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May 22, 2009
Synthetic Oxytocin, Cocaine of the Future?
When reading an article in nature magazine about the potential uses of oxytocin as an anti-anxiety hormone, I suddenly thought of a world like that in Aldous Huxley’s “The Wanting Seed.” Everyone has days when a soma holiday looks appealing I’m sure.
Oxytocin is a hormone naturally produced by the brain that is presumed to aide attachment and social recognition. Researchers have shown that release peaks during orgasm, and higher levels are found in the bloodstream of those who are in the throes of romance. Perhaps more commonly understood as the hormone responsible for milk letdown in breastfeeding, and enhanced uterine contractions during labor, researchers think it may be helpful in attenuating fear responses in social situations. If true, it may have implications as a novel treatment for social anxiety disorder or social deficits seen in other psychiatric conditions.
Researchers including Thomas Insel, MD Director of National Institute of Mental Health, and European counterparts at Cambridge report that data is due out in July of this year regarding the likelihood of an analog of oxytocin becoming a drug trial candidate. They admit that synthetic hormones have limited bioavailability due to difficulties in crossing the blood-brain barrier (and that intranasal preparations have shown only short-term effects). A biotechnology firm based out of Washington—MDRNA, Inc. is considering a project to develop a longer acting intranasal formulation.
References:
December 2005, Journal of Neuroscience, author Thomas Baumgartner PhD
August 2008, Biological Psychiatry, author Gregor Domes PhD
Article in Psychiatric News, November 21, 2008
Robin Stone, M.D.
Insight Psychiatry
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Huntersville, NC 28078
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