| Oxytocin
Oxytocin
infusion reduces repetitive behaviours in adults with autistic and
Asperger's disorders.
Hollander
E, Novotny
S, Hanratty
M, Yaffe
R, DeCaria
CM, Aronowitz
BR, Mosovich
S.
Neuropsychopharmacology.
2003 Jan;28(1):193-8.
Department of
Psychiatry, Seaver Autism Research Center, Mount Sinai School of
Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. eric.hollander@mssm.edu
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by dysfunction in
three core behavioral domains: repetitive behaviours, social deficits,
and language abnormalities. There is evidence that abnormalities exist
in peptide systems, particularly the oxytocin system, in autism spectrum
patients. Furthermore, oxytocin and the closely related peptide
vasopressin are known to play a role in social and repetitive
behaviours. This study examined the impact of oxytocin on repetitive
behaviours in 15 adults with autism or Asperger's disorder via
randomised double-blind oxytocin and placebo challenges. The primary
outcome measure was an instrument rating six repetitive behaviours: need
to know, repeating, ordering, need to tell/ask, self-injury, and
touching. Patients with autism spectrum disorders showed a significant
reduction in repetitive behaviours following oxytocin infusion in
comparison to placebo infusion. Repetitive behaviour in autism spectrum
disorders may be related to abnormalities in the oxytocin system, and
may be partially ameliorated by synthetic oxytocin infusion.
Oxytocin,
vasopressin and pair bonding: implications for autism.
Hammock
EA, Young L
Philos
Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2006 Dec;361(1476):2187-98.
Department
of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Centre for Behavioural
Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Centre, Emory University,
Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Understanding the neurobiological substrates regulating normal social
behaviours may provide valuable insights in human behaviour, including
developmental disorders such as autism that are characterized by
pervasive deficits in social behaviour. Here, we review the literature
which suggests that the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin play
critical roles in modulating social
behaviours, with a focus on their role in the regulation of social
bonding in monogamous rodents. Oxytocin and vasopressin contribute to a
wide variety of social behaviours, including social recognition,
communication, parental care, territorial aggression and social bonding.
The effects of these two neuropeptides are species-specific and depend
on species-specific receptor distributions in the brain. Comparative
studies in voles with divergent social structures have revealed some of
the neural and genetic mechanisms of social-bonding behaviour. Prairie
voles are socially monogamous; males and females form long-term pair
bonds, establish a nest site and rear their offspring together. In
contrast, montane and meadow voles do not form a bond with a mate and
only the females take part in rearing the young. Species differences in
the density of receptors for oxytocin and vasopressin in ventral
forebrain reward circuitry differentially reinforce social-bonding
behaviour in the two species. High levels of oxytocin receptor (OTR) in
the nucleus accumbens and high levels of vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR)
in the ventral pallidum contribute to monogamous social structure in the
prairie vole. While little is known about the genetic factors
contributing to species-differences in OTR distribution, the
species-specific distribution pattern of the V1aR is determined in part
by a species-specific repetitive element, or 'microsatellite', in the 5'
regulatory
region of the gene encoding V1aR (avpr1a). This microsatellite is highly
expanded in the prairie vole (as well as the monogamous pine vole)
compared to a very short version in the promiscuous montane and meadow
voles. These species differences in microsatellite sequence are
sufficient to change gene expression in cell culture. Within the prairie
vole species, intraspecific variation
in the microsatellite also modulates gene expression in vitro as well as
receptor distribution patterns in vivo and influences the probability of
social approach and bonding behaviour. Similar genetic variation in the
human AVPR1A may contribute to variations in human social behaviour,
including extremes outside the normal range of behaviour and those found
in autism spectrum
disorders. In sum, comparative studies in pair-bonding rodents have
revealed neural and genetic mechanisms contributing to social-bonding
behaviour. These studies have generated testable hypotheses regarding
the motivational systems and underlying molecular neurobiology involved
in social engagement and social bond formation that may have important
implications for the core social deficits characterizing autism spectrum
disorders.
PMID: 17118932 [PubMed - in process]
Hyperbaric
Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
For
more links see:
www.hbotmanual.com
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HDOTherapyforAutism/
for
more info on HBOT and an online support group
Here
is a blog from a mom showing change from the day they started till
this month. http://toyou-myamazingson.blogspot.com/
The
effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on oxidative stress,
inflammation, and symptoms in children with autism: an open-label pilot
study Download pdf article (Nov 2007)
Yahoo
Discussion Group on HBOT: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HDOTherapyforAutism/
(Nov 2007)
Carnosine
L-Carnosine
is an amino acid dipeptide that may indirectly affect the
electrochemical process in the brain. Oral
supplementation with L-Carnosine has resulted in demonstrable
improvements in autistic behaviors as well as increases in language
comprehension. Although the mechanism of action of the amino acid
is not well understood, it is believed that it acts to modulate
neurotransmission and affect metal ion transfer of zinc and copper in
the entorhinal cortex of the brain. This may enhance neurological
function or act in a neuroprotective fashion.
For
more information on carnosine see:
http://www.autismcoach.com/Carnosine%20Study.htm
http://www.carn-aware.com/studies.htm
Naltrexone
The
major effect of the drug naltrexone is to reduce natural opioid activity
in the brain. Naltrexone
is also an immune enhancer. Low
dose naltrexone (LDN)
seems to be helping a subgroup of autistic children. Many
who have used it with their children report seeing clear, occasionally
dramatic improvements. Others obtain very little benefit, and on rare
occasions there is even a worsening of symptoms.
LDN
is not being used as an opiate antagonist for ASD children.
In fact it is counter productive to apply transdermal-LDN when a child
still has an opiate effect. Low
dose naltrexon is being used for ASD kids to balance their immune
system. Dr Jaqueline McCandless, one of the leading doctors treating ASD
children in the US, has extensive experience using naltrexone.
It is being used for the same reason as MS patients are using it, to
modulate/enhance the immune system. It also seems to stimulate the
amygdala in the brain. This stimulation could be one of the
reasons so many are seeing better connected kids who are becoming better
communicators. Dr. McCandless's strongly urges parents to be GFCF before
adding transdermal-LDN to their child's biomedical program.
For
more information on naltrexone use in ASD see the links below:
Naltrexone
and Autism
LDN
- Low-Dose Naltrexone For Immunomodulation
- Jaquelyn McCandless,
M.D., July 2005
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