Abstract:
The nonapeptide oxytocin (OT) is a master regulator of the social brain in early infancy, adolescence, and adult life. Here, we review the postnatal dynamic development of OT-system as well as early-life OT functions that are essential for shaping social behaviors. We specifically address the role of OT in neonates, focusing on its role in modulating/adapting sensory input and feeding behavior; both processes are involved in the establishing mother-infant bond, a crucial event for structuring all future social interactions. In patients and rodent models of Prader-Willi and Schaaf-Yang syndromes, two neurodevelopmental diseases characterized by autism-related features, sensory impairments, and feeding difficulties in early infancy are linked to an alteration of OT-system. Successful preclinical studies in mice and a phase I/II clinical trial in Prader-Willi babies constitute a proof of concept that OT-treatment in early life not only improves suckling deficit but has also a positive long-term effect on learning and social behavior. We propose that in early postnatal life, OT plays a pivotal role in stimulating and coordinating the maturation of neuronal networks controlling feeding behavior and the first social interactions. Consequently, OT therapy might be considered to improve feeding behavior and, all over the life, social cognition, and learning capabilities.
摘要:
九肽催产素(OT)是婴儿期早期社交大脑的主要调节因子,青春期,成人生活。这里,我们回顾了OT系统的产后动态发展以及对塑造社会行为至关重要的早期OT功能。我们特别讨论了OT在新生儿中的作用,专注于其在调节/适应感官输入和喂养行为中的作用;这两个过程都参与建立母婴联系,构建所有未来社会互动的关键事件。在Prader-Willi和Schaaf-Yang综合征的患者和啮齿动物模型中,两种以自闭症相关特征为特征的神经发育疾病,感觉障碍,婴儿期早期的喂养困难与OT系统的改变有关。小鼠成功的临床前研究和Prader-Willi婴儿的I/II期临床试验构成了一个概念证明,即早期的OT治疗不仅可以改善哺乳缺陷,而且对学习和社会行为也有积极的长期影响。我们建议在出生后的早期生活中,OT在刺激和协调控制摄食行为和第一次社会互动的神经元网络的成熟中起着关键作用。因此,OT治疗可能被认为可以改善喂养行为,所有的生活,社会认知,和学习能力。