Marazziti D, Catena Dell'osso M
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Curr Med Chem. 2008;15(7):698-704. doi: 10.2174/092986708783885291.
Oxytocin (OT) is a neurohypophysial hormone synthesized in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. Although OT-like substances have been identified in all vertebrates, OT has been found only in mammals where it plays a major role in the onset and maintaining of behaviors which are typical of these animals, such as labour and lactation. Recently, several data have suggested the involvement of OT in the formation of infant attachment, maternal behavior, pair bonding and, more generally, in linking social signals with cognition, behaviors and reward. The aim of this paper was to review critically the role of OT in the regulation of different physiological functions and complex behaviors, as well as its possible involvement in the pathophysiology of some neuropsychiatric disorders. MEDLINE and PubMed (1972-2007) databases were searched for English language articles by using the following keywords: oxytocin, physiology, cognitive functions, attachment, psychopathology, psychiatric disorders. Papers were examined that addressed the following aspects of the OT system: synthesis and localization, receptors, physiology: In addition, latest findings showing abnormalities of OT and OT system in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, addiction, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and Prader-Willy syndrome, will be also discussed together with the possible clinical use of OT or its analogues and/or antagonists.
催产素（OT）是一种在下丘脑室旁核和视上核中合成的神经垂体激素。尽管在所有脊椎动物中都已鉴定出类OT物质，但仅在哺乳动物中发现了OT，它在这些动物典型行为（如分娩和哺乳）的启动和维持中起主要作用。最近，一些数据表明OT参与婴儿依恋、母性行为、配偶关系的形成，更普遍地说，参与将社会信号与认知、行为和奖励联系起来。本文的目的是批判性地综述OT在调节不同生理功能和复杂行为中的作用，以及它可能参与某些神经精神疾病病理生理学的情况。通过使用以下关键词在MEDLINE和PubMed（1972 - 2007）数据库中检索英文文章：催产素、生理学、认知功能、依恋、精神病理学、精神疾病。审查了涉及OT系统以下方面的论文：合成与定位、受体、生理学：此外，还将讨论最新研究结果，这些结果显示OT和OT系统在几种神经精神疾病（包括自闭症、强迫症、饮食失调、成瘾、精神分裂症、创伤后应激障碍和普拉德 - 威利综合征）中存在异常，以及OT或其类似物和/或拮抗剂可能的临床应用。
