Oxytocin and Estrogen Receptor β in the Brain: An Overview.
Oxytocin and Estrogen Receptor β in the Brain: An Overview.
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DOI：
10.3389/fendo.2015.00160
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发表时间：
2015
影响因子：
5.2
通讯作者：
Handa RJ
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Acevedo-Rodriguez A;Mani SK;Handa RJ
催产素（OT）是一种主要由下丘脑室旁核和视上核神经元合成的神经肽。这些神经元的轴突投射到垂体后叶，并将OT释放到血液中，促进分娩和哺乳；然而，OT神经元也投射到大脑的其他区域，在那里它在许多大脑功能中发挥作用。OT与广泛表达的OT受体（OTR）结合，并在此过程中调节稳态过程、社会识别和恐惧条件反射。除了这些功能外，OT还可以减少神经内分泌应激信号和焦虑相关和抑郁样行为。类固醇激素可调节应激反应并改变OTR的表达。特别是，雌激素受体β的激活既可以减少焦虑相关行为，又可以增加OT肽的转录，这表明OT在雌激素受体β介导的抗焦虑作用中起作用。需要进一步的研究来确定OT信号的调节剂和所利用的途径，并阐明控制OT表达的分子机制，以便在患者群体中更好地治疗该系统。
Oxytocin (OT) is a neuropeptide synthesized primarily by neurons of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. These neurons have axons that project into the posterior pituitary and release OT into the bloodstream to promote labor and lactation; however, OT neurons also project to other brain areas where it plays a role in numerous brain functions. OT binds to the widely expressed OT receptor (OTR), and, in doing so, it regulates homeostatic processes, social recognition, and fear conditioning. In addition to these functions, OT decreases neuroendocrine stress signaling and anxiety-related and depression-like behaviors. Steroid hormones differentially modulate stress responses and alter OTR expression. In particular, estrogen receptor β activation has been found to both reduce anxiety-related behaviors and increase OT peptide transcription, suggesting a role for OT in this estrogen receptor β-mediated anxiolytic effect. Further research is needed to identify modulators of OT signaling and the pathways utilized and to elucidate molecular mechanisms controlling OT expression to allow better therapeutic manipulations of this system in patient populations.