OXYTOCIN

    Modahl et al (1998) found that autistic children have significantly lower plasma oxytocin concentrations than normal children. It is well known that oxytocin, in addition to opioids, is involved in the formation and maintenance of social bonds. Two independent groups have proposed that social deficits in autism could be mediated by oxytocin hypoactivity (Modahl et al, 1994) or excess (Panksepp, 1993).

   Oxytocin levels are regulated by thyroid hormones. When T3 is administered in rats oxytocin levels in blood are increased, as are hypothalamic oxytocin mRNA levels and pituitary oxytocin content (Adan etal, 1992).

   The oxytocin receptor is coupled to the G-protein Gq/11. (Qian et al,1998)

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Adan RA, Cox JJ, van Kats JP, Burbach JP - "Thyroid hormone regulates the oxytocin gene" J Biol Chem 267(6):3771-7 (1992)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=1371278&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r

Modahl C, Green L, Fein D, Morris M, Waterhouse L, Feinstein C, Levin H - "Plasma oxytocin levels in autistic children" Biol Psychiatry 43(4):270-7(1998) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?db=m&form=6&uid=9513736&Dopt=r

Modahl C, Fein D, Waterhouse L, Newton N -"Does oxytocin mediate social deficits in autism?" J Autism Dev Disord 22(3):449-51 (1992) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?db=m&form=6&uid=1400106&Dopt=r

Panksepp J -"Commentary on the possible role of oxytocin in autism" J Autism Dev Disord 23(3):567-9 (1993) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?db=m&form=6&uid=8226589&Dopt=r

Qian A, Wang W, Sanborn BM - "Evidence for the involvement of several intracellular domains in the coupling of oxytocin receptor to G alpha(q/11)." Cell Signal 10(2):101-5 (1998) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=9481484&form=6&db=m&Dopt=r