r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Feb 08 '25

Neuroscience Specific neurons that secrete oxytocin in the brain are disrupted in a mouse model of autism, neuroscientists have found. Stimulating these neurons restored social behaviors in these mice. These findings could help to develop new ways to treat autism.

https://www.riken.jp/en/news_pubs/research_news/rr/20250207_1/index.html
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u/jonathot12 Feb 08 '25

we can’t figure out how to make exogenous oxytocin pass the blood brain barrier significantly, so this approach (which was once popular and then abandoned for over a decade, now making a resurgence) is still far from actionable. but this is a strong approach and i think it’ll be transformative if they can figure it out, not just for autism but for many mental health conditions.

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u/Quinlov Feb 09 '25

I thought they were trialling oxytocin nasal spray for BPD?

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u/jonathot12 Feb 09 '25

they’re trailing it for a few things but like i said, it doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier effectively enough nor really stick around up there. they’re seeking carrier chemicals to pair it with