Melanocortin agonism in a social context selectively activates nucleus accumbens in an oxytocin-dependent manner.

ABSTRACT: Social deficits are debilitating features of many psychiatric disorders, including autism. While time-intensive behavioral therapy is moderately effective, there are no pharmacological interventions for social deficits in autism. Many studies have attempted to treat social deficits using the neuropeptide oxytocin for its powerful neuromodulatory abilities and influence on social behaviors and cognition. However, clinical trials utilizing supplementation paradigms in which exogenous oxytocin is chronically administered independent of context have failed. An alternative treatment paradigm suggests pharmacologically activating the endogenous oxytocin system during behavioral therapy to enhance the efficacy of therapy by facilitating social learning. To this end, melanocortin receptor agonists

SUBMITTER: Ford CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10923148 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature