Inhibitory effect of oxytocin on corticotrope function in humans: are vasopressin and oxytocin ying–yang neurohormones?
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) are very similar neurohypophyseal peptides. While VP is known as an ACTH stimulating factor synergistic to CRF since two decades, the inhibiting activity of OT, first demonstrated in the human, is now confirmed in various species including mouse and rat!It is likely that endogenous oxytocinergic system which can be activated by physiological and/or pharmacological manipulation can "buffer" the stress activated vasopressin-ACTH-cortisol action. Since VP and OT share also opposite action on cognitive function, those two "sister" neuropeptides might be considered as "ago-antagonist" or "ying-yang" neurohormones!
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Despite similar chemical structures of OT, AVP, and their receptors, the two peptides can have distinct or even opposing roles in many behavioral and physiological functions.
“Although the chemical structures of OT and AVP as well as their receptors are quite similar, OT and AVP can have distinct or even opposing actions.”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [4]
Because vasopressin has opposing effects on behavior to oxytocin, high-dose oxytocin occupying vasopressin receptors could account for contradictory results.
“Given that vasopressin has opposing effects on behavior to oxytocin, this could account for contradictory results (Legros, 2001; Olff et al., 2013).”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Legros, 2001
With high concentrations in the brain, oxytocin begins to occupy structurally related arginine-vasopressin receptors.
“There is some evidence that with high concentrations in the brain, oxytocin begins to occupy structurally related arginine-vasopressin receptors.”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Legros, 2001
Plasma CORT decreases in human mothers, potentially through the suckling-induced OT that can inhibit ACTH secretion.
“On the other hand, plasma CORT decreases in human mothers (54), potentially through the suckling-induced OT (55) that can inhibit ACTH secretion (56).”
From Neuroendocrinology of Parental Response to Baby‐Cry (2011) · cites this paper as [56]
Cross reactivity with AVP receptors may offset the activation of OT receptors and heighten reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which may explain why an effect was found with the 8IU dose but not the 24IU dose.
“First, cross reactivity with AVP receptors may offset the activation of OT receptors (Neumann and Landgraf, 2012) and heighten reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (Legros, 2001).”
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- Authors
- Legros, J.-J.
- Affiliations
- University of Liège (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Legros, Jean-Jacques
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2001-10
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 649-655
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1980200421
- Cited by
- 159
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 8.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, vasopressin, ACTH secretion, cortisol, stress response, corticotropin-releasing factor, neurohypophyseal peptides, cognitive function
- MeSH terms
- Adrenal Cortex, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Animals, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Humans, Oxytocin, Vasopressins, Mice, Rats
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