BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVE:This study compares the efficacy of sublingual misoprostol versus intravenous oxytocin in reducing bleeding during and after cesarean delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A randomized clinical trial conducted on 120 pregnant women at term (37-40 weeks) gestation scheduled for elective cesarean delivery, who were assigned to either sublingual misoprostol 400 μg or intravenous infusion of 20 units of oxytocin after delivery of the neonate. The main outcome measures were blood loss at and 2 hours after cesarean delivery, change in hematocrit value, need for any additional oxytocic drugs, and drug-related side effects. RESULTS:The overall mean blood loss was significantly lower in the misoprostol group compared to the oxytocin group (490.75 ± 159.90 mL vs. 601.08 ± 299.49 mL; p = 0.025). However, changes in hematocrit level (pre- and postpartum) was comparable between both groups. There was a need for additional oxytocic therapy in 16.7% and 23.3% after use of misoprostol and oxytocin, respectively (p = 0.361). Incidence of side effects such as shivering and metallic taste were significantly higher in the misoprostol group compared to the oxytocin group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Sublingual misoprostol is more effective than intravenous infusion of oxytocin in reducing blood loss during and after cesarean delivery. However, occurrence of temporary side effects such as shivering and metallic taste was more frequent with the use of misoprostol.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :It has been earlier proposed that oxytocin could play a facilitatory role in the preovulatory LH surge in both rats and humans. We here provide evidence that oxytocin also facilitates sexual maturation in female rats. The administration of an oxytocin antagonist for 6 d to immature female rats decreased GnRH pulse frequency ex vivo and delayed the age at vaginal opening and first estrus. The in vitro reduction in GnRH pulse frequency required chronic blockade of oxytocin receptors, because it was not acutely observed after a single injection of the antagonist. Hypothalamic explants exposed to the antagonist in vitro showed a reduced GnRH pulse frequency and failed to respond to oxytocin with GnRH release. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) mimicked the stimulatory effect of oxytocin on GnRH pulse frequency, and inhibition of PG synthesis blocked the effect of oxytocin, suggesting that oxytocin accelerates pulsatile GnRH release via PGE(2). The source of PGE(2) appears to be astrocytes, because oxytocin stimulates PGE(2) release from cultured hypothalamic astrocytes. Moreover, astrocytes express oxytocin receptors, whereas GnRH neurons do not. These results suggest that oxytocin facilitates female sexual development and that this effect is mediated by a mechanism involving glial production of PGE(2).

背景与目标： : 早先有人提出，催产素可以在大鼠和人类的排卵前LH激增中起促进作用。我们在这里提供的证据表明催产素也促进雌性大鼠的性成熟。对未成熟的雌性大鼠施用催产素拮抗剂6 d可降低体外GnRH脉冲频率，并延迟阴道开放和首次发情的年龄。GnRH脉冲频率的体外降低需要长期阻断催产素受体，因为在单次注射拮抗剂后未观察到。体外暴露于拮抗剂的下丘脑外植体显示出GnRH脉冲频率降低，并且对GnRH释放的催产素没有反应。前列腺素E(2) (PGE(2)) 模拟了催产素对GnRH脉冲频率的刺激作用，抑制PG合成阻断了催产素的作用，表明催产素通过PGE(2) 加速了GnRH的脉冲释放。PGE(2) 的来源似乎是星形胶质细胞，因为催产素刺激PGE(2) 从培养的下丘脑星形胶质细胞释放。此外，星形胶质细胞表达催产素受体，而GnRH神经元不表达。这些结果表明，催产素促进了女性的性发育，并且这种作用是由涉及神经胶质产生的PGE(2) 的机制介导的。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:The junctional zone (JZ), also called as the endometrial-myometrial junction, is related to peristaltic-like movements in the non-pregnant uterus. Hyperperistalsis and dysperistalsis of uterus constructions might underlie many important disorders such as dysmenorrhea, infertility, endometriosis, implantation failure. The major proteins for uterine contraction of the non-pregnant uterus may be Oxytocin (OT) and oxytocin receptor (OTR). The objective of this study was to inspect the expression of OTR in isthmic and mid-fundal parts of the uterine junctional zone at different stages of the follicular cycle in patients with and without endometriosis. METHODS:Uterine biopsies containing endometrium and junctional zone were collected from the isthmic and mid-fundal parts of the anterior wall after hysterectomy. The OTR expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS:In the control uterus, OTR expression in the isthmic region was significantly higher than in the fundal region in the proliferative phase (p < 0.05) but significantly lower in the secretory phase (p < 0.05). And the expression of OTR in the proliferative phase was significantly higher than that in the secretory phase in both isthmic and fundal regions (p = 0.000 and 0.049, respectively). However, in endometriosis uteri, OTR expression in the isthmic region showed no significant difference with that in the fundal region in both proliferative and secretory phases (p = 0.597 and 0.736, respectively). In both isthmic and fundal regions, OTR expression was not significantly different between the proliferative phase and secretory phase (p = 0.084 and 0.222, respectively). OTR expression in fundal regions of revised ASRM I and II endometriosis were lower than that of revised ASRM III and IV (p = 0.049). In the fundal region of JZ, the expression of OTR in ovarian endometriosis was significantly lower than that in deep infiltrating endometriosis (p = 0.046). The expression level of OTR in the funds region is positively associated with the severity of dysmenorrhea in endometriosis group (r = 0.870, p < 0.05). Comparing to normal uteri, the expression of OTR in the secretory phase was significantly higher in the endometriosis uteri (p < 0.05). In the fundus of endometriosis uteri, OTR expression was significantly higher in both the proliferative and secretory phases (p = 0.045 and 0.028, respectively). CONCLUSION:OTR expression in the JZ of women with endometriosis changes significantly, which may result in abnormal uterine contractile activity, reducing the endometriosis-related fertility and dysmenorrhea.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Oxytocin has been suggested as a potential therapeutic agent in autism and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Although, the link between the deficit in "SH3 domain and ankyrin repeat containing protein 3" (SHANK3) and autism spectrum disorders is highly studied topic, developmental mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this study, we clearly confirm that SHANK3 deficiency is accompanied with abnormalities in neurite number and length, which are reversed by oxytocin treatment (1 μM, 48h) in primary hippocampal neurons. Transient silencing for the SHANK3 gene (siSHANK3) in neuron-like cell line (SH-SY5Y) revealed a significant decrease in the expression levels of Neurexins 1α, 1β, 2α and 2β. Oxytocin treatment compensated reduced levels of Synapsin I, PSD95 and Neuroligin 3 in siSHANK3 cells suggesting a marked potential of oxytocin to ameliorate defects present in conditions of SHANK3 deficiency. Further analysis of hippocampal tissue revealed that oxytocin application (0.1 μg/μl, s.c. at P2 and P3 day) affects levels of synaptic proteins and GTPases in both WT and SHANK3 deficient mice on day P5. Oxytocin stimulated the mRNA expression of RhoB and Rac1 in both WT and SHANK3 deficient mice. Our data suggest that autism relevant synaptic pathologies could be reversed by oxytocin treatment.

背景与目标： : 催产素被认为是自闭症和其他神经精神疾病的潜在治疗剂。尽管 “SH3结构域和含有锚蛋白重复序列的蛋白质3” (SHANK3) 的缺陷与自闭症谱系障碍之间的联系是高度研究的话题，但对发育机制的了解仍然很少。在这项研究中，我们清楚地证实了SHANK3缺乏症伴有神经突数量和长度的异常，而原发性海马神经元的催产素治疗 (1μm，48h) 可以逆转。神经元样细胞系 (SH-SY5Y) 中SHANK3基因 (siSHANK3) 的瞬时沉默显示Neurexins 1α，1β，2α 和2β 的表达水平显着降低。催产素治疗补偿了siSHANK3细胞中突触素I，PSD95和神经ligin 3水平的降低，表明催产素具有明显的潜力来改善SHANK3缺乏症中存在的缺陷。对海马组织的进一步分析表明，催产素的应用 (0.1 μ g/μ l，在P2和P3天的sc) 会影响WT和SHANK3缺陷小鼠在p5天的突触蛋白和GTPases水平。催产素刺激WT和SHANK3缺陷小鼠中RhoB和Rac1的mRNA表达。我们的数据表明，催产素治疗可以逆转自闭症相关的突触病理。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Proper response to stress and social stimuli depends on orchestrated development of hypothalamic neuronal circuits. Here we address the effects of the developmental transcription factor orthopedia (Otp) on hypothalamic development and function. We show that developmental mutations in the zebrafish paralogous gene otpa but not otpb affect both stress response and social preference. These behavioral phenotypes were associated with developmental alterations in oxytocinergic (OXT) neurons. Thus, otpa and otpb differentially regulate neuropeptide switching in a newly identified subset of OXT neurons that co-express the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Single-cell analysis revealed that these neurons project mostly to the hindbrain and spinal cord. Ablation of this neuronal subset specifically reduced adult social preference without affecting stress behavior, thereby uncoupling the contribution of a specific OXT cluster to social behavior from the general otpa-/- deficits. Our findings reveal a new role for Otp in controlling developmental neuropeptide balance in a discrete OXT circuit whose disrupted development affects social behavior.

背景与目标： : 对压力和社会刺激的正确反应取决于下丘脑神经元回路的协调发展。在这里，我们讨论了发育转录因子orthoopedia (Otp) 对下丘脑发育和功能的影响。我们表明，斑马鱼旁系基因otpa的发育突变，但otpb不会影响应激反应和社会偏好。这些行为表型与催产素能 (OXT) 神经元的发育改变有关。因此，otpa和otpb在新发现的共同表达促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素 (CRH) 的OXT神经元子集中差异调节神经肽的切换。单细胞分析显示，这些神经元主要投射到后脑和脊髓。该神经元子集的消融特别降低了成人的社交偏好，而不影响压力行为，从而使特定OXT簇对社交行为的贡献与一般otpa-/-缺陷脱钩。我们的发现揭示了Otp在控制离散OXT回路中发育神经肽平衡中的新作用，该回路的发育中断会影响社会行为。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant mental health concern, especially for women in vulnerable populations. Oxytocin (OT), a hormone essential for a variety of maternal tasks, including labor, lactation, and infant bonding, has also been hypothesized to have a role in postpartum depression. Women are routinely given synthetic oxytocin to induce or augment labor and to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to review the quality and reliability of literature that examines potential relationships between OT and PPD to determine if there is sufficient data to reliably assess the strength of these relationships. We conducted a literature search in December of 2018 using five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL). Eligible studies were identified, selected, and appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale and Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias, as appropriate. Sixteen studies were included in the analysis and broken into two categories: correlations of endogenous OT with PPD and administration of synthetic OT with PPD. Depressive symptoms were largely measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. OT levels were predominately measured in plasma, though there were differences in laboratory methodology and control of confounders (primarily breast feeding). Of the twelve studies focused on endogenous oxytocin, eight studies suggested an inverse relationship between plasma OT levels and depressive symptoms. We are not able to draw any conclusions regarding the relationship between intravenous synthetic oxytocin and postpartum depression based on current evidence due to the heterogeneity and small number of studies (n = 4). Considering limitations of the current literature and the current clinical prevalence of synthetic OT administration, we strongly recommend that rigorous studies examining the effects of synthetic OT exposure on PPD should be performed as well as continued work in defining the relationship between endogenous OT and PPD.

背景与目标： 产后抑郁症 (PPD) 是一个重要的精神卫生问题，尤其是对于弱势人群中的妇女。催产素 (OT) 是一种对各种孕产妇任务 (包括分娩，哺乳和婴儿结合) 必不可少的激素，也被认为在产后抑郁症中起作用。妇女通常给予合成催产素以诱导或增加分娩并预防产后出血。这项研究的目的是审查文献的质量和可靠性，这些文献检查了OT和PPD之间的潜在关系，以确定是否有足够的数据来可靠地评估这些关系的强度。我们使用五个数据库 (PubMed，Web of Science，Embase，PsycInfo和CINAHL) 对12月2018年进行了文献搜索。根据情况，使用纽卡斯尔-渥太华质量评估量表和Cochrane协作评估偏倚风险工具对符合条件的研究进行鉴定、选择和评估。16项研究被纳入分析，并分为两类: 内源性OT与PPD的相关性和合成OT与PPD的给药。抑郁症状主要使用爱丁堡产后抑郁量表进行测量。尽管实验室方法和混杂因素的控制 (主要是母乳喂养) 存在差异，但主要是在血浆中测量OT水平。在针对内源性催产素的十二项研究中，有八项研究表明血浆OT水平与抑郁症状之间呈反比关系。由于异质性和少量研究 (n = 4)，根据目前的证据，我们无法得出有关静脉合成催产素与产后抑郁症之间关系的任何结论。考虑到当前文献的局限性和合成OT给药的当前临床流行，我们强烈建议应进行严格的研究，检查合成OT暴露对PPD的影响，并继续研究内源性OT和PPD之间的关系。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: By use of a double-labeling immunofluorescence method with a confocal laser scanning microscope, we have examined whether a calcium-binding protein, calretinin, is localized in magnocellular oxytocin and vasopressin neurons of the rat hypothalamus. In the supraoptic nucleus, all oxytocin-labeled cells were stained for calretinin. However, in the magnocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus, almost all oxytocin-stained cells were devoid of calretinin immunoreactivity. All vasopressin-positive cells of both the supraoptic nucleus and the magnocellular part of the paraventricular nucleus lacked calretinin immunoreactivity. No calretinin immunoreactivity was found in oxytocin-labeled cells of the the anterior commissural nucleus or in vasopressin-labeled cells of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. We previously showed that another calcium-binding protein, calbindin-D28k, was localized in magnocellular oxytocin neurons of the supraoptic nucleus but not in those of the paraventricular nucleus. These findings suggest that, in general, magnocellular oxytocin neurons of the supraoptic nucleus and those of the paraventricular nucleus can be chemically distinguished, that is, the former contain both calretinin and calbindin-D28k but the latter lack the two calcium-binding proteins.

背景与目标： 通过使用双标记免疫荧光方法和共聚焦激光扫描显微镜，我们检查了钙结合蛋白calretinin是否位于大鼠下丘脑的大细胞催产素和加压素神经元中。在视上核中，所有催产素标记的细胞均被钙网素染色。然而，在室旁核的大细胞部分，几乎所有催产素染色的细胞都没有钙网素免疫反应性。视上核和室旁核的大细胞部分的所有加压素阳性细胞均缺乏钙网素免疫反应性。在前连合核的催产素标记的细胞或视交叉上核的加压素标记的细胞中未发现calretinin免疫反应性。我们先前显示，另一种钙结合蛋白calbindin-D28k位于视上核的大细胞催产素神经元中，而不在室旁核的神经元中。这些发现表明，一般来说，视上核和室旁核的大细胞催产素神经元可以化学区分，也就是说，前者既含有钙网素又含有calbindin-D28k，但后者缺乏两种钙结合蛋白。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PURPOSE:In order to prevent postpartum hemorrhage in caesarean section under spinal anesthesia, patients routinely receive oxytocin. In this study we compared the efficacy of Methylergonovine and Oxytocin on hemodynamic stability and bleeding amount in caesarean section. MATERIALS AND METHODS:In this randomised controlled trial study, 80 patients candidate for elective caesarean section under spinal anesthesia divided to two groups: 40 patients in control group received oxytocin and 40 ones in case group received methylergonovine. RESULTS:There was no differences between groups in Mean age, baseline hemodynamic values, after spinal anesthesia and recovery (except diastolic blood pressure min 20), time of uterine atony, dizziness; nausea and vomiting. After drug administration (oxytocin and methylergonovine), systolic blood pressure in minutes 1, 10, 15 and diastolic blood pressure in minutes 1, 3, 20 increased in case group statistically more than control group. In control group, heart rate in minutes 1, 5 increased significantly more than the other group. Mean arterial blood pressure in minutes 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 reduced significantly more than in control group. Need to vasoconstrictor drug statistically was less in case group (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION:Methylergonovine induced significantly more hemodynamic stability. Adverse effects were similar between two groups. We recommend the use of methylergonovine in patients with caesarean section under spinal anesthesia because of its hemodynamic stability and low need to vasoconstrictor drugs.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: PURPOSE:The aim of the study was to compare the prophylactic effects of carbetocin with those of oxytocin for the prevention of uterine atony in patients undergoing elective caesarean section (CS) in the Netherlands. The primary endpoint was the need for additional uterotonic medication. METHODS:Each of the five participating Dutch hospitals treated 50-100 term patients with 100 μg of intravenous carbetocin on prescription. Each centre retrieved charts of 250 patients treated with oxytocin according to the hospital's policy for the prevention of uterine atony (oxytocin bolus 5 IU, bolus 10 IU or bolus 5 IU followed by 10 IU in 2 h). RESULTS:In the carbetocin group 462 subjects were included and in the oxytocin group 1,122. The proportion of subjects needing additional uterotonic treatment was 3.1 % (95 % CI 1.7-5.1 %) after carbetocin and 7.2 % (5.8-8.9 %) after oxytocin; relative risk 0.41 (0.19-0.85); p = 0.0110. Carbetocin was most effective compared with the oxytocin 5 IU bolus subgroup with less need for additional uterotonic medication (3.1 vs. 9.3 %, p = 0.0067) and blood transfusions (2.2 vs. 3.6 %, p = 0.0357). CONCLUSIONS:Compared with oxytocin, prophylaxis of uterine atony with carbetocin after an elective CS diminished the need for additional uterotonics by more than 50 %.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Induction of labor by Oxytocin is a routine obstetric procedure. However, little is known regarding the optimal dose of oxytocin so as to bring successful induction. This study was aimed at comparing the effects of high dose versus low dose oxytocin regimens on success of labor induction. METHODS:Hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in four selected hospitals in Ethiopia prospectively from October 1, 2017 to May 30, 2018. A total of 216 pregnant women who undergo induction of labor at gestational age of 37 weeks and above were included. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 20 for cleaning and analysis. Chi-square test and logistic regression were done to look for determinants of successful induction. The result was presented using 95% confidence interval of crude and adjusted odds ratios. P-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. RESULT:The mean "Induction to delivery time" was 5.9 h and 6.3 h for participants who received high dose Oxytocin and low dose Oxytocin respectively. Higher successful induction (72.2% versus 61.1%) and lower Cesarean Section rate (27.8% vs. 38.9) were observed among participants who received low dose Oxytocin compared to high dose. Favourable bishop score [AOR 4.0 95% CI 1.9, 8.5], elective induction [AOR 0.2 95% CI 0.1, 0.4], performing artificial rupture of membrane [AOR 10.1 95% CI 3.2, 32.2], neonatal birth weight of <4Kg [AOR 4.3, 95% CI 1.6, 11.6] and being parous [AOR 2.1 95% CI 1.1, 4.0] were significantly associated with success of induction. CONCLUSIONS:In this study, Different oxytocin regimens didn't show significant association with success of induction. But, high dose oxytocin regimen was significantly associated with slightly shorter induction to delivery time. Favourable bishop score, emergency induction, performing artificial rupture of membrane and delivery to non-macrosomic fetuses were positive determinants of successful induction. We recommend researchers to conduct multicenter research on a large number of patients that controls confounders to see the real effects of different oxytocin regimens on success of labor induction.

背景与目标：

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The vasopressor and milk ejection activities were estimated in the supraoptic region of the hypothalamus of rats which had been hypophysectomized 30 min, 4 and 8 days earlier. Both pressor and milk ejection activities were significantly greater 4 days after hypophysectomy than those in sham-operated control rats. Eight days after hypophysectomy, pressor activity decreased below control values but milk ejection activity was still significantly raised. Increased biological activity after hypophysectomy is thus associated with the previously observed increase in neurosecretory material within the supraoptic nucleus so these results provide additional evidence that neurosecretory material represents stored hormone. Milk ejection activity increased relatively more than pressor activity which supports the suggestion that the final stage in the formation of neurohypophysial hormones occurs as they pass from the hypothalamus to the neural lobe. If this final maturation normally occurs more slowly for oxytocin than for vasopressin, the obstruction to the flow of hormones down the neural stalk caused by hypophysectomy would result in a greater increase in milk ejection than pressor activity.

背景与目标： : 在30分钟，4天和8天前被垂体切除的大鼠下丘脑的视上区估计了升压药和乳汁排出活性。垂体切除术后4天，升压和乳汁排出活动均明显高于假手术对照组。垂体切除术后八天，升压活性降至低于对照值，但乳汁排出活性仍显着提高。因此，垂体切除术后生物活性的增加与先前观察到的视上核内神经分泌物质的增加有关，因此这些结果提供了其他证据，表明神经分泌物质代表了储存的激素。牛奶排出活性的增加相对多于升压活性的增加，这支持以下建议: 神经垂体激素形成的最后阶段发生在它们从下丘脑传递到神经叶时。如果催产素的最终成熟通常比加压素的发生慢，则由垂体切除术引起的激素沿着神经柄向下流动的阻塞将导致乳汁排出比升压活性更大的增加。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :In the rat hypothalamus, fasting attenuates the expression of oxytocin and this can be reversed by exogenous leptin administration. In the present study, we investigated the effects of systemically administered leptin on the electrical activity of magnocellular neurones in the supraoptic nucleus of urethane-anaesthetised rats. In virgin female rats, systemic leptin significantly excited identified oxytocin neurones with no detected effects on the patterning of activity, as reflected by hazard function analyses. The lowest dose that was consistently effective was 100 μg/i.v., and this dose had no significant effect on vasopressin neurones. In virgin rats fasted overnight, the spontaneous firing rate of oxytocin neurones was significantly lower than in unfasted rats, although leptin had a similar excitatory effect as in unfasted rats. In late pregnant rats (days 19-21 of pregnancy), spontaneous firing rates of oxytocin neurones were higher than in virgins, and the initial response to leptin was similar to that in virgin rats, although the increase in activity was more persistent. In fasted pregnant rats, the mean spontaneous firing rate of oxytocin neurones was again lower than in unfasted rats, although leptin had no significant effect even at the higher dose of 1 mg/rat. Thus, fasting reduced the spontaneous firing rates of oxytocin neurones in nonpregnant rats, and this effect could be reversed by the excitatory effects of leptin. Pregnant rats showed some evidence of leptin resistance but only after an overnight fast.

背景与目标： : 在大鼠下丘脑中，禁食会减弱催产素的表达，这可以通过外源性瘦素给药来逆转。在本研究中，我们研究了全身施用瘦素对尿烷麻醉大鼠视上核中大细胞神经元电活动的影响。在处女雌性大鼠中，全身性瘦素显着兴奋地鉴定出催产素神经元，但未检测到对活动模式的影响，如危险功能分析所反映的那样。持续有效的最低剂量为100 μ g/i.v.，该剂量对加压素神经元无显著影响。在禁食过夜的原始大鼠中，催产素神经元的自发放电率明显低于未禁食的大鼠，尽管瘦素具有与未禁食的大鼠相似的兴奋作用。在晚期怀孕的大鼠 (怀孕的第19-21天) 中，催产素神经元的自发放电率高于处女，对瘦素的初始反应与原始大鼠相似，尽管活性的增加更为持久。在禁食的怀孕大鼠中，催产素神经元的平均自发放电率再次低于未禁食的大鼠，尽管瘦素即使在1 mg/大鼠的较高剂量下也没有显着作用。因此，禁食降低了未怀孕大鼠催产素神经元的自发放电率，并且瘦素的兴奋性作用可以逆转这种作用。怀孕的大鼠显示出一些瘦素抵抗的证据，但只有在禁食过夜后。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Individual corpora lutea (CL) of Göttinger miniature pigs were implanted with an in vivo microdialysis system. This system functions like an artificial capillary, allowing diffusion of intraluteally secreted substances into the lumen of the dialysis system and administration of hormones into individual CL and simultaneous measurement of the response. After surgery the sows are fully awake and unrestrained. In the present study the in vivo release rates and secretion dynamics of progesterone (P) and oxytocin (OXT) were investigated. The dialysis system was implanted at day 2-4 of the estrous cycle, and dialysis experiments were performed throughout the next 3 days. Fractions were collected at 30 min intervals, and the concentrations of P and OXT were measured by RIA. Three major observations were made: Spontaneous intraluteal secretion of P and OXT occurred in a pulsatile manner. OXT secretion episodes in individual CL often coincide, indicating a simultaneous release from many CL of one ovary but also from the CL located in the contralateral ovary. OXT episodes also often coincide with P pulses; statistical evaluation revealed a significant correlation between P and OXT secretion. Intraluteal application of OXT stimulated luteal P and estradiol (E2) release in a dose-dependent manner. E2 added to the perfusates was also stimulatory to P release. The stimulation of P release by OXT could be antagonized by prior treatment of the CL with tamoxifen. We demonstrate for the first time in vivo the secretion of OXT from porcine CL. The microdialysis system enabled us to collect samples at the site of steroid and peptide release, i.e. within the intact luteal tissue. Our results suggest a stimulatory effect of OXT on P release from young and middle-aged CL and are in marked contrast to the previously demonstrated inhibitory effect of OXT on P release when luteal cells were cultured in vitro. A possible explanation for this apparent discrepancy is that OXT stimulates intraluteal release of E2, which is a powerful P releasing hormone, overcoming the direct inhibitory effect of OXT. This suggestion is substantiated by the observation that E2, when added to the perfusion medium, indeed stimulated P release.

背景与目标： : 将g ö ttinger小型猪的个体黄体 (CL) 植入体内微透析系统。该系统的功能类似于人工毛细管，可将内部分泌的物质扩散到透析系统的内腔中，并将激素施用到单个CL中，并同时测量响应。手术后，母猪完全清醒，奔放。在本研究中，研究了孕酮 (P) 和催产素 (OXT) 的体内释放速率和分泌动力学。在发情周期的第2-4天植入透析系统，并在接下来的3天内进行透析实验。每隔30分钟收集一次馏分，并通过RIA测量P和OXT的浓度。进行了三个主要观察: P和OXT的自发内分泌以脉动方式发生。单个CL中的OXT分泌发作通常重合，表明一个卵巢的许多CL同时释放，也同时释放位于对侧卵巢的CL。OXT发作通常也与P脉冲同时发生; 统计评估显示P和OXT分泌之间存在显着相关性。OXT的体内应用以剂量依赖性方式刺激黄体P和雌二醇 (E2) 释放。添加到灌注液中的E2也刺激了P的释放。通过事先用他莫昔芬处理CL可以拮抗OXT对P释放的刺激。我们首次在体内证明了猪CL分泌OXT。微透析系统使我们能够在类固醇和肽释放的部位，即完整的黄体组织内收集样品。我们的结果表明OXT对年轻和中年CL释放P的刺激作用，与先前证明的体外培养黄体细胞时OXT对P释放的抑制作用形成鲜明对比。这种明显差异的可能解释是，OXT刺激E2的体内释放，而E2是一种强大的P释放激素，克服了OXT的直接抑制作用。观察到E2添加到灌注介质中时确实会刺激P释放，从而证实了这一建议。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The oxytocin system may play an important role in dog domestication from the wolf. Dogs have evolved unique human analogue social skills enabling them to communicate and cooperate efficiently with people. Genomic differences in the region surrounding the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene have previously been associated with variation in dogs' communicative skills. Here we have utilized the unsolvable problem paradigm to investigate the effects of oxytocin and OXTR polymorphisms on human-directed contact seeking behavior in 60 golden retriever dogs. Human-oriented behavior was quantified employing a previously defined unsolvable problem paradigm. Behaviors were tested twice in a repeated, counterbalanced design, where dogs received a nasal dose of either oxytocin or saline 45min before each test occasion. Buccal DNA was analysed for genotype on three previously identified SNP-markers associated with OXTR. The same polymorphisms were also genotyped in 21 wolf blood samples to explore potential genomic differences between the species. Results showed that oxytocin treatment decreased physical contact seeking with the experimenter and one of the three polymorphisms was associated with degree of physical contact seeking with the owner. Dogs with the AA-genotype at this locus increased owner physical contact seeking in response to oxytocin while the opposite effect was found in GG-genotype individuals. Hence, intranasal oxytocin treatment, an OXTR polymorphism and their interaction are associated with dogs' human-directed social skills, which can explain previously described breed differences in oxytocin response. Genotypic variation at the studied locus was also found in wolves indicating that it was present even at the start of dog domestication.

背景与目标： : 催产素系统可能在狗从狼驯化中起重要作用。狗已经发展出独特的人类模拟社交技能，使它们能够与人有效地交流和合作。催产素受体 (OXTR) 基因周围区域的基因组差异以前与狗的交流技能有关。在这里，我们利用了无法解决的问题范式来研究催产素和OXTR多态性对60只金毛猎犬的人类定向接触寻求行为的影响。使用先前定义的无法解决的问题范式对以人为本的行为进行了量化。在重复的平衡设计中测试了两次行为，其中狗在每次测试前45分钟接受鼻剂量的催产素或盐水。在三个先前鉴定的与OXTR相关的SNP标记上分析了颊DNA的基因型。在21个狼血样中也对相同的多态性进行了基因分型，以探索物种之间潜在的基因组差异。结果表明，催产素治疗减少了与实验者的身体接触，并且三种多态性之一与与所有者的身体接触程度有关。在该位点具有AA基因型的狗增加了对催产素的反应，而在GG基因型个体中发现了相反的效果。因此，鼻内催产素治疗，OXTR多态性及其相互作用与狗的人为社交技能有关，这可以解释先前描述的催产素反应的品种差异。在狼中也发现了所研究基因座的基因型变异，表明即使在狗驯化开始时也存在。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: BACKGROUND:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with altered face processing and decreased activity in brain regions involved in face processing. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to promote face processing and modulate brain activity in healthy adults. The present study examined the effects of oxytocin on the neural basis of face processing in adults with Asperger syndrome (AS). METHODS:A group of 14 individuals with AS and a group of 14 neurotypical control participants performed a face-matching and a house-matching task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. The effects of a single dose of 24 IU intranasally administered oxytocin were tested in a randomized, placebo-controlled, within-subject, cross-over design. RESULTS:Under placebo, the AS group showed decreased activity in the right amygdala, fusiform gyrus, and inferior occipital gyrus compared with the control group during face processing. After oxytocin treatment, right amygdala activity to facial stimuli increased in the AS group. CONCLUSIONS:These findings indicate that oxytocin increases the saliency of social stimuli and in ASD and suggest that oxytocin might promote face processing and eye contact in individuals with ASD as prerequisites for neurotypical social interaction.

背景与目标：