintenance of social relationships. (5) Experimental Drug Development Centre, Singapore, Singapore (4) Neuroscience Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK (3) Centre for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland (2) Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (1) Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland Author(s): Hanna Hörnberg 1, Enrique Pérez-Garci 2, Dietmar Schreiner 1, Laetitia Hatstatt-Burklé 1, Fulvio Magara 3, Stephane Baudouin 4 6, Alex Matter 5, Kassoum Nacro 5, Eline Pecho-Vrieseling 2, Peter Scheiffele 1
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