Nonapeptide Hormones

Dear Colleagues,

Two nonapeptide hormones, arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT), with a similar evolutionary history spanning half a billion years, have emerged as focuses of considerable interest in social neuroscience, as paramount human social or affiliative hormones. These nonapeptides, and their associated neural systems, are salient mediators of both normal and dysfunctional human behavior. Of some interest is their possible role in autism, a human disorder characterized by shortfalls in communication and social skills. AVP and OXT are important in cementing human bonding starting in infancy and continuing across adulthood. Notably, OXT (AVP neural pathways including the receptors for oxytocin (OXTR) and arginine vasopressin (AVPR1a and 1b)), CD38 (an ADP- ribosyl cyclase that mediates brain OXT release), and oxytocinase (LNPEP) (the enzyme that metabolizes OXT and AVP) constitute the broad AVP–OXT regulatory landscape. This Special Issue seeks papers focusing on the role of nonapeptides in human social relations, both normative and dysfunctional, which will shed light on how humans, by cooperating, trusting, and communicating, have become so successful and thrive across the planet. Investigations covering such diverse experimental domains as evolution, behavioral economics, molecular genetics, imaging genomics, pharmacology, and endocrinology are invited.

Prof. Richard Ebstein
Dr. Serenella Tolomeo
Guest Editors

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