Department of Behavioral and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Trends Neurosci. 2012 Nov;35(11):649-59. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2012.08.004. Epub 2012 Sep 11.
Oxytocin and vasopressin are regulators of anxiety, stress-coping, and sociality. They are released within hypothalamic and limbic areas from dendrites, axons, and perikarya independently of, or coordinated with, secretion from neurohypophysial terminals. Central oxytocin exerts anxiolytic and antidepressive effects, whereas vasopressin tends to show anxiogenic and depressive actions. Evidence from pharmacological and genetic association studies confirms their involvement in individual variation of emotional traits extending to psychopathology. Based on their opposing effects on emotional behaviors, we propose that a balanced activity of both brain neuropeptide systems is important for appropriate emotional behaviors. Shifting the balance between the neuropeptide systems towards oxytocin, by positive social stimuli and/or psychopharmacotherapy, may help to improve emotional behaviors and reinstate mental health.
催产素和加压素是焦虑、应激应对和社交行为的调节剂。它们从树突、轴突和神经元胞体在独立于或与神经垂体末端分泌协调的情况下，在下丘脑和边缘区域释放。中枢催产素具有抗焦虑和抗抑郁作用，而加压素则倾向于表现出焦虑和抑郁作用。来自药理学和遗传关联研究的证据证实了它们在情感特征的个体差异中的参与，这些特征延伸到精神病理学。基于它们对情绪行为的相反影响，我们提出，两种脑神经肽系统的平衡活动对于适当的情绪行为很重要。通过积极的社会刺激和/或精神药理学治疗，使神经肽系统向催产素倾斜，可能有助于改善情绪行为并恢复心理健康。
