Localization of high-affinity binding sites for oxytocin and vasopressin in the human brain. An autoradiographic study

In the citing paper

“consistent with the putative localization of OT receptors in human brain (44)”

In the citing paper

“Our particular focus will be on the brain-level attachment system [30], maintained (in large part) by the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin [31, 32].”

In the citing paper

“Because OXTR binding in primate brains is limited to a small number of subcortical areas and putatively absent in the cortex35,39”

In the citing paper

“The neuroanatomical map of OXTR binding in the human brain has not been reliably characterized, except for two outdated studies35,36 whose results have recently been called into question34 due to the radioligand’s high degree of cross-reactivity to the structurally similar vasopressin 1a receptor (AVPR1a).”

In the citing paper

“We found that all five areas contained putative OXTR binding, which agrees with what was reported in the older study (mentioned above35) and supports the idea that these tools are more selective in the human brain compared to that in a nonhuman primate brain.”

In the citing paper

“However, these seemingly opposing findings can be reconciled in light of our evidence for OXTR expression in the NBM of humans (current study and ref. 35) and nonhuman primates39.”

In the citing paper

“Although these studies and others59–61 indicate that OXTR mRNA can be measured in some portions of the human cortex, autoradiographic studies of OXTR binding have not generated complementary evidence of functional, cell-surface OXTR in these regions of the cortex in humans35 or in nonhuman primates39.”

In the citing paper

“Nevertheless, before these pharmacological limitations were fully understood, these radioligands (as well as the older tritiated versions of the endogenous neuropeptides themselves) were used for receptor autoradiography in three primate species: in the common marmoset for OXTR and AVPR1a (29,30), in the rhesus macaque for AVPR1a (31), and in human for OXTR and AVPR1a (32,33).”

In the citing paper

“Interestingly, these sex-specific effects seem to be independent of whether sex differences are found in VP and/or V1aR binding (rats; Figs. 1 and 2) or whether no sex differences are found in VP and/or V1aR binding (prairie voles: Insel et al., 1991; Smeltzer et al., 2006; humans: Loup et al., 1991).”

In the citing paper

“The notion that OT and VP may be acting at distinct brain regions to modulate social behaviors in a similar direction is further supported by the distinct and non-overlapping distribution of V1aR and OTR in the brain of humans (Loup et al., 1991) and voles (Lim et al., 2004a).”

In the citing paper

“In addition, both peptides are released in the brain and bind to receptors there to affect social behaviors (Buijs et al 1983; Alonso et al 1986; Loup et al 1991).”

In the citing paper

“While OXTR mRNA localization in the rodent brain is well-described11, its anatomical distribution across the human brain is poorly understood, as investigations have historically tended to sample very few brain regions12.”

In the citing paper

“The interactions with the oxytocin system extend beyond the opioid pathway, including the dopaminergic17,18 and muscarinic acetylcholine12,19 circuits, with possible implications for social behavior and psychiatric disorders.”

In the citing paper

“While brain regions with high oxytocin pathway gene expression in humans have been identified12,13, inference of specific cognitive states from the activity of single brain regions is elusive.”

In the citing paper

“Altogether, our findings corroborate emerging evidence for interactions between the oxytocin, acetylcholine12, and dopaminergic signaling systems17.”

In the citing paper

“data from the GTEx dataset demonstrated little evidence of sex differences in central oxytocin pathway gene expression, consistent with preliminary human research12.”

In the citing paper

“In Homo, V1aR was less widely distributed across the social-decision making network (Loup et al., 1991) relative to Callithrix, Callicebus, and Macaca, although fewer brain regions were sampled.”

In the citing paper

“Macaca showed no V1aR binding in the SC, and Homo showed no V1aR binding in either the SC or NBM (Freeman et al., 2014a; Loup et al., 1991).”

In the citing paper

“The limited information on sex differences in V1aR shows that male and female Macaca (Young et al., 1999) and Homo (Loup et al., 1991) display similar density and distribution of V1aR.”

In the citing paper

“Nevertheless, studies in human and non-human primates have also found some notable differences in OT receptor distributions compared to rodents (Boccia et al., 2013; Caffé et al., 1989; Jenkins et al., 1984; Loup et al., 1991).”