Search results for "Oxytocin receptor"
showing 10 items of 19 documents
Stabilizing selection on microsatellite allele length at arginine vasopressin 1a receptor and oxytocin receptor loci
2017
The loci arginine vasopressin receptor 1a ( avpr1a ) and oxytocin receptor ( oxtr ) have evolutionarily conserved roles in vertebrate social and sexual behaviour. Allelic variation at a microsatellite locus in the 5′ regulatory region of these genes is associated with fitness in the bank vole Myodes glareolus . Given the low frequency of long and short alleles at these microsatellite loci in wild bank voles, we used breeding trials to determine whether selection acts against long and short alleles. Female bank voles with intermediate length avpr1a alleles had the highest probability of breeding, while male voles whose avpr1a alleles were very different in length had reduced probability of …
Sodium functions as a negative allosteric modulator of the oxytocin receptor
2017
Abstract The oxytocin receptor, a class A G protein coupled receptor (GPCR), is essentially involved in the physiology of reproduction. Two parameters are crucially important to support high-affinity agonist binding of the receptor: Mg2+ and cholesterol, both acting as positive modulators. Using displacement assays with a high-affinity fluorescent antagonist (OTAN-A647), we now show that sodium functions as a negative allosteric modulator of the oxytocin receptor. In membranes from HEK293 cells stably expressing the oxytocin receptor, oxytocin binding occurred with about 15-fold lower affinity when sodium chloride was increased from 0 to 300 mM, whereas antagonist binding remained largely u…
Methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene in clinically depressed patients compared to controls: The role of OXTR rs53576 genotype
2015
The emerging field of epigenetics provides a biological basis for gene-environment interactions relevant to depression. We focus on DNA methylation of exon 1 and 2 of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) promoter. The research aims of the current study were to compare OXTR DNA methylation of depressed patients with healthy control subjects and to investigate possible influences of the OXTR rs53576 genotype. The sample of the present study consisted of 43 clinically depressed women recruited from a psychosomatic inpatient unit and 42 healthy, female control subjects - mean age 30 years (SD = 9). DNA methylation profiles of the OXTR gene were assessed from leukocyte DNA by means of bisulfite seq…
Reduced oxytocin receptor gene expression and binding sites in different brain regions in schizophrenia: A post-mortem study
2016
Schizophrenia is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder with impairments in social cognition. Several brain regions have been implicated in social cognition, including the nucleus caudatus, prefrontal and temporal cortex, and cerebellum. Oxytocin is a critical modulator of social cognition and the formation and maintenance of social relationships and was shown to improve symptoms and social cognition in schizophrenia patients. However, it is unknown whether the oxytocin receptor is altered in the brain. Therefore, we used qRT-PCR and Ornithine Vasotocin Analog ([125I]OVTA)-based receptor autoradiography to investigate oxytocin receptor expression at both the mRNA and protein level in the left p…
Immunohistochemical characterization of endometriosis-associated smooth muscle cells in human peritoneal endometriotic lesions
2011
Background Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are common components of endometriotic lesions. SMC have been characterized previously in peritoneal, ovarian and deep infiltrating endometriotic lesions and adenomyosis. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the extent of differentiation in endometriosis-associated SMC (EMaSMC) in peritoneal endometriotic lesions. Methods We obtained biopsies from peritoneal endometriotic lesions (n = 60) and peritoneal sites distant from the endometriotic lesion (n = 60), as well as healthy peritoneum from patients without endometriosis (control tissue, n = 10). These controls were hysterectomy specimens from patients without endometriosis or adenomyos…
Oxytocin receptors: ligand binding, signalling and cholesterol dependence
2008
The G protein coupled oxytocin receptor (OTR) reveals some specific molecular and physiological characteristics. Ligand-receptor interaction has been analysed by photoaffinity labelling, site-directed mutagenesis, the construction of receptor chimeras and molecular modelling. Major results of these studies will be summarized. The N-terminus of the OTR is mainly involved in agonist binding. Notably, antagonists that are derived from the ground structure of oxytocin, bind the receptor at distinct sites partly non-overlapping with the agonist binding site. OTRs are able to couple to different G proteins, with a subsequent stimulation of phospholipase C-beta isoforms. In dependence on G protein…
Human oxytocin receptors in cholesterol-rich vs. cholesterol-poor microdomains of the plasma membrane
2000
We analyzed the properties of a G protein-coupled receptor localized in cholesterol-poor vs. cholesterol-rich microdomains of the plasma membrane. For this purpose, the human oxytocin receptor, which is very sensitive against alterations of the membrane cholesterol level, was stably expressed in HEK293 cells. To calculate the total number of receptors independent of ligand binding studies, the oxytocin receptor was tagged with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) which did not change the functional properties of the receptor. Only 1% of the oxytocin receptors were present in cholesterol-rich detergent-insoluble domains. In contrast, employing a detergent-free fractionation scheme th…
Balancing selection maintains polymorphisms at neurogenetic loci in field experiments
2017
Most variation in behavior has a genetic basis, but the processes determining the level of diversity at behavioral loci are largely unknown for natural populations. Expression of arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (Avpr1a) and oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) in specific regions of the brain regulates diverse social and reproductive behaviors in mammals, including humans. That these genes have important fitness consequences and that natural populations contain extensive diversity at these loci implies the action of balancing selection. In Myodes glareolus, Avpr1a and Oxtr each contain a polymorphic microsatellite locus located in their 5′ regulatory region (the regulatory region-associated microsatel…
Role of central oxytocin in the inhibition by endotoxin of distension-stimulated gastric acid secretion
2000
The gastric acid hyposecretory state associated with endotoxemia is mediated by a nervous reflex involving the central nervous system. The aim of the present study was to analyse the central effects of different peptides on distension-stimulated gastric acid secretion and the endogenous role of such peptides on the hyposecretory effects of endotoxin. The effect of an intracisternal (i.c.) administration of oxytocin, vasopressin, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), bombesin, somatostatin and the opioid receptor agonist BW443C or an intravenous (i.v.) injection of a small dose of endotoxin on distension-stimulated gastric acid secretion was studied in the continuously perfused stomach of an…
The oxytocin receptor system: structure, function, and regulation.
2001
The neurohypophysial peptide oxytocin (OT) and OT-like hormones facilitate reproduction in all vertebrates at several levels. The major site of OT gene expression is the magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. In response to a variety of stimuli such as suckling, parturition, or certain kinds of stress, the processed OT peptide is released from the posterior pituitary into the systemic circulation. Such stimuli also lead to an intranuclear release of OT. Moreover, oxytocinergic neurons display widespread projections throughout the central nervous system. However, OT is also synthesized in peripheral tissues, e.g., uterus, placenta, amnion, corpus lut…