Identification and Clinical Relevance of an Oxytocin Deficient State (CRH Study)

Summary

Oxytocin (OT) is a hypothalamic peptide that enters the peripheral circulation via the posterior pituitary gland. OT plays a key role in regulating appetite, psychopathology, prosocial behavior and sexual function. Hypopituitarism is associated with increased obesity, increased psychopathology, sexual and prosocial dysfunction despite appropriate hormone replacement. A few studies suggest the existence of a possible OT deficient state in hypopituitarism. In animal models, corticorelin hormone (CRH) has shown to increase OT release. This study is designed to evaluate oxytocin values after administration of CRH in adults (healthy volunteers and patients with hypopituitarism). The investigators hypothesize that OT response will be blunted following CRH in patients with hypopituitarism compared to healthy controls.

Timeline

Start

2021-07-06

Primary completion

2023-04-30

Completion

2023-05-01

Outcome

Missed primary endpoint

paper CRH administration did not impact oxytocin concentrations across groups over time (p = 0.97). PMID 39824923 ↗

Publications

• Asla Q, Garrido M, Urgell E, Terzan S, Santos A, Fernandez M, Varghese N, Atila C, Calabrese A, Biagetti B, Plessow F, Gich I, Christ-Crain M, Eckert A, Webb SM, Lawson EA, Aulinas A. Oxytocin levels in response to CRH administration in hypopituitarism and hypothalamic damage: a randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 18;15(1):2360. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-86566-y.

Drugs

Indications