法国艾克斯-马赛大学Clément Menuet小组取得一项新突破。他们的研究显示，催产素通过下丘脑-脑干-心脏神经元通路调节呼吸心率变异性。相关论文于2025年10月20日发表在《自然—神经科学》杂志上。

在这里，该课题组确定了啮齿动物的下丘脑-脑干神经元通路，通过催产素（OT）在镇静行为中放大RespHRV。下丘脑尾侧脑室旁核的OT神经元调节前Bötzinger复合体（产生吸气节律的脑干核）中抑制性神经元亚群的活动。具体来说，在吸气过程中，OT增强了前Bötzinger复合体中表达OT受体的神经元向双核中心脏神经支配的副交感神经神经元的甘氨酸能输入。这导致对心脏的副交感神经活动的呼吸调节放大，从而增强RespHRV。研究团队发现，在小鼠应激恢复过程中，OT神经元参与了RespHRV振幅的恢复，这表明在镇静行为中，OT中枢调节心脏活动。

研究人员表示，心率随呼吸的变化称为呼吸性心率变异性（RespHRV）。放松和积极的社会情绪状态可以放大RespHRV，但潜在的机制在很大程度上仍然未知。

附：英文原文

Title: Oxytocin modulates respiratory heart rate variability through a hypothalamus–brainstem–heart neuronal pathway

Author: Buron, Julie, Linossier, Ambre, Gestreau, Christian, Schaller, Fabienne, Tyzio, Roman, Felix, Marie-Solenne, Matarazzo, Valry, Thoby-Brisson, Muriel, Muscatelli, Franoise, Menuet, Clment

Issue&Volume: 2025-10-20

Abstract: The variation in heart rate in phase with breathing is called respiratory heart rate variability (RespHRV). Relaxation and positive socio-emotional states can amplify RespHRV, yet the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here we identify a hypothalamus–brainstem neuronal pathway in rodents through which oxytocin (OT) amplifies RespHRV during calming behavior. OT neurons from the caudal paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus regulate the activity of a subgroup of inhibitory neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex, the brainstem nucleus that generates the inspiratory rhythm. Specifically, OT enhances the glycinergic input from OT-receptor-expressing neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex to cardiac-innervating parasympathetic neurons in the nucleus ambiguus during inspiration. This leads to amplified respiratory modulation of parasympathetic activity to the heart, thereby enhancing RespHRV. We show that OT neurons participate in the restoration of RespHRV amplitude during recovery from stress in mice, indicating that OT acts centrally to regulate cardiac activity during a calming behavior.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-02074-2

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02074-2