Dr Cihan Atila

The Guest Speaker

Dr Cihan Atila, PhD MD
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism,
Department of Clinical Research,
University Hospital Basel, University of Basel,
Basel, Switzerland

Vasopressin and Oxytocin – Twin Sisters, Different Personalities: Thirst and Trust in the Brain.

Abstract

Vasopressin and oxytocin are closely related hypothalamic neuropeptides that share a common evolutionary origin and molecular structure, yet regulate remarkably distinct domains of human physiology and behavior. Vasopressin primarily controls water balance and cardiovascular homeostasis, while oxytocin shapes social cognition, attachment, and stress regulation. Small differences in receptor distribution and neural circuitry therefore translate into profoundly different biological effects.

This lecture will integrate basic neuroscience with clinical medicine. We will review physiological functions ranging from osmoregulation and thirst perception to bonding and emotional processing. Deficiency states will be discussed, including central diabetes insipidus due to vasopressin deficiency and emerging evidence for oxytocin deficiency in hypothalamic–pituitary disorders, associated with impaired social functioning and reduced well-being. Current and experimental treatment approaches will be addressed, from desmopressin replacement to intranasal oxytocin therapy.

Finally, the talk will highlight complications and translational challenges, such as hyponatremia during vasopressin replacement and context-dependent behavioral effects of oxytocin. Understanding these “twin sister hormones” provides a unique framework linking homeostasis with behavior and opens new therapeutic perspectives at the interface of endocrinology and neuroscience.