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EXPLORING OXYTOCIN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS AND ADDICTIVE STATES

Rodriguez, Karla Margarita, Ph.D.
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9273-6231
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1595088359790034

Abstract Details

2020, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / School of Biomedical Sciences.
Oxytocin (Oxt) is known for its cardinal role in the neuromodulation of social behavior. Given its importance in social functioning and its ability to interact with many other systems within the brain, it is no surprise that this neuropeptide has become one of the most widely studied for treatment of social behavior impairments in many neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and addiction. Interestingly, Oxt has been identified to be dysregulated in both schizophrenia and addictive disorders, such as alcohol use disorder (AUD). Evidence of genetic polymorphisms in Oxt and Oxt receptor (Oxtr) have been found in both and play a major role in either symptom severity, treatment efficiency, or risk of addiction. Further, researchers have found that intranasal Oxt treatment reduces psychotic symptoms, improves theory of mind and social perception, and increases facial expressivity in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. While in AUD patients, intranasal treatment has shown promising effects in reducing alcohol withdrawal symptoms. While Oxt disruption may not be the lone cause of these disorders, it may be that disruption of the Oxt system can predispose a person to developing schizophrenia, AUD or both, as AUD is a common comorbidity of schizophrenia. Unfortunately, what we know about the mechanism by which Oxt effects behavior is still somewhat rudimentary, especially when discussing schizophrenia and AUD. Thus, in this dissertation, we sought out to investigate the role Oxt plays in social behavior and motivation (Specific Aim 1 and 2), as well as alcohol consumption (Specific Aim 3). While it seems that Oxt is essential for proper social functioning in and possibly protective of some symptoms within these disorders, we hypothesize that Oxt or Oxtr dysfunction will have detrimental effects on both social behavior and alcohol consumption. In Specific Aim 1, we have adapted a social operant task that will allow us to test social motivation. In Specific Aim 2, we have looked at social motivation and glutamatergic signaling in Oxt knockout (–/–) mice. Lastly, in Specific Aim 3, we investigate the effect of Oxtr disruption in alcohol consumption. Since much of the basic neurochemistry in rodents is similar to that of humans, it is anticipated that these findings will improve our understanding of the role of Oxt in social behavior and alcohol consumption.
Heather Caldwell, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Colleen Novak, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Eric Mintz, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Gary Koski, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Douglas Delahanty, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
159 p.
Biology; Biomedical Research
Oxytocin; Oxytocin Receptor; Social motivation; Schizophrenia; Alcohol Consumption

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Rodriguez, K. M. (2020). EXPLORING OXYTOCIN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS AND ADDICTIVE STATES [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1595088359790034

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Rodriguez, Karla. EXPLORING OXYTOCIN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS AND ADDICTIVE STATES. 2020. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1595088359790034.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Rodriguez, Karla. "EXPLORING OXYTOCIN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEUROPSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS AND ADDICTIVE STATES." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1595088359790034

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1595088359790034
251
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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.