Front Matter

Why Oxytocin Therapy May be Important for ASD? 101

sensorial experiences playing a predominant role, as more extensively dis-
cussed in the next paragraph. Furthermore, exposure to drugs and toxic agents
can also modulate the oxytocin–oxytocin receptor system, as outlined by the
interesting finding that nicotine and ethanol administration to pregnant rats
increases oxytocin receptor binding in the hippocampus of male offspring,
specifically in the nucleus accumbens and CA3 regions (Figure 4.2).

Bregma-3.6

mPFC

NAc BNST CeA

BLA

Glutamate

Glutamate

pp

DG

Mol

sch

mf

CA3

CA2

CA 1

Figure 4.2 Neuronal projections in the hippocampus. Schematic representation of the
coronal view of the hippocampus region indicating the subregions of the hippocampus and
their location within the hippocampus. CA, cornu ammonis. Trisynaptic circuitry in the
hippocampus is indicated with axons from the entorhinal cortex projecting unidirectionally
to the apical dendrites of the hippocampal DG, CA1, and CA3 neurons (perforant path
projection). DG neurons project to the apical dendrites of the CA3 pyramidal neurons
(mossy fiber projection). CA3 neurons project to the apical dendrites of the CA1 neurons
(Schaffer collateral projection). The CA1 neurons have bidirectional projections to and from
the BLA. The BLA also sends projections to the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus
accumbens (NAc), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and central nucleus of the
amygdala (CeA). mf, Mossy fiber projection; Mol, molecular layer; pp, performant path
projection; and sch, Schaffer collateral projection. Source: https://www.researchgate.net/
publication/244482778_The_Interplay_between_the_Hippocampus_and_Amygdalain
Regulating_Aberrant_Hippocampal_Neurogenesis_during_Protracted_Abstinencefrom
Alcohol_Dependence/figures?lo=1. Reproduced with permission of Frontiers Media SA.