The OXTR Polymorphism Stratified the Correlation of Oxytocin and Glucose Homeostasis in Non-Diabetic Subjects

Hui Hua Chang,1–4 Wei Hung Chang,5 Mei Hung Chi,5 Yi Chin Peng,1 Chih-Chun Huang,5 Yen Kuang Yang,5–7 Po See Chen5,6 1Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 2School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 3Department of Pharmacy, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 4Department of Pharmacy, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan; 5Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 6Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; 7Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, TaiwanCorrespondence: Po See ChenDepartment of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, 138 Sheng Li Road, North District, Tainan 70403, TaiwanTel +886-6-2353535 ext. 5189Fax +886-6-2759259Email chenps@mail.ncku.edu.twObjective: Previous animal studies have shown that the oxytocin system might affect glucose homeostasis through the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and peripheral organs. Moreover, whether the effect is stratified by the polymorphism of oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) remains unclear.Methods: In this study, we recruited 89 non-diabetic participants. Their plasma oxytocin and serum insulin profiles were obtained, and the polymorphism of OXTR rs53576 was genotyped.Results: There were significant correlations between the oxytocin level and fasting glucose level (r = –0.29, P