Correlation between levels of plasma oxytocin, arginine vasopressin and autism spectrum disorder in children

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.1673-5250.2018.02.014

Objective

To investigate correlation between levels of plasma oxytocin, arginine vasopressin (AVP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children.

Methods

A total of 40 ASD children aged 2.0 to 12.0 years were admitted in the Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016, and included in ASD group. Meanwhile, another 34 healthy children aged 2.4 to 7.4 years were selected as control group during the same period in the same hospital. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-fifth edition (DSM-5) were used to evaluate the severity of autistic symptoms. The levels of plasma oxytocin and AVP were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of plasma oxytocin and AVP between two groups were compared by independent-samples t test. And the correlation between levels of plasma oxytocin, AVP and CARS scores were analyzed by linear correlation analysis. The study protocol was approved by the Ethnical Review Board of Investigation in Human Beings of Capital Institute of Pediatrics (approval number: [2012]-004). Informed consent was obtained from each participant′s guardians.

Results

① There were no significant differences between two groups in age and constituent ratio of gender (P>0.05). ② The level of plasma oxytocin was (359.2±103.3) pg/mL in ASD group, which was significant lower than (484.1±50.1) pg/mL in control group, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (t=-6.43, P<0.001). Besides, the level of plasma AVP was (342.8±61.2) pg/mL in ASD group, which was significant higher than (312.2±39.2) pg/mL in control group, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant (t=2.51, P=0.014). ③ In ASD group, there was a negative correlation between plasma oxytocin level and CARS score in children with ASD (r=-0.155, P=0.032), and plasma AVP level was not correlated with CARS score (r=0.032, P=0.841), plasma oxytocin level also was not associated with plasma AVP level (r=0.191, P=0.220). In control group, plasma oxytocin level was positively correlated with plasma AVP level (r=0.631, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Plasma oxytocin level decreases and plasma AVP level increases in children with ASD. The changes of plasma oxytocin and AVP may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD.

Key words: Autistic disorder, Oxytocin, Arginine vasopressin, Child

表1 2组受试儿的一般临床资料比较

组别	例数	性别[例数(%)]		年龄(岁，±s)
组别	例数	男	女	年龄(岁，±s)
ASD组	40	33(82.5)	7(17.5)	4.9±2.4
对照组	34	25(73.5)	9(26.5)	4.5±1.2
检验值	?	χ²＝0.87		t＝1.10
P值	?	0.350		0.275

表1 2组受试儿的一般临床资料比较

组别	例数	性别[例数(%)]		年龄(岁，±s)
组别	例数	男	女	年龄(岁，±s)
ASD组	40	33(82.5)	7(17.5)	4.9±2.4
对照组	34	25(73.5)	9(26.5)	4.5±1.2
检验值	?	χ²＝0.87		t＝1.10
P值	?	0.350		0.275

表2 2组受试儿血浆催产素与AVP水平比较(pg/mL，±s)

组别	例数	血浆催产素水平	血浆AVP水平
ASD组	40	359.2±103.3	342.8±61.2
对照组	34	484.1±50.1	312.2±39.2
t值	?	－6.43	2.51
P值	?	<0.001	0.014

表2 2组受试儿血浆催产素与AVP水平比较(pg/mL，±s)

组别	例数	血浆催产素水平	血浆AVP水平
ASD组	40	359.2±103.3	342.8±61.2
对照组	34	484.1±50.1	312.2±39.2
t值	?	－6.43	2.51
P值	?	<0.001	0.014

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