Cited by 218Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The oxytocin system in drug discovery for autism: Animal models and novel therapeutic strategies

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Modi, Meera E., Young, Larry J.·2012·Hormones and Behavior

Abstract

Animal models and behavioral paradigms are critical for elucidating the neural mechanism involved in complex behaviors, including social cognition. Both genotype and phenotype based models have implicated the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) in the regulation of social behavior. Based on the findings in animal models, alteration of the OT system has been hypothesized to play a role in the social deficits associated with autism and other neuropsychiatric disorders. While the evidence linking the peptide to the etiology of the disorder is not yet conclusive, evidence from multiple animal models suggest modulation of the OT system may be a viable strategy for the pharmacological treatment of social deficits. In this review, we will discuss how animal models have been utilized to understand the role of OT in social cognition and how those findings can be applied to the conceptualization and treatment of the social impairments in ASD. Animal models with genetic alterations of the OT system, like the OT, OT receptor and CD38 knock-out mice, and those with phenotypic variation in social behavior, like BTBR inbred mice and prairie voles, coupled with behavioral paradigms with face and construct validity may prove to have predictive validity for identifying the most efficacious methods of stimulating the OT system to enhance social cognition in humans. The widespread use of strong animal models of social cognition has the potential yield pharmacological, interventions for the treatment social impairments psychiatric disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Social Behavior.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.12.010

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  • Melanocortin receptor agonists facilitate OT-dependent partner preferences in prairie voles.

    “facilitate OT-dependent partner preferences in prairie voles (35, 37, 39, 40)”

    From Statistical and Methodological Considerations for the Interpretation of Intranasal Oxytocin Studies (2016) · cites this paper as [35]

    In “Enhancing endogenous OT release” (page unavailable), the paper says preliminary, unpublished studies suggest a melanocortin receptor agonist promotes partner preference in prairie voles. It proposes that MC4R agonists increase central OT release, drawing on evidence from rats, but does not establish that the vole partner-preference effect is OT-dependent. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Both AVP and OXT have been implicated in ASD and other social disorders and are currently being tested in clinical trials.

    “since both neuropeptides have been implicated in ASD and other social disorders (Meyer-Lindenberg et al., 2011; Modi and Young, 2012) and are currently being tested in clinical trials (clinicaltrials.gov).”

    From Sex-specific modulation of juvenile social play behavior by vasopressin and oxytocin depends on social context (2014) · cites this paper as Modi and Young, 2012

    The Introduction links oxytocin to ASD and other psychiatric disorders with social impairments. The Social information processing and recognition section also describes a possible alteration of both oxytocin and vasopressin systems in ASD, but does not establish vasopressin’s involvement in the other disorders. The clinical-trials clause is cited to clinicaltrials.gov, not to Modi and Young. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Disrupted oxytocin regulation might play an important role in social reward dysfunctions in ASD by impeding accurate association of social stimuli and motivation values.

    “disrupted oxytocin regulation might play an important role in social reward dysfunctions in ASD [81] by impeding the accurate association of social stimuli and motivation values [37]”

    From The social motivation theory of autism (2012) · cites this paper as [81]

  • OXT is known to enhance social salience and has been found to increase performance in a range of social cognitive tasks.

    “In this respect, OXT –which is known to enhance social salience [37]– can be seen as a promising therapeutic target and has been indeed been found to increase performance in a range of social cognitive tasks [81].”

    From The social motivation theory of autism (2012) · cites this paper as [81]

  • Dysfunctions in the actions of OT and AVP have been linked to psychiatric disorders such as autism, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

    “Dysfunctions in the actions of OT and AVP have been linked to psychiatric disorders such as autism, anxiety and schizophrenia.”

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Authors
Modi, M. E., & Young, L. J.
Affiliations
Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Young, Larry J.
Venue
Hormones and Behavior
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-03
Volume
61
Issue
3
Pages
340-350
ISSN
0018-506X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2051273046
Cited by
218
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 20
FWCI
2.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • National Institutes of Health (P51OD011132)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K02MH064692, MH064692)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR-00 165, P51RR000165)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
oxytocin, autism spectrum disorder, social cognition, social dysfunction, animal models, oxytocin receptor, CD38, knockout mice, BTBR mice, Microtus ochrogaster, pharmacotherapy, drug discovery
MeSH terms
Administration, Intranasal, Animals, Anxiety, Autistic Disorder, Behavior Therapy, Arvicolinae, Disease Models, Animal, Genotype, Humans, Models, Psychological, Oxytocin, Cystinyl Aminopeptidase, Phenotype, Social Behavior, Receptors, Oxytocin, Recognition, Psychology, Mice, Drug Discovery

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