Oxytocin signaling as a target to block social defeat-induced increases in drug abuse reward

Ferrer-Pérez, Carmen (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Reguilón, Marina D. ; Miñarro, José ; Rodríguez-Arias, Marta

Resumen: There is huge scientific interest in the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) due to its putative capacity to modulate a wide spectrum of physiological and cognitive processes including motivation, learning, emotion, and the stress response. The present review seeks to increase the understanding of the role of OXT in an individual’s vulnerability or resilience with regard to developing a substance use disorder. It places specific attention on the role of social stress as a risk factor of addiction, and explores the hypothesis that OXT constitutes a homeostatic response to stress that buffers against its negative impact. For this purpose, the review summarizes preclinical and clinical literature regarding the effects of OXT in different stages of the addiction cycle. The current literature affirms that a well-functioning oxytocinergic system has protective effects such as the modulation of the initial response to drugs of abuse, the attenuation of the development of dependence, the blunting of drug reinstatement and a general anti-stress effect. However, this system is dysregulated if there is continuous drug use or chronic exposure to stress. In this context, OXT is emerging as a promising pharmacotherapy to restore its natural beneficial effects in the organism and to help rebalance the functions of the addicted brain.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052372

Año: 2021

Publicado en: International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, 5 (2021), 2372 [21 pp]
ISSN: 1661-6596

Factor impacto JCR: 6.208 (2021)

Categ. JCR: BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY rank: 69 / 297 = 0.232 (2021) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 50 / 180 = 0.278 (2021) - Q2 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 6.9 - Computer Science (Q1) - Chemical Engineering (Q1) - Medicine (Q1) - Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.176 - Computer Science Applications (Q1) - Inorganic Chemistry (Q1) - Spectroscopy (Q1) - Organic Chemistry (Q1) - Physical and Theoretical Chemistry (Q1) - Molecular Biology (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/ISCIII-FEDER/RD16-0017-0007
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/PSI2017-83023-R

Tipo y forma: Review (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Psicolog.Evolut.Educac (Dpto. Psicología y Sociología)