Oxytocin and Neurobehavioural Problems in Disorders of HP Axis

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Neurobehavioural Problems and The Role of Oxytocin in Children with Abnormalities of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axis

• IRAS ID

  307645

• Contact name

  Ritika Kapoor

• Contact email

  ritikakapoor@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  King's College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  3 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  The hypothalamus and pituitary gland are situated in the mid-part of the brain. The Hypothalamo-Pituitary (HP) Axis is the central co-ordinator of growth and reproduction via production of various hormones. The HP axis also plays an integral part in regulating physiological functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, appetite, energy metabolism and sleep. Septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) is a rare congenital condition affecting the development of particular parts of the brain, including the HP axis. Children with SOD have defects in cognition, vision and hormonal function. These children also suffer from various neurobehavioural, social and sleep-wake cycle (circadian) difficulties. The aetiology of these neurobehavioural problems, is neither well understood nor well identified or treated Neurobehavioural problems are also disproportionately high in prevalence in childhood craniopharyngioma, a benign tumour derived from the pituitary gland. This supports the role of the HP axis and known hormone deficiencies or possibly a yet unidentified hormone deficiency leading to social and behavioural deficits. Oxytocin (OT) is a hormone secreted by the HP axis. It's role in lactation and parturition has been well established. OT has wider implications, including a key factor in modulating social
  bonding, memory, cognition and social behaviour. Our hypothesis is that the OT system is dysregulated in SOD/ craniopharyngioma and plays a major role in the neurobehavioural/ neurocognitive deficits. We will test this hypothesis by conducting a prospective case-control study of patients with SOD/ craniopharyngioma. The neurobehavioural and neurocognitive phenotype of patients and controls will be characterised using valid questionnaires, IQ and cognitive tests. Plasma oxytocin concentrations will be measured using radioimmunoassay that
  we will obtain at the same time as the neurobehavioural/ neurocognitive assessments. We will also use existing neuroimaging and clinical data from the patient group to characterise neuroanatomical and endocrine deficits and associate them to neurobehavioural/ neurocognitive profiles and OT levels

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  23/WM/0104

• Date of REC Opinion

  24 Jul 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion