Neurophysin I: a reliable, novel, and robust biomarker for oxytocin
Authors' conclusion
These results validate NP-I as a biomarker for endogenous OXT secretion after stimulation with MDMA, addressing long-standing challenges in direct OXT measurement. NP-I offers novel opportunities for research in conditions where reduced OXT levels or disruptions in signaling are implicated, such as autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with hypothalamic-posterior-pituitary dysfunction and matched healthy controls receiving MDMA 100 mg and placebo in random order, 2-week wash-out
- Participants
- 15 vs 15
- Comparison
- MDMA (100 mg single oral dose) vs placebo; patients with hypothalamic-posterior-pituitary dysfunction vs healthy controls
- Patientsn = 15
- Healthy controlsn = 15reference
- Primary endpoint
- Net incremental AUC of NP-I, analysed by linear mixed-effects model
- Follow-up
- 0 to 300 min
Methodological detailsdouble-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over, matched healthy controls
- Double-blind
- Placebo-controlled
- Cross-over
- Matched healthy controls
Primary result
AUC of NP-I after MDMA
Difference
2340 pM·5 h
95% CI 1462–3218
P < 0.0001
By group
Between Healthy controls and Patients
difference 2340 pM·5 h (95% CI 1462–3218); P < 0.0001
As reported in the abstract
Further findings
Peak OXT after MDMA
Peak NP-I after MDMA
- Peak oxytocin (OXT) after MDMA — MDMA-induced increase in OXT in healthy controls
- 8-fold
- Peak Neurophysin I (NP-I) after MDMA — MDMA-induced increase in NP-I in healthy controls
- 20-fold
Peak OXT after MDMA
- No notable OXT increase in patients
Peak NP-I after MDMA
- Only a mild NP-I increase in patients
Correlations of NP-I increase
- NP-I increase vs OXT increase
- R = 0.92
- NP-I increase vs subjective effects (good effect, liking, feeling high, trust, fear reduction)
- all R > 0.5
Original publication
Neurophysin I: a reliable, novel, and robust biomarker for oxytocin. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 10 April 2025. doi:10.
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