The Dynamicity of the Oxytocin Receptor in the Brain May Trigger Sensory Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sensory processing abnormalities have been noted since the first clinical description of autism in 1940. However, it was not until the release of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013 that sensory challenges were considered as symptoms of auti...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Claudia Camerino |
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| author_sort | Claudia Camerino |
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| description | Sensory processing abnormalities have been noted since the first clinical description of autism in 1940. However, it was not until the release of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013 that sensory challenges were considered as symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Multisensory processing is of paramount importance in building a perceptual and cognitive representation of reality. For this reason, deficits in multisensory integration may be a characteristic of ASD. The neurohormone oxytocin (Oxt) is involved in the etiology of ASD, and there are several ongoing clinical trials regarding Oxt administration in ASD patients. Recent studies indicate that Oxt triggers muscle contraction modulating thermogenesis, while abnormal thermoregulation results in sensory deficits, as in ASD. Activation of the Oxt system through exposure to cold stress regulates the expression of oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) in the brain and circulating Oxt, and if this mechanism is pathologically disrupted, it can lead to sensory processing abnormalities since Oxt acts as a master gene that regulates thermogenesis. This review will describe the sensory deficits characteristic of ASD together with the recent theories regarding how the modulation of Oxt/Oxtr in the brain influences sensory processing in ASD. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-be85b19d851d432fbafac4f211069be3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1467-3037 1467-3045 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-be85b19d851d432fbafac4f211069be32025-01-24T13:27:36ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452025-01-014716110.3390/cimb47010061The Dynamicity of the Oxytocin Receptor in the Brain May Trigger Sensory Deficits in Autism Spectrum DisorderClaudia Camerino0Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, P.za G. Cesare 11, 70100 Bari, ItalySensory processing abnormalities have been noted since the first clinical description of autism in 1940. However, it was not until the release of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013 that sensory challenges were considered as symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Multisensory processing is of paramount importance in building a perceptual and cognitive representation of reality. For this reason, deficits in multisensory integration may be a characteristic of ASD. The neurohormone oxytocin (Oxt) is involved in the etiology of ASD, and there are several ongoing clinical trials regarding Oxt administration in ASD patients. Recent studies indicate that Oxt triggers muscle contraction modulating thermogenesis, while abnormal thermoregulation results in sensory deficits, as in ASD. Activation of the Oxt system through exposure to cold stress regulates the expression of oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) in the brain and circulating Oxt, and if this mechanism is pathologically disrupted, it can lead to sensory processing abnormalities since Oxt acts as a master gene that regulates thermogenesis. This review will describe the sensory deficits characteristic of ASD together with the recent theories regarding how the modulation of Oxt/Oxtr in the brain influences sensory processing in ASD.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/1/61oxytocinoxytocin receptorthermoregulationautism spectrum disordersensory processingskeletal muscle |
| spellingShingle | Claudia Camerino The Dynamicity of the Oxytocin Receptor in the Brain May Trigger Sensory Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder Current Issues in Molecular Biology oxytocin oxytocin receptor thermoregulation autism spectrum disorder sensory processing skeletal muscle |
| title | The Dynamicity of the Oxytocin Receptor in the Brain May Trigger Sensory Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_full | The Dynamicity of the Oxytocin Receptor in the Brain May Trigger Sensory Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_fullStr | The Dynamicity of the Oxytocin Receptor in the Brain May Trigger Sensory Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Dynamicity of the Oxytocin Receptor in the Brain May Trigger Sensory Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_short | The Dynamicity of the Oxytocin Receptor in the Brain May Trigger Sensory Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| title_sort | dynamicity of the oxytocin receptor in the brain may trigger sensory deficits in autism spectrum disorder |
| topic | oxytocin oxytocin receptor thermoregulation autism spectrum disorder sensory processing skeletal muscle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/47/1/61 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT claudiacamerino thedynamicityoftheoxytocinreceptorinthebrainmaytriggersensorydeficitsinautismspectrumdisorder AT claudiacamerino dynamicityoftheoxytocinreceptorinthebrainmaytriggersensorydeficitsinautismspectrumdisorder |