The love hormone oxytocin and anandamide, the “bliss molecule,” increase the pleasure of communication by participating in the production of substances that act on the brain like marijuana.
Researchers from the University of California at Irvine (USA) have for the first time been able to identify a link between oxytocin, which is called the “hormone of love”, and anandamide, nicknamed the “bliss molecule” for its ability to activate cannabinoid receptors in the brain, creating a feeling of joy and increasing motivation.
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To study the role of anandamide in social interactions, UC Irvine School of Medicine anatomy and neuroscience professor Daniel Piomelli and colleagues measured the levels of this marijuana-like neurotransmitter in mice, some of which were in isolation and others interacted with their congeners. . Anandamide belongs to the endocannabinoids – these substances produced in the body activate the same brain receptors as the main active component of marijuana – tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
The scientists found that social contact increased the production of anandamide in an area of the brain called the nucleus accumbens, which activated cannabinoid receptors and created the animal’s pleasurable sensations associated with social interaction. If these receptors were blocked, pleasant sensations and associations did not arise.
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A group of scientists were interested in a possible link between anandamide and oxytocin, the latter being well known to promote social contact. There are a small number of neurons in the brain that produce oxytocin and use it as a neurotransmitter. Scientists tried to artificially stimulate these neurons, after which the production of anandamide increased in the nucleus accumbens. It also turned out that if you block the action of anandamide, oxytocin ceases to contribute to social interaction. From this we can conclude that oxytocin manifests its pro-social effect precisely through an increase in the production of anandamide.
The researchers also found that preventing the breakdown of anandamide increased the enjoyment of social interaction, potentially opening up new possibilities for drug discovery. The mice that were injected with the drug that prevents the breakdown of anandamide enjoyed spending time with their siblings more than those that received the “dummy” placebo.
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Previous research has shown that oxytocin may promote extraversion in humans and is also being considered as a potential treatment for autism. The problem is that oxytocin, when administered, does not penetrate well into the brain. Professor Daniel Piomelli sees a different approach as more promising: “Drugs that prevent the breakdown of anandamide are currently being tested as a treatment for various anxiety disorders. Our research indicates that these drugs may be able to increase the effectiveness of oxytocin directly in the brain, thereby helping people with autism become more social.”
Подробнее см. D. Wei et al. «Endocannabinoid signaling mediates oxytocin-driven social reward», Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2015, vol. 112, № 45.