More Than Just A Love Affair: Oxytocin Receptor Agonists for the Treatment of Social Dysfunction
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Type
ThesisThesis type
Doctor of PhilosophyAuthor/s
Doherty, CatherineAbstract
Mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety affect over 1 billion
individuals worldwide and are now the leading cause of disability globally. Declining
mental health can be generally characterised by the existence of abnormal thoughts
and behaviours which hinder ...
See moreMental health disorders such as depression and anxiety affect over 1 billion individuals worldwide and are now the leading cause of disability globally. Declining mental health can be generally characterised by the existence of abnormal thoughts and behaviours which hinder regular routines and result in the debilitating cycle of social withdrawal and isolation. The high incidence of these central nervous system ailments worldwide emphasises the current lack of effective prevention and the limitations of treatment. The social dysfunction caused by mental health disorders is often treated with antidepressants, a class of medication that has become associated with undesirable side effects which highlights the necessity for improved therapeutics. Oxytocin, commonly known as the ‘love hormone’, is a large CNS-active neuropeptide that has demonstrated pro-social behaviour in mammals. Whilst oxytocin is highly potent at its native receptor, its therapeutic use is greatly limited by poor selectivity, unsatisfactory drug-like properties (particularly blood-brain barrier permeability) and rapid metabolism. Consequently, research into small molecules that selectively activate the oxytocin receptor has started to attract more attention. The research contained within this thesis focuses on the design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of small molecule oxytocin receptor agonists.
See less
See moreMental health disorders such as depression and anxiety affect over 1 billion individuals worldwide and are now the leading cause of disability globally. Declining mental health can be generally characterised by the existence of abnormal thoughts and behaviours which hinder regular routines and result in the debilitating cycle of social withdrawal and isolation. The high incidence of these central nervous system ailments worldwide emphasises the current lack of effective prevention and the limitations of treatment. The social dysfunction caused by mental health disorders is often treated with antidepressants, a class of medication that has become associated with undesirable side effects which highlights the necessity for improved therapeutics. Oxytocin, commonly known as the ‘love hormone’, is a large CNS-active neuropeptide that has demonstrated pro-social behaviour in mammals. Whilst oxytocin is highly potent at its native receptor, its therapeutic use is greatly limited by poor selectivity, unsatisfactory drug-like properties (particularly blood-brain barrier permeability) and rapid metabolism. Consequently, research into small molecules that selectively activate the oxytocin receptor has started to attract more attention. The research contained within this thesis focuses on the design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of small molecule oxytocin receptor agonists.
See less
Date
2023Rights statement
The author retains copyright of this thesis. It may only be used for the purposes of research and study. It must not be used for any other purposes and may not be transmitted or shared with others without prior permission.Faculty/School
Faculty of Science, School of ChemistryAwarding institution
The University of SydneyShare