Oxytocin and addiction: a review
by
Kovacs GL, Sarnyai Z, Szabo G
Central Laboratory,
Markusovszky Teaching Hospital, Hungary.
glkovacs@mail.matav.hu
Psychoneuroendocrinology 1998 Nov; 23(8):945-62
ABSTRACT
Neuropeptides affect adaptive central nervous system
processes related to opiate ethanol and cocaine addiction. Oxytocin (OXT),
a neurohypophyseal neuropeptide synthesized in the brain and released at
the posterior pituitary, also is released in the central nervous system
(CNS). OXT acts within the CNS and has been shown to inhibit the development
of tolerance to morphine, and to attenuate various symptoms of morphine
withdrawal in mice. In rats, intravenous self-administration of heroin was
potently decreased by OXT treatment. In relation to cocaine abuse, OXT dose-dependently
decreased cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion and stereotyped grooming behavior.
Following chronic cocaine treatment, the behavioral tolerance to the sniffing-inducing
effect of cocaine was markedly inhibited by OXT. Behavioral sensitization
to cocaine, on the other hand, was facilitated by OXT. OXT receptors in
the CNS--mainly those located in limbic and basal forebrain structures--are
responsible for mediating various effects of OXT in the opiate- and cocaine-addicted
organism. Dopaminergic neurotransmission--primarily in basal forebrain structures--is
another important biochemical mediator of the central nervous system effects
of OXT. Tolerance to ethanol (e.g. hypothermia-inducing effect of ethanol)
also was inhibited by OXT.
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