Oxytocin, vasopressin, and autism: is there a connection?

Autism is a poorly understood developmental disorder characterized by social impairment, communication deficits, and compulsive behavior. The authors review evidence from animal studies demonstrating that the nonapeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin, have unique effects on the normal expression of spe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological Psychiatry 1999-01, Vol.45 (2), p.145-157
Main Authors: Insel, Thomas R, O’Brien, Derek J, Leckman, James F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
affiliation
Autistic Disorder - drug therapy
Autistic Disorder - etiology
Biological and medical sciences
Child clinical studies
Chromosome Aberrations - genetics
Chromosome Disorders
Developmental disorders
Female
Gene Expression - genetics
Humans
Infantile autism
Male
Medical sciences
Oxytocin - genetics
Oxytocin - physiology
Point Mutation - genetics
polymorphism
Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Receptor
Social Behavior
social memory
stereotypy
Vasopressins - genetics
Vasopressins - physiology
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Summary:Autism is a poorly understood developmental disorder characterized by social impairment, communication deficits, and compulsive behavior. The authors review evidence from animal studies demonstrating that the nonapeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin, have unique effects on the normal expression of species-typical social behavior, communication, and rituals. Based on this evidence, they hypothesize that an abnormality in oxytocin or vasopressin neurotransmission may account for several features of autism. As autism appears to be a genetic disorder, mutations in the various peptide, peptide receptor, or lineage-specific developmental genes could lead to altered oxytocin or vasopressin neurotransmission. Many of these genes have been cloned and sequenced, and several polymorphisms have been identified. Recent gene targeting studies that alter expression of either the peptides or their receptors in the rodent brain partially support the autism hypothesis. While previous experience suggests caution in hypothesizing a cause or suggesting a treatment for autism, the available preclinical evidence with oxytocin and vasopressin recommends the need for clinical studies using gene scanning, pharmacological and neurobiological approaches.
ISSN:0006-3223
1873-2402
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3223(98)00142-5