阿尔茨海默病患者血浆基质金属蛋白酶-3水平的对照研究

目的探讨阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者血浆基质金属蛋白酶-3(MMP-3)水平的变化。方法应用双抗体夹心酶联免疫法测定30例AD患者(AD组)、27例血管性痴呆(VD,VD组)患者及26名正常对照者(正常人组)的血浆MMP-3水平。根据简易精神状况检查量表(MMSE)评分将AD患者分为重度组(MMSE≤10分,8例)、中度组(MMSE>10分~≤20分,12例)和轻度组(MMSE>20分~<24分,10例)。血浆MMP-3水平采用方差分析进行统计学比较。结果AD组血浆MMP-3水平为(5.8±1.2)×104U/L,VD组为(5.3±0.8)×104U/L,正常人组为(4.8±0.8)×104U/L。AD组高于正常人组(P<0.001)及VD组(P<0.05),VD组亦高于正常人组(P<0.05)。AD重度组血浆MMP-3水平[(6.8±1.3)×104U/L]分别高于AD轻度组[(5.5±1.0)×104U/L]及AD中度组[(5.6±1.0)×104U/L],P均<0.05。AD组MMP-3水平与MMSE评分呈显著负相关(r=-0.450,P<0.05)。结论血浆MMP-3水平与AD严重程度相关;其水平增高可能与AD发病过程有关,其差异对AD与VD的鉴别可能有辅助价值。     

轻度认知障碍和阿尔茨海默病患者血清中兴奋性氨基酸的含量

目的 研究遗忘型轻度认知障碍(amnestic mild cognitive impairment,aMCI)及阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)患者血清中兴奋性氨基酸(EAAs)含量的变化,探讨EAAs在二者发病中的作用.方法 使用高效液相法对30例aMCI、32例AD患者以及34名健康对照者血清中EAAs[谷氨酸、天门冬氨酸(Asp)]及EAAs N-甲基-D-Asp(N-methyl-D-aspartate,NMDA)受体的协同激动剂甘氨酸、丝氨酸、丙氨酸含量进行测定和比较.结果 aMCI组血清中的谷氨酸[(39.6±22.1)μmol/L]和丙氨酸[(282.5±71.3)μmol/L]含量高于健康对照组[(30.0±11.6)μmol/L,P=0.044;(240.7±46.3)μmol/L,P=0.007].而AD组血清中谷氨酸[(42.2±21.8)μmol/L]、甘氨酸[(464.2±142.6)μmol/L]明显高于健康对照组[P=0.010;(395.6±88.8)μmol/L,P=0.010];但aMCI组和AD组之间差异无统计学意义.AD组血清中Asp(P=0.011)和谷氨酸(P=0.017)的含量与MMSE得分呈正相关,轻度AD患者血清中这两种氨基酸含量[(42.1±21.3)、(55.0±29.0)μmol/L]要高于中重度AD患者[(25.4±9.2)μmol/L,P=0.023;(34.6±11.1)μmol/L,P=0.036].结论 EAAs可能参与AD的发病,并且与AD的严重程度存在一定的相关性;aMCI患者也存在着EAAs代谢的紊乱,提示其可能和AD有着类似的发病机制.     

载脂蛋白E、总补体与阿尔采默病的关系

目的　探讨载脂蛋白E(apoE)及总补体 (CH50 )与阿尔采默病 (AD)的关系。方法　应用自动化生化仪对 4 4例AD患者的apoE和总补体 (CH50 )进行测定 ,并与 2 9例血管性痴呆 (VD)患者进行对比。结果　AD组apoE为 (4.84± 3.10 )mg/dL ,高于VD组的 (4.2 1± 1.17)mg/dL ,差异有显著性 (t =1.6 7,P =0 .0 3) ;AD组CH50 为 (40 .5 2± 10 .1)ku/L ,低于VD组的 (45 .6 6± 9.9)ku/L ,差异有显著性 (t=1.6 7,P <0 .0 5 )。结论　载脂蛋白E异常是阿尔采默病发病的危险因素之一 ;载脂蛋白E的测定对鉴别阿尔采默病与血管性痴呆有一定价值 ;免疫反应在阿尔采默病中的作用不明     

利培酮对精神分裂症患者血浆高香草酸的影响

目的　探讨利培酮对精神分裂症患者中枢多巴胺代谢产物血浆高香草酸 (pHVA)的影响。方法　 30例精神分裂症住院患者 (患者组 )纳入研究 ,利培酮治疗平均剂量为 (3 2± 1 1)mg/d ,共观察 6周。以阳性和阴性症状量表 (PANSS)评定疗效 ,以高效液相库仑阵列电化学检测法测定患者治疗前后的 pHVA含量。 30例健康志愿者作为对照组 ,检测pHVA水平。 结果　 (1)患者组治疗前 pHVA含量 [(7 9± 4 0 ) μg /L]与对照组含量 [(8 8± 4 1) μg /L]的差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ,而患者组治疗后 pHVA含量 [(5 3± 2 7) μg/L]明显低于治疗前 (P <0 0 1) ;(2 )治疗前患者组 pHVA与PANSS阳性症状评分 [(2 0 7± 4 1)分 ]存在正相关 (r =0 39,P <0 0 0 1) ,与基线PANSS阴性症状评分 [(19 7± 5 1)分 ]存在负相关 (r =- 0 35 ,P <0 0 1) ;(3)基础pHVA含量及其治疗前后差值[(2 6± 1 3) μg/L]与PANSS阳性症状评分减分值 [(10 8± 4 1)分 ]均分别呈正相关 (r =0 4 8,P <0 0 1;r=0 6 0 ,P <0 0 0 1)。结论　患者组治疗前pHVA可部分反映精神分裂症症状 (尤其是阳性症状 )的严重程度 ,基础 pHVA含量及治疗前后pHVA水平的变化与利培酮治疗阳性症状的疗效相关。     

A lzheimer病患者血清IL-2、sIL-2R水平的研究

目的 :Alzheimer病 (AD)是由多种病因引起的涉及多种病理机制和出现多种病理表现的多因素性疾病。近年来研究发现 AD患者血清中细胞因子水平增高以及皮质、海马内神经炎性斑数量增加 ,表明免疫炎症机制在 AD的发生、发展中起重要作用。本研究拟通过对 AD患者血清 IL - 2、 s IL - 2 R水平的检测 ,来探讨其在 AD慢性炎症病理过程中的作用。方法 :采用双抗体酶联免疫吸附试验 (EL ISA) ,检测 10例 AD患者血清 IL 2及 s IL 2 R水平 ,并与血管性痴呆 (VD)组及正常对照组做了比较。结果 :AD组血清中 IL- 2水平为 35 2± 33.4pg/ ml,明显高于 VD组 (2 83.6± 6 2 .9pg/ ml)和正常对照组 (2 5 8.5± 49.1pg/ ml) ,差异显著 (P<0 .0 0 5 ) ;AD组 s IL - 2 R水平为 81± 37.3pmol/ L ,明显高于VD组 (5 4.1± 30 .9pmol/ L )和正常对照组 (48.3± 18.3pmol/ L ) ,差异显著 (P<0 .0 5 )。结论 :说明 AD患者脑内免疫细胞被激活 ,IL- 2、s IL- 2 R参与了 AD的慢性炎症改变过程。血清 IL- 2和 s IL- 2 R可作为检测 AD外周血的免疫标记物。     

中重度阿尔茨海默病与血管性痴呆患者脑脊液tau蛋白的预研究（英文）

背景:阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)患病率高、医疗费用高、照料困难,已成为老龄化社会面临的严重社会、经济问题。迄今,AD的诊断尚无可靠的客观诊断指标。近年来,国内外对AD患者脑脊液生物学标志物的研究甚多,AD患者脑脊液T-tau、P-tau升高已是不争的事实。但是,这些标志物与痴呆严重程度以及随病程进展的关系还有待进一步深入研究。目标:比较中重度阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)与血管性痴呆(vascular dementia,VD)患者脑脊液(cerebrospinal fluid,CSF)总tau蛋白(total tau,T-tau)和第231位苏氨酸磷酸化tau蛋白(P-tau231)的基线浓度,随访6个月,观察它们在AD患者与对照组之间的差异以及随病程进展的变化。方法:基线期中度AD患者11例(10≤MMSE≤20),重度AD患者10例(MMSE≤9)以及年龄匹配的重度VD患者7例,其中7例AD与6例VD完成了6个月的随访。用双抗体夹心ELISA检测脑脊液T-tau,P-tau231的浓度。结果:基线期AD组与VD组患者CSF T-tau的浓度分别为470.08(263.58)pg/m L、208.76(42.24)pg/m L,差异有统计学意义(Z=-3.369,p0.001);CSF P-tau231的浓度分别为90.94(49.86)pg/m L、42.96(13.10)pg/m L,差异有统计学意义(Z=-3.237,p0.001)。重度AD与重度VD相比,CSF T-tau(Z=-2.830,p=0.005)、CSF P-tau231(Z=-2.392,p=0.017)的浓度仍有统计学差异,重度AD患者CSF T-tau、CSF P-tau231的浓度比重度VD患者高。中度AD患者CSF P-tau231(Z=-2.605,p=0.009)的浓度显著高于重度AD患者。6个月随访期间,两组患者脑脊液T-tau、P-tau231浓度的变化均无统计学意义。结论:AD患者脑脊液T-tau、P-tau231与VD相比显著升高。中度AD患者CSF P-tau231显著高于重度AD患者。6个月随访期间两组患者脑脊液T-tau、P-tau231浓度的变化均无统计学意义。     

强迫症、抑郁症及焦虑症患者血小板5-羟色胺浓度的对照研究

目的　研究 5 羟色胺 ( 5 HT)在强迫症发病中的作用及强迫思维与强迫动作亚组、抑郁症及焦虑症患者间血小板 5 HT含量的差异。方法　采用高效液相色谱法 ,分别测定 2 9例强迫症患者 [(强迫症组 ,根据Y BOCS强迫量表因子得分将其分为强迫思维 ( 16例 )、强迫动作 ( 7例 )和混合性( 6例 ) 3组 ]、2 0例抑郁障碍患者 (抑郁症组 )、17例焦虑障碍患者 (焦虑症组 )和 2 8名正常人 (正常人组 )的血小板 5 HT含量。结果　强迫症组血小板 5 HT水平 [( 139± 172 ) μg/L]低于正常人组 [( 2 4 8±2 15 ) μg/L]及焦虑症组 [( 397± 4 0 1) μg/L],差异具有显著性 (P =0 0 39;P =0 0 2 0 ) ;与抑郁症组 [( 2 0 2± 16 2 ) μg/L]的差异无显著性 ( P >0 0 5 ) ;强迫思维 [( 85± 6 6 ) μg/L]与强迫动作组 [( 16 9± 10 0 ) μg/L]间血小板 5 HT含量的差异有显著性 (P =0 0 2 5 )。结论　强迫症患者 5 HT浓度变化与抑郁障碍患者趋同 ,与焦虑障碍患者的差异有显著性 ;单纯强迫思维者的 5 HT浓度与单纯强迫动作患者的差异有显著性     

阿尔茨海默病患者服用达纳康前后血浆4种神经肽的动态变化

目的　观察早期阿尔茨海默病 (AD)患者服用达纳康 (系法国银杏叶制剂 )治疗前后血浆生长抑素 (somatostatin ,SS)、精氨酸加压素 (argininevasopressin,AVP)、促肾上腺皮质激素 (corticotropin ,ACTH)及β内啡肽 (β endorphin ,β EP) 4种神经肽含量的影响。 方法　对 2 7例早期AD患者于达纳康治疗前后分别取血浆测定上述 4种神经肽含量 ,同时作简易智力状态检查 (MMSE)和韦氏成人智力量表 (中国修订 )(WAIS RC)测评 ,并与 30例正常老年人作对照。结果　AD组血浆AVP含量 (35.8± 1 9.2 4 )ng/L较对照组 (56.3± 2 0 .8)ng/L显著减少 (P <0 0 5) ;血浆SS、ACTH含量在治疗前分别为 (348.8± 2 1 0 .3)ng/L和 (8.2 5± 3 .85)ng/L ,治疗后则分别上升为 (881 .4± 363 .1 6)ng/L和 (1 9± 9.1 1 )ng/L。治疗前后比较均有非常显著性差异 (P <0 .0 0 1 )。AVP在治疗后血浆含量也有升高为 (57.85± 1 6 .86)ng/L,与治疗前比较有显著性差异(P <0 .0 5)。结论　早期AD患者血浆AVP含量减少 ,提示AVP可作为AD患者早期生化指标。早期AD患者在服用达纳康后SS、ACTH、AVP血浆含量均显著上升 ,提示SS、ACTH、AVP可能参与AD的发病机制     

老年性痴呆患者血清叶酸和维生素B12的临床观察

目的　了解老年性痴呆患者叶酸和维生素B12 水平 ,并探讨二者与痴呆的关系。方法　研究对象为 6 0岁以上的老年人 10 4例 ,患有老年性痴呆者 76例 ,其中老年性痴呆 (AD) 33例 ,血管性痴呆 (VD) 4 3例 ,健康老年者 2 8人作为对照组。对所有研究对象进行临床病史询问、内科和神经科查体 ,空腹取血检测血清叶酸和维生素B12 。结果　老年性痴呆患者叶酸的平均水平为 (7.6 5± 2 .4 8)ug/L(AD)和 (8.5 4± 3.34)ug/L(VD) ,维生素B12 的平均水平为 (312 .4 3± 182 .5 )ng/L(AD)和 (713.5 8± 6 2 5 .94 )ng/L(VD) ,对照组叶酸和VitB12 的平均水平分别为 (11.35± 3.76 )ug/L和 (5 0 7.8± 4 5 2 .85 )ng/L ,分别与对照组比较有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　老年性痴呆者与血清低叶酸水平有关 ,而与低维生素B12 水平无关。     

维吾尔族阿尔茨海默病患者低密度脂蛋白受体相关蛋白基因766C/T多态性及血脂水平的研究

目的 研究新疆维吾尔自治区维吾尔族(以下简称维族)阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者低密度脂蛋白受体相关蛋白(LRP)基因766C/T多态性及血脂水平.方法 在流行病学调查基础上,采用美国国立神经病学和语言障碍与脑卒中研究所-阿尔茨海默病和相关障碍协会制定的标准,诊断为很可能AD的患者111例和正常对照者117名,应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性分析方法,检测两组LRP基因766C/T多态性;并用氧化酶法测定总胆固醇(TC)、三酰甘油(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)的水平.结果 (1)AD组LRP基因第766位点CC、CT、TT基因型频率(X2=1.563)和等位基因频率(X2=1.591)与对照组比较,差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05).(2)AD组血清TC水平[(4.4±0.7)mmol/L]高于对照组[(4.2±0.6)mmol/L;t=2.234,P<0.05],TG水平[(1.81±0.33)mmol/L]亦高于对照组[(1.61±0.52)mmoL/L;t=2.360,P<0.05].(3)AD组[(1.83±0.34)mmol/L]和对照组CC基因型者的血清TG水平[(1.67±0.54)mmol/L]均高于CT+TT型者[分别为(1.66±0.24)mmol/L和(1.41±0.39)mmol/L;t:2.275,2.161,P<0.05].结论 LRP基因766C/T基因型频率和等位基因频率在AD组和对照组间的分布相似;AD患者存在脂质代谢素乱,LRP基因766C/T多态性可能对血脂代谢有影响.     

Efficacy and Effectiveness of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Pharmacotherapy

Decades of intervention research have produced a rich body of evidence on the effects of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies with children and adolescents. Here we summarize and critique that evidence. We review findings bearing on the efficacy of psychosocial treatments and medications under controlled experimental conditions. We also report evidence, where available, on the effectiveness of both classes of treatment with clinically referred youth treated in real-world clinical contexts. In general, the large body of evidence on efficacy contrasts sharply with the small base of evidence on effectiveness. Addressing this gap through an enriched research agenda could contribute importantly to linking scientific inquiry and clinical practice—to the benefit of both ventures. This is one element of a multifaceted agenda for future research and for synthesis of research, which will require the interplay of multiple disciplines related to child and adolescent mental health.     

Satellite cells and myonuclei in young and elderly women and men

The overall aim of this study was to assess the effects of aging on the satellite cell population. Muscle biopsies were taken from the tibialis anterior muscle of healthy, moderately active young (age range, 20-32 years; n = 31) and elderly (age range, 70-83 years; n = 27) women and men with comparable physical activity pattern. Satellite cells and myonuclei were visualized using a monoclonal antibody against neural cell adhesion molecule and counterstained with Mayer's hematoxylin. An average of 211 (range, 192-241) muscle fibers were examined for each individual. Compared with the young women and men, the elderly subjects had a significantly lower (P < 0.011) number of satellite cells per muscle fiber but a significantly higher (P < 0.004) number of myonuclei per muscle fiber. The number of satellite cells relative to the total number of nuclei [satellite cells/(myonuclei + satellite cells)] was significantly lower in the elderly than in the young women and men. These results imply that a reduction in the satellite cell population occurs as a result of increasing age in healthy men and women.     

Opiate and digitalis receptor assays distinguish between neuroexcitant and inactive organochlorines and between anesthetics and convulsants

Specific binding of [3H]naloxone to rat brain tissue in vitro was inhibited by the excitant organochlorinated insecticides (OCI), by ether (E) and octanol (OCT), and by the convulsant indoklon (IND) and its anesthetic isomer, isoindoklon (ISO). In the presence of 100 mM NaCl the inhibition of naloxone binding by E, OCT and ISO was greatly potentiated, whereas that by OCI and IND was attenuated. KCl (100 mM) was equally effective as NaCl on the action of anesthetics, but the effect of the excitant drugs was, in contrast to NaCl, unaffected by KCl. Specific binding of [3H]ouabain in the absence of Na, was depressed by anesthetics and enhanced by neuroexcitants. In the presence of NaCl, which by itself inhibits ouabain binding to brain, both anesthetics and excitants enhanced ouabain binding. DDE, a non-insecticidal analog of DDT, and the dimethyl derivative of the OCI, lindane, were inactive in the receptor assays. These observations point to a unique isolated system which responds consistently to anesthetic agents as a class and, in a different way, to neuroexcitant compounds.     

Learning and forgetting new names and objects in MCI and AD

We studied how subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-matched controls learned and maintained the names of unfamiliar objects that were trained with or without semantic support (object definitions). Naming performance, phonological cueing, incidental learning of the definitions and recognition of the objects were tested during follow-up. We found that word learning was significantly impaired in MCI and AD patients, whereas forgetting patterns were similar across groups. Semantic support showed a beneficial effect on object name retrieval in the MCI group 8 weeks after training, suggesting that the MCI patients’ preserved semantic memory can compensate for impaired episodic memory. The MCI group performed equally well as the controls in the tasks measuring incidental learning and recognition memory, whereas the AD group showed impairment in this respect. Both the MCI and the AD group benefited less from phonological cueing than the controls. Our findings indicate that word learning is compromised in both MCI and AD, whereas long-term retention of newly learned words is not affected to the same extent. Incidental learning and recognition memory seem to be well preserved in MCI.     

Necdin蛋白与神经元的生长分化

在神经系统 ,Necdin只在成熟神经元的细胞核中表达 ,可能与成熟神经元分裂静止状态的保持有关。近年的研究表明 ,Necdin是一种生长抑制蛋白 ,能与多种因子如SV4 0大T抗原 ,腺病毒E1A ,转录因子E2F1以及肿瘤抑制蛋白p5 3等结合 ,在功能上类似于成视网膜瘤蛋白Rb。necdin基因缺陷时 ,会引起脑内 ,特别是下丘脑神经元分化障碍。人类necdin基因位于PWS综合征的基因缺失区 ,可能与PWS的一些症状有关。本文从Necdin蛋白的基本概况 ,生物功能以及Necdin与疾病三个方面进行了综述     

Retrospective and prospective design and data

The study of the presentation, symptomatology and family characteristics of an exclusively adolescent sample of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) was undertaken. Twenty-four cases of borderline personality disorder, 20 females, 4 males, identified using chart review and meeting the criteria of the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB) and DSM III-R, were matched with psychiatric controls. Adolescents with borderline personality disorder were found to have high rates of affective symptomatology with Axis I diagnosis of major depressive disorder - MDD (DSM-III-R), and high rates of interpersonal psychopathology, i.e., manipulation, devaluation, and a pervasive sense of boredom. The latter seem to be characteristic as for adults with borderline personality disorder. The families were particularly angry and volatile.     

Cortisol levels and depression in men and women using heroin and cocaine

Abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are well documented in men using illicit drugs and/or infected with HIV; however, less is known about HPA function, or the health consequence of HPA dysfunction, in their female counterparts. People with depression exhibit hypercortisolemia, and depression is common in people with HIV or substance use problems. The current study investigated cortisol secretion in 209 demographically matched men and women, stratified by their HIV and drug use status. Self-reported depressive symptoms were evaluated using a standardized, validated questionnaire (CES-D). Women reported more depressive symptoms than men (p=.01). Male and female drug users exhibited higher cortisol concentrations (p=.03), and were more likely to report depressive symptoms (p=.04), than non-users. Depression was related to elevated cortisol concentrations for the study population (p=.03), and women with elevated cortisol concentrations were significantly more depressed than all other participants (p=.05). While it is unknown whether high cortisol concentrations precede depressive symptoms or vice versa, these data indicate that higher cortisol concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in heroin and cocaine users, and that this association is more pronounced in women than men. HIV status did not act in an additive or synergistic way with drug use for either cortisol or CES-D measures in the current study. Unique therapies to treat the endocrine and mental health consequences of illicit drug use in men and women deserve consideration as depressive symptoms, and high cortisol concentrations associated with depressive symptoms, differ by gender.     

Dissociation and Counterdissociation: Nuanced and Binary Perceptions of Good and Evil

Dissociated experiences are often communicated to analysts. Clinicians may absorb patients' dissociation, thereby creating “counterdissociated” states. Counterdissociation contributes to binary thinking in the analyst similar to black- and-white thinking commonly seen in patients' dissociated states. This can have both positive and negative effects: Counterdissociation may help therapists identify with patients' experience, thereby cementing the therapeutic bond. If analysts remain counterdissociated, however, patients may remain dissociated. As analysts identify their counterdissociation, they may gain insight into patients' needs for dissociation. As they overcome counterdissociation, patients may concurrently overcome dissociation. This allows both to have a more nuanced view of inner experience. With two extended case studies of sexually abused men, this article tracks how an analyst deals with counterdissociation created through intimate contact with dissociated positive and negative introjects of victimizers, thus forming identifications or overidentifications with the patients' abused parts.     

Necdin蛋白与神经元的生长分化

在神经系统,Necdin只在成熟神经元的细胞核中表达,可能与成熟神经元分裂静止状态的保持有关.近年的研究表明,Necdin是一种生长抑制蛋白,能与多种因子如SV40大T抗原,腺病毒E1A,转录因子E2F1以及肿瘤抑制蛋白p53等结合,在功能上类似于成视网膜瘤蛋白Rb.necdin基因缺陷时,会引起脑内,特别是下丘脑神经元分化障碍.人类necdin基因位于PWS综合征的基因缺失区,可能与PWS的一些症状有关.本文从Necdin蛋白的基本概况,生物功能以及Necdin与疾病三个方面进行了综述.     

Oxytocin and vasopressin agonists and antagonists as research tools and potential therapeutics

We recently reviewed the status of peptide and nonpeptide agonists and antagonists for the V(1a), V(1b) and V(2) receptors for arginine vasopressin (AVP) and the oxytocin receptor for oxytocin (OT). In the present review, we update the status of peptides and nonpeptides as: (i) research tools and (ii) therapeutic agents. We also present our recent findings on the design of fluorescent ligands for V(1b) receptor localisation and for OT receptor dimerisation. We note the exciting discoveries regarding two novel naturally occurring analogues of OT. Recent reports of a selective VP V(1a) agonist and a selective OT agonist point to the continued therapeutic potential of peptides in this field. To date, only two nonpeptides, the V(2) /V(1a) antagonist, conivaptan and the V(2) antagonist tolvaptan have received Food and Drug Administration approval for clinical use. The development of nonpeptide AVP V(1a), V(1b) and V(2) antagonists and OT agonists and antagonists has recently been abandoned by Merck, Sanofi and Pfizer. A promising OT antagonist, Retosiban, developed at Glaxo SmithKline is currently in a Phase II clinical trial for the prevention of premature labour. A number of the nonpeptide ligands that were not successful in clinical trials are proving to be valuable as research tools. Peptide agonists and antagonists continue to be very widely used as research tools in this field. In this regard, we present receptor data on some of the most widely used peptide and nonpeptide ligands, as a guide for their use, especially with regard to receptor selectivity and species differences.