Oxytocin as a potential mediator and modulator of drug addiction

[Extract] Oxytocin, a nine amino acid neuropeptide, first discovered by Sir Heury Dale in 1906, is a potent modulator of a variety of brain functions including emotions, mood, social and sexual behaviour and learning and memory (Gimpl & Fahrenholz 2001). It has been reported that oxytocin also profoundly influences the neurobiological processes underlying drug addiction (Sarnyai & Kovacs 1994). In particular, we and others have demonstrated the inhibitory effects of oxytocin on acute behavioural effects, sensitisation and tolerance as well as on self-administration of the psychostimulant cocaine (Sarnyai & Kovacs 1994). These results raise the possibility of the development of oxytocin-based medication for psychostimulant addiction. However, despite these well-documented effects, the mechanism of action of this neuropeptide on the addictive processes is still unknown. Two papers in this issue of Addiction Biology may shed some lights on this question