Oxytocin Levels Research Articles

Study of endocrine disruptor effects in AVP and OT mediated behavioral and reproductive processes in female rat models

Environmental exposures may have endocrine disruptor (ED) effects, e.g., a role for halogenated hydrocarbon chlorobenzenes in increasing vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin (OT) secretion and, in association, anxiety and aggression in male rats has been shown. Our aim is to investigate whether 1,2,4-trichlorobenzenehexachlorobenzene= 1:1 (mClB) treatment of female rats also shows ED effects and reproductive biology differences, and whether AVP may have a mediator role in this? Female Wistar rats were treated (0.1; 1.0; 10.0 μg/bwkg/day) with mClB (by gastrictube) and then 30; 60; 90 days after treatment anxiety (open field test) and aggressive (resident intruder test) behaviors AVP, OT concentrations from blood plasma samples were detected by radioimmunoassay on 30; 60; 90 days. Treated female rats were mated with untreated males. Mating success, number of newborn and maternal aggression on the neonates were monitored. Results showed that AVP, OT levels; and anxiety, aggressive behaviors; and mothers' aggression towards their offspring increased significantly in relation to the duration and the dose of mClB treatment. But mating propensity and number of offspring decreased. Patterns of AVP, OT release and anxiety, aggression behaviors, and reproductive-related behaviors were correlated. Consistent with the literature, our studies confirmed the role of AVP and OT in different behavioral effects.

Investigation and Analysis of Emotional State and Oxytocin Level in Patients with Postpartum Depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental disorder in postpartum women, negatively impacting physical and mental health. Correlation analysis can predict the relationship between variables. By detecting the abnormal level of oxytocin, clinicians can timely know the emotional states of parturients to guide clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional states and oxytocin (OT) levels in patients with PPD. The medical records of 166 PPD patients admitted to Cangzhou Central Hospital from May 2020 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. After excluding 9 patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria, the remaining 157 patients were included in this study. The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Patient Health Questionaire-9 items were used to evaluate the emotional states of 157 patients, and the included subjects were grouped according to the results of the scale. The serum OT levels of patients was measured, and the relationship between the OT levels and emotional states was analyzed. In this study, 75 patients were included in the mild anxiety group, and 82 patients were included in the moderate and severe anxiety group. Seventy-nine patients were selected as the mild depression group, and 78 patients were included in the moderate and severe depression group. The mild anxiety group had a higher OT level than the moderate and severe anxiety group (Z = -10.121, p < 0.001). The mild depression group had a higher OT level than the moderate and severe depression group (Z = -9.758, p < 0.001). OT level was negatively correlated with anxiety and depression scores (r = -0.676, r = -0.665, p < 0.001). There is a specific relationship between the emotional states of PPD patients and the OT levels in the body, and active clinical management strategies need to be implemented.

Kangaroo Mother Care Induced Serum Oxytocin Facilitates Prolactin and IL-10 Among Emergency Cesarean Mothers.

The rate of cesarean section is increasing from 15% to 40% in recent years. The type of delivery influences the hormonal, emotional and mental health of the mother, which correlates positively or negatively with the health benefits of the newborn. There have been many published studies on kangaroo mother care for mothers undergoing elective cesarean section, but there is still a lack of understanding about emergency cesarean section. This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of KMC practice for mothers undergoing emergency cesarean section in terms of hormone levels such as oxytocin, cortisol, prolactin, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10. This retrospective analysis used remnant serum (KMC group = 16; control group = 9), and clinical data such as KMC practice (15-30 minutes three or four times daily until discharge), breastfeeding initiation time, feeding time, crying time and hospital stay were extracted from the electronic database. All hormone and cytokine expressions were quantitatively determined by ELISA. Comparisons within and between groups were performed using appropriate statistical tests. In the KMC group, increased levels of the hormone oxytocin significantly reduced cortisol and IL-6 and negatively influenced prolactin and IL-10 levels. The elevated prolactin facilitates overall lactation behaviour, of which 64% reported breastfeeding directly at the breast. The cytokine analysis revealed a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines and thereby an improved wound healing was seen in the KMC group. These quantitative results strongly encourage the use of KMC for mothers undergoing emergency cesarean section. These simple yet effective breastfeeding strategies promote maternal and infant health, which can reduce medication use.

Oxytocin predicts positive affect gains in a role-play interaction.

Role-play, a key creative process in theatre, is used in therapeutic interventions to improve social skills, emotion regulation, and memory. Although role-play is widely used as a psychotherapeutic technique, its mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Our study introduces a standardized controlled procedure for promoting role-play in the laboratory based on the portrayal of a fictional persona and examines its effects on anxiety, affect, prosocial attitudes, and salivary oxytocin dynamics in 38 participants. In our experiment, role-play significantly increased positive affect and prosocial attitudes and decreased anxiety compared to a control condition. Basal salivary oxytocin levels predicted higher gains in positive affect following role-play, suggesting a specific moderating effect of oxytocin. The fictional persona used in the procedure was rated as very happy by subjects, creating a positive social context for the role-play social interaction. We propose that the observed moderation effect of oxytocin in our study is specific to the role-play condition due to the capacity of role-play to generate an affective regulatory context based on congruency toward the emotional state of the fictional persona. Our findings indicate that basal oxytocin levels could predict specific outcomes of role-play in therapeutical setting. We discuss several psychological and biological mechanisms that could account for the observed effects of role-play and how oxytocin could act as a substrate for them.

Changes in peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin during a silent month-long Insight meditation retreat.

Given its putative roles in mediating prosocial behavior, attachment bonds, and stress physiology, oxytocin modulation has been hypothesized to be a biological correlate of the salubrious effects of meditation practice. Here we investigated the effects of a month-long silent meditation retreat on changes in oxytocin, and the related hormone and vasopressin, in relation to psychosocial changes in attachment style, anxiety, personality measures, and feelings of social connectedness with fellow meditators. Plasma oxytocin and vasopressin and self-report questionnaires were measured in retreat participants (n = 28) at the beginning of, and 3 weeks into, a residential meditation retreat. Control participants (n = 34), who were similar in age, gender, and meditation experience, were also assessed across a 3-week interval. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess outcomes. The retreat group showed a small but significant decrease in oxytocin compared to controls who showed no change. In the retreat group, higher openness to experience at Time 1 predicted greater reductions in oxytocin during the retreat, and lower oxytocin at Time 2 was related to stronger feelings of personal connection with fellow meditators. The changes in oxytocin were not related to attachment style or anxiety. Vasopressin decreased over time across both groups, suggesting no specific effect of retreat. These preliminary findings suggest that meditation training in the context of a silent residential retreat may reduce circulating levels of oxytocin. We interpret this finding from multiple theoretical perspectives, discussing key measurement limitations and proposing future study designs that may help to differentiate the effects of different meditation practices and contexts on oxytocin signaling.

The Role of Oxytocin in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age, representing the primary cause of anovulatory infertility. The nonapeptide oxytocin (OT) plays an important role in cognitive, emotional, and reproductive functions in human beings. Oxytocin receptors are expressed in several body parts, including the ovaries. Despite this, the possible role played by oxytocin in symptoms of PCOS is not clear. The present systematic review aimed at understanding the presence of possible oxytocin level alterations in PCOS, the connection between alterations of OT levels and the symptoms of PCOS, and the effect of oxytocin administration in PCOS. After a systematic search in the principal databases, eight studies, five human and three animal, were included. Four human studies and one animal study highlighted the role played by oxytocin in fertility issues related to PCOS. Three human and two animal studies investigated the role of body weight and OT levels. Studies that analyzed oxytocin basal levels in women agreed that PCOS is associated with a reduction in the serum level of oxytocin. Two human studies and one animal study agreed about lower levels of oxytocin, confirming a possible implication of the dysfunction of OT in the pathogenesis of PCOS.

Fluorene-9-bisphenol acts on the gut-brain axis by regulating oxytocin signaling to disturb social behaviors in zebrafish

Previous studies have identified the exposure to ubiquitous environmental endocrine disruptors may be a risk factor of neurological disorders. However, the effects of fluorene-9-bisphenol (BHPF) in environmental exposure concentrations associated with these disorders are poorly understood. In this study, classic light-dark and social behavior tests were performed on zebrafish larvae and adults exposed BHPF exposure to evaluate social behavioral disorders and the microbiota-gut-brain axis was assessed to reveal the potential mechanisms underlying the behavioral abnormalities observed. Our results demonstrated that zebrafish larvae exposed to an environmentally relevant concentration (0.1 nM) of BHPF for 7 days showed a diminished response to external environmental factors (light or dark). Zebrafish larvae exposed to BHPF for 7 days or adults exposed to BHPF for 30 days at 1 μM displayed significant behavioral inhibition and altered social behaviors, including social recognition, social preference, and social fear contagion, indicating autism-like behaviors were induced by the exposure. BHPF exposure reduced the distribution of Nissl bodies in midbrain neurons and significantly reduced 5-hydroxytryptamine signaling. Oxytocin (OXT) levels and expression of its receptor oxtra in the gut and brain were down-regulated by BHPF exposure. In addition, the expression levels of genes related to the excitation-inhibitory balance of synaptic transmission changed. Microbiomics revealed increased community diversity and altered abundance of some microflora, such as an elevation in Bacillota and Bacteroidota and a decline in Mycoplasmatota in zebrafish guts, which might contribute to the abnormal neural circuits and autism-like behaviors induced by BHPF. Finally, the rescue effect of exogenous OXT on social behavioral defects induced by BHPF exposure was verified in zebrafish, highlighting the crucial role of OXT signaling through gut-brain axis in the regulatory mechanisms of social behaviors affected by BHPF. This study contributes to understanding the effects of environmental BHPF exposure on neuropsychiatric disorders and attracts public attention to the health risks posed by chemicals in aquatic organisms. The potential mental disorders should be considered in the safety assessments of environmental pollutants.

Specific Salivary Neuropeptides Shift Synchronously during Acute Stress in Fire Recruits.

Once thought of as an immune-privileged site, we now know that the nervous system communicates in a bidirectional manner with the immune system via the neuroimmune axis. Neuropeptides constitute a component of this axis, playing critical roles in the brain and periphery. The function of salivary neuropeptides in the acute stress response is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate salivary neuropeptide levels during acute stress. Salivary samples were collected from fire recruits engaged in a stress training exercise previously shown to induce acute stress, at three separate timepoints during the exercise and levels of oxytocin, neurotensin, Substance P, α-MSH, and β-Endorphin were measured using the Human Neuropeptide 5-Plex Custom Assay Eve Technologies. All neuropeptides increased throughout the acute stress simulation and during the recovery phase. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified one factor contributing to baseline values across five neuropeptides and Pairwise Pearson Correlation Coefficient analysis showed positive correlations >0.9 for almost all neuropeptide combinations at the pre-stress timepoint. Further analysis identified negative and positive correlations between past-life trauma and self-assessed hardiness, respectively. Calculated neuropeptide scores showed an overall positive correlation to self-assessed hardiness. Altogether, our results suggest that salivary neuropeptides increase synchronously during acute stress and higher levels correlate with an increase in self-assessed hardiness. Further study is required to determine if interventions designed to enhance neuropeptide activity can increase stress resilience, especially in high-stress occupations such as firefighting.

Human placental lactogen (human chorionic somatomammotropin) and oxytocin during pregnancy: Individual patterns and associations with maternal-fetal attachment, anxiety, and depression

Previous studies support links among maternal-fetal attachment, psychological symptoms, and hormones during pregnancy and the post-partum period. Other studies connect maternal feelings and behaviors to oxytocin and suggest that an increase in oxytocin during pregnancy may prime maternal-fetal attachment. To date, researchers have not examined a possible association between maternal-fetal attachment with human placental lactogen although animal models are suggestive. In the current study, we sought to describe oxytocin and human placental lactogen levels as related to psychological constructs across pregnancy. Seventy women participated in the study. At each of three time-points (early, mid, and late pregnancy), the women had their blood drawn to assess oxytocin and human placental lactogen levels, and they completed psychological assessments measuring maternal-fetal attachment, anxiety, and depression. Our results indicate that oxytocin levels were statistically similar across pregnancy, but that human placental lactogen significantly increased across pregnancy. Results did not indicate significant associations of within-person (comparing individuals to themselves) oxytocin or human placental lactogen levels with maternal-fetal attachment. Additionally, results did not show between-person (comparing individuals to other individuals) oxytocin or human placental lactogen levels with maternal-fetal attachment. Oxytocin levels were not associated with anxiety; rather the stage of pregnancy moderated the effect of the within-person OT level on depression. Notably, increasing levels of human placental lactogen were significantly associated with increasing levels of both anxiety and depression in between subject analyses. The current study is important because it describes typical hormonal and maternal fetal attachment levels during each stage of pregnancy, and because it suggests an association between human placental lactogen and psychological symptoms during pregnancy. Future research should further elucidate these relationships.

Eating behavior patterns, metabolic parameters, and circulating levels of oxytocin in patientswith obesity: a prospective pilot study

Eating behavior patterns, metabolic parameters, and circulating levels of oxytocin in patientswith obesity: a prospective pilot study

Environmental enrichment enhances ethanol preference over social reward in male swiss mice: Involvement of oxytocin-dopamine interactions

The impact of environmental enrichment (EE) on natural rewards, including social and appetitive rewards, was investigated in male Swiss mice. EE, known for providing animals with various stimuli, was assessed for its effects on conditioned place preference (CPP) associated with ethanol and social stimuli. We previously demonstrated that EE increased the levels of the prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) in the hypothalamus and enhanced ethanol rewarding effects via an oxytocinergic mechanism. This study also investigated the impact of EE on social dominance and motivation for rewards, measured OT-mediated phospholipase C (PLC) activity in striatal membranes, and assessed OT expression in the hypothalamus. The role of dopamine in motivating rewards was considered, along with the interaction between OT and D1 receptors (DR) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Results showed that EE mice exhibited a preference for ethanol reward over social reward, a pattern replicated by the OT analogue Carbetocin. EE mice demonstrated increased social dominance and reduced motivation for appetitive taste stimuli. Higher OT mRNA levels in the hypothalamus were followed by diminished OT receptor (OTR) signaling activity in the striatum of EE mice. Additionally, EE mice displayed elevated D1R expression, which was attenuated by the OTR antagonist (L-368-889). The findings underscore the reinforcing effect of EE on ethanol and social rewards through an oxytocinergic mechanism. Nonetheless, they suggest that mechanisms other than the prosocial effect of EE may contribute to the ethanol pro-rewarding effect of EE and Carbetocin. They also point towards an OT-dopamine interaction potentially underlying some of these effects.

Assessment of Some Physiological, Immunological and Molecular Biomarkers in Sample of Iraqi Women Undergoing Caesarean Section and Normal Delivery

Pregnancy and delivery are physiological conditions that are marked by abrupt alterations to hormones, immunological and molecular characters. The current study aimed to evaluate oxytocin (OT), prolactin (PRL), cortisol and insulin growth factor-2 (IGF-2) levels as physiological biomarkers; programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1),interleukin-6 (IL-6) as immunological biomarkers, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs53576 and rs2254298) of oxytocin receptor gene OXTR as molecular factors in samples of Iraqi women undergoing caesarean section (CS) and normal delivery (ND). Blood samples were collected from 96 pregnant women at term with ages ranging between 16-43 years. Regarding the physiological biomarkers, the study findings indicated that the change in OT, cortisol and IGF-2 between CS and ND groups was not significant, While the PRL level indicated a highly significant (P≤0.001) decrease in the CS group, especially in comparison with the ND group. Immunological biomarkers demonstrated a significant (P≤05) elevation for PD-1 as well as for PD-L1 in the CS group as compared to the ND group. However, PD-1/PD-L1 ratio revealed a high significant (P≤0.001) rise in CS compared with ND. The IL-6 results revealed a significant (P≤0.001) reduction in the CS groups compared to the ND group. And regarding the SNP of OXTR (rs53576), the findings revealed no notable association in genotypes CC, TC and TT between both groups. In addition, the mutant C allele and the wild T allele revealed no significant association between CS and ND groups [OR=1.26 (0.68-2.3%)]. The SNP results of OXTR (rs2254298) showed a high positive association (P≤0.001) in genotypes GG, AG and AA between CS and ND groups. Also, the mutant G allele and the wild A allele revealed high significance (P≤0.001) between both groups [OR=5.3 (2.8-9.76%)].

Severe PTSD is marked by reduced oxytocin and elevated vasopressin

Neuroendocrine analyses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have generally focused on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis alterations. In the present analyses, we examine two additional neuroendocrine factors that have been previously implicated in biological stress responses: oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP). Here we examined basal neuropeptide status in military veterans clinically diagnosed with PTSD (n = 29) and in two non-traumatized comparison groups with previous stress exposure (n = 11 SWAT trainees and n = 21 ultramarathon runners). PTSD patients showed low levels of plasma OT and high levels of AVP. The ratio of AVP/OT robustly related to PTSD status, and emerged as a statistically plausible mediator of relationships between the number of personal traumatic experiences and subsequent PTSD symptom burden. Over the course of behavioral therapy for PTSD, measures of OT showed a significant but modest normalization. Plasma cortisol levels were not statistically different among the three groups. This study suggests that AVP/OT ratios may represent a neuroendocrine predictor of severe PTSD, as well as a potential treatment response biomarker.

Oxytocin and women's health in midlife.

Menopause marks the cessation of fertility and the transition to post-reproductive years. Nearly 1 million US women experience menopause annually, but despite the significant impact it has on their physical and mental health, menopause has been insufficiently studied. Oxytocin is a neurohormone that regulates emotionality, social behaviors, and fundamental physiological systems. Localization of oxytocin receptors in the brain, reproductive tissues, bone, and heart support their role in mental health and potentially sleep, along with reproductive and cardiovascular functions. While experimental data linking oxytocin to behavior and physiology in animals are largely consistent, human data are correlative and inconclusive. As women transition into menopause, oxytocin levels decrease while their susceptibility to mood disorders, poor sleep, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases increases. These concurrent changes highlight oxytocin as a potential influence on the health and mood of women along their reproductive life span. Here, we summarize experimental rodent and non-human primate studies that link oxytocin to reproductive aging and metabolic health and highlight the inconclusive findings in studies of women. Most human studies relied on a single oxytocin assessment in plasma or on intranasal oxytocin administration. The pulsatile release and short half-life of plasma oxytocin limit the validity of these methods. We discuss the need for oxytocin assessments in stable bio-samples, such as urine, and to use valid assays for assessment of associations between changing oxytocin levels and well-being across the reproductive life span. This work has the potential to guide therapeutic strategies that will one day alleviate adverse health outcomes for many women.

Comparison of the Effect of Two Different Handling Conditions at Slaughter in Saliva Analytes in Pigs.

In this report, different handling conditions at slaughterhouse were studied to assess changes in salivary biomarkers. For this purpose, finishing pigs were divided into two groups, one in which handling was improved to minimize stress (Group A, n = 24, transported and stabled at the slaughterhouse at low density without mixing with unfamiliar animals throughout the whole process) and another one in which animals had a more stressful handling process (Group B, n = 24, transported and stabled at high density with unfamiliar animals). Saliva samples were taken the day before transport to the slaughterhouse at 8:00 a.m. (B0) and 12:00 a.m. (B4), and the day of slaughter just after unloading animals at the slaughterhouse at approximately 8:00 a.m. (S0) and after 4 h of lairage at approximately 12:00 a.m. (S4). Group B showed significantly higher cortisol, total esterase activity, oxytocin, adenosine deaminase and haptoglobin levels than the Group A at both S0 and S4 sampling times, and higher levels of calprotectin and creatine kinase at S4 sampling time. This report indicates that differences in the way in which the pigs are handled at the slaughterhouse can lead to changes in salivary biomarkers and opens the possibility of the use of biomarker at slaughter to monitor handling conditions.

Negative association between basal oxytocin and oxytocin changes after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with treatment-resistant depression

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a neuromodulator effective for treating depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One of the multiple mechanisms for its antidepressant effects proposed is related to the hypothalamus. Oxytocin is a neuropeptide synthesized in the hypothalamus that affects human behavior and psychology, including social and affiliative behaviors, stress regulation, and fear and emotion processing. There have been no reports on the relationship between rTMS and oxytocin for the treatment of TRD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate changes in salivary oxytocin concentrations in patients with TRD before and after 6 weeks of rTMS treatment. A total of 28 patients with TRD who received rTMS at Saga University Hospital between August 2013 and August 2020 were included. Although rTMS treatment significantly improved 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, rTMS treatment did not change mean salivary oxytocin after 6 weeks of treatment in patients with TRD. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the change in salivary oxytocin levels after rTMS treatment was negatively associated with basal oxytocin levels before rTMS treatment, suggesting that rTMS treatment tends to decrease oxytocin levels in patients with depression with high basal oxytocin levels while increasing them in those with low basal levels. These findings suggest that rTMS treatment improved depressive symptoms through mechanisms other than the modulatory effect on oxytocin levels in patients with TRD, while there is room for further studies to confirm these findings using a larger patient sample size and/or a sham rTMS procedure.

Assessment of the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on the Sexual Function of Women, Levels of Oxytocin and Prolactin: A Prospective Cohort Study.

(1) Background: There is a lack of direct evidence on whether SARS-CoV-2 affects women's sexual function through a biological-organic mechanism. Existing studies on the topic are few and have produced contradictory results. This study aims to explore the possible relationship between sex hormones and sexual function in patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we aimed to determine whether these changes are related to the clinical course of COVID-19 and whether they are temporary or long-lasting. (2) Methods: A study was conducted on 104 women, including 64 women infected with COVID-19 and a control group of 40 healthy women, between January 2021 and August 2022. Blood samples were collected to measure prolactin and oxytocin levels, and a clinical assessment was performed 3 and 6 months later. Sexual function self-assessment was captured based on the FSFI scale. (3) Results: Our study found that patients with severe COVID-19 had better sexual satisfaction scores one month after recovery but no discernible difference after six months. High levels of serum prolactin were observed in patients with active COVID-19 but became similar to a control group after one month and remained stable over time. Higher prolactin levels were significantly associated with increased arousal and hydration. Individuals with severe COVID-19 had notably low levels of plasma oxytocin, but there was no correlation between oxytocin levels and sexual satisfaction. (4) Conclusions: The gynecologic symptoms, as well as disturbances in oxytocin and prolactin levels, might be observed in a short time after infection. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection has no lasting effect on sexual function, oxytocin, and prolactin levels among women.

Irisin administration modifies ovary mast cell numbers, ovarian angiogenesis, and oxytocin levels in obese rats

Exercise hormone irisin, a thermogenic adipo-myokine, promotes energy expenditure by white adipose tissue browning. Considering that irisin improves the white adipose tissue metabolic profile and increases whole-body energy expenditure, it is thought that irisin may be a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of the growing epidemic of obesity. The roles of mast cells and angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of obesity are known, and the importance of loss of mast cell function and antiangiogenic agents in the treatment of obesity has gained prominence in recent years. In addition, the therapeutic efficacy of oxytocin for obesity, by inducing browning and stimulating thermogenesis, is also noteworthy. To understand better the mechanisms involved in the therapeutic effect of irisin on obesity, the present study evaluated the effects of irisin treatment on high-fat diet-induced, obese female rats, focusing on the number of ovary mast cells, and ovarian angiogenesis and serum oxytocin levels. Our findings showed that ovary mast cell numbers, corpus luteum angiogenesis, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoreactivity in ovarian tissues increased with obesity and then significantly decreased with irisin administration. Also, it was determined that the increased serum oxytocin levels with obesity, increased markedly depending on irisin administration in obese female rats. Taken together, our findings revealed that irisin can well be considered as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of obesity by reducing mast cells and angiogenesis, and promoting oxytocin secretion.

Effects of a One-Day Experiential Sheep-Rearing Experience on Motivation, Anxiety, and Frontal Lobe Brain Activity in Patients with Chronic Psychiatric Disorders: A Crossover Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a one-day sheep-rearing experience on motivation and anxiety levels in patients with chronic mental illness. The study assessed changes in oxytocin and cortisol levels and brain activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is known to be associated with emotion and motivation. The study employed a non-randomized controlled trial design, with participants receiving both an intervention day (sheep rearing) and a control day (usual psychiatric day care) in a crossover fashion. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The intervention day consisted of hands-on sheep rearing activities, while the control day consisted of general activities available at the psychiatric day care center. Results showed that the sheep-raising experience had an equal effect on motivation and increased mean oxytocin levels. In addition, significantly more activity was observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) region of the brain compared to typical psychiatric daycare activities (p &lt; 0.032, p &lt; 0.043). Participants tended to have increased oxytocin levels after sheep rearing, and the activation of the DLPFC has not previously been observed in animal intervention studies. These are new findings in psychiatric occupational therapy that may have effects on social cognition and interpersonal relationships in patients with chronic mental illness.

(PM-19) INSIGHTS INTO THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HYPERSEXUALITY: A COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE EXPLORATION

Abstract Introduction Hypersexuality or Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) is characterized by a spectrum of sexual behaviors and fantasies marked by compulsion, obsession, and impulsivity. The pathophysiology of CSBD remains poorly understood despite the arousing of articles exploring the potential biomarkers associated with hypersexuality. Objective We aimed to review the literature regarding the investigation on CSBD pathophysiology from a neuroimaging, neuroendocrine and molecular perspective. Methods We raised papers related on neuroimaging, neuroendocrine and molecular biomarkers investigated in individuals that reached diagnosis of CSBD or similar, written in English language in the last 10 years, through PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science with biomarkers and compulsive sexual behavior/hypersexuality key terms. Results Neuroimaging studies revealed the activation of the anterior cingulate cortex, ventral striatum, and amygdala, in individuals with CSBD. Neuroendocrine markers revealed abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, including elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and non-suppression of dexamethasone. Findings concerning the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, responsible for sexual function regulation, varied among CSBD individuals, including testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Oxytocin levels have been noted to rise in CSBD individuals and subsequently decrease following psychotherapy. Genetic and epigenetic markers associated with CSBD suggest involvement of addiction-related genes and epigenetic modifications near the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene. Conclusion Most of the findings point to HPA axis alterations. Molecular analysis is in the beginning, as well as more research on the HPG axis is needed. The exploration of CSBD biomarkers potentially will provide insights into its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Financing FAPESP.