Oxytocin and Vasopressin Systems in Obesity and Metabolic Health: Mechanisms and Perspectives

Overview

Journal Curr Obes Rep

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2019 Jun 27

PMID 31240613

Citations 13

Authors

Cherlyn Ding

Faidon Magkos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: The neurohypophysial endocrine system is identified here as a potential target for therapeutic interventions toward improving obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, given its coinciding pleiotropic effects on psychological, neurological and metabolic systems that are disrupted in obesity.

Recent Findings: Copeptin, the C-terminal portion of the precursor of arginine-vasopressin, is positively associated with body mass index and risk of type 2 diabetes. Plasma oxytocin is decreased in obesity and several other conditions of abnormal glucose homeostasis. Recent data also show non-classical tissues, such as myocytes, hepatocytes and β-cells, exhibit responses to oxytocin and vasopressin receptor binding that may contribute to alterations in metabolic function. The modulation of anorexigenic and orexigenic pathways appears to be the dominant mechanism underlying the effects of oxytocin and vasopressin on body weight regulation; however, there are apparent limitations associated with their use in direct pharmacological applications. A clearer picture of their wider physiological effects is needed before either system can be considered for therapeutic use.

Citing Articles

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