Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide normally produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary.[4] Present in animals since early stages of evolution, in humans it plays roles in behavior that include social bonding, love, reproduction, childbirth, and the period after childbirth.[5][6][7][8] Oxytocin is released into the bloodstream as a hormone in response to sexual activity and during labour.[9][10] It is also available in pharmaceutical form. In either form, oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions to speed up the process of childbirth. In its natural form, it also plays a role in maternal bonding and milk production.[10][11] Production and secretion of oxytocin is controlled by a positive feedback mechanism, where its initial release stimulates production and release of further oxytocin. For example, when oxytocin is released during a contraction of the uterus at the start of childbirth, this stimulates production and release of more oxytocin and an increase in the intensity and frequency of contractions. This process compounds in intensity and frequency and continues until the triggering activity ceases. A similar process takes place during lactation and during sexual activity.
Oxytocin is derived by enzymatic splitting from the peptide precursor encoded by the human OXT gene. The deduced structure of the active nonapeptide is:
Cys – Tyr – Ile – Gln – Asn – Cys – Pro – Leu – Gly – NH2, or CYIQNCPLG-NH2.
^"FDA-sourced list of all drugs with black box warnings (Use Download Full Results and View Query links.)". nctr-crs.fda.gov. FDA. Retrieved 22 Oct 2023.
^Weisman O, Zagoory-Sharon O, Feldman R (September 2012). "Intranasal oxytocin administration is reflected in human saliva". Psychoneuroendocrinology. 37 (9): 1582–1586. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.02.014. PMID 22436536. S2CID 25253083.
^Huffmeijer R, Alink LR, Tops M, Grewen KM, Light KC, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, et al. (2012). "Salivary levels of oxytocin remain elevated for more than two hours after intranasal oxytocin administration". Neuro Endocrinology Letters. 33 (1): 21–25. PMID 22467107.
^Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (41 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. 2015. p. 358. ISBN 978-0-7020-6851-5.
^Audunsdottir K, Quintana DS (2022-01-25). "Oxytocin's dynamic role across the lifespan". Aging Brain. 2: 100028. doi:10.1016/j.nbas.2021.100028. ISSN 2589-9589. PMC 9997153. PMID 36908876. S2CID 246314607.
^Leng G, Leng RI (November 2021). "Oxytocin: A citation network analysis of 10 000 papers". Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 33 (11): e13014. doi:10.1111/jne.13014. PMID 34328668. S2CID 236516186.
^Francis DD, Young LJ, Meaney MJ, Insel TR (May 2002). "Naturally occurring differences in maternal care are associated with the expression of oxytocin and vasopressin (V1a) receptors: gender differences". Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 14 (5): 349–53. doi:10.1046/j.0007-1331.2002.00776.x. PMID 12000539. S2CID 16005801.
Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide normally produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. Present in animals since...
The oxytocin receptor, also known as OXTR, is a protein which functions as receptor for the hormone and neurotransmitter oxytocin. In humans, the oxytocin...
neurons that secrete oxytocin, and are similar in many respects. The similarity of the two peptides can cause some cross-reactions: oxytocin has a slight antidiuretic...
Oxytocin elicits social bonding, and vasopressin produces feelings of wanting to protect. When presented with something extremely cute, both oxytocin...
or IV pitocin (oxytocin) is used to stimulate uterine contractions. This is a procedure that relies on endogenous release of oxytocin following nipple...
An oxytocin receptor agonist is a compound that acts as an agonist of the oxytocin receptor. Examples include peptide oxytocin receptor agonists like...
G-protein pathway stemming from the oxytocin receptor (OXTR), the binding and activation site of oxytocin. When oxytocin binds to its associated receptors...
of childbirth. The hormone oxytocin has been identified as inducing uterine contractions, and labour in general. Oxytocin is produced by the body naturally...
pituitary, and serve as a site for the secretion of neurohypophysial hormones (oxytocin and vasopressin) directly into the blood. The hypothalamic–neurohypophyseal...
nucleus in the hypothalamus. Oxytocin, most of which is released from the paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus. Oxytocin is one of the few hormones...
antidiuretics are antidiuretic hormone (ADH; also called vasopressin) and oxytocin. Both of those are also used exogenously as medications in people whose...
is also known as anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), and the peptide hormone oxytocin. Both of these peptides are released from the posterior pituitary. ADH...
is the maintenance of milk production. This stage requires prolactin. Oxytocin is critical for the milk let-down reflex in response to suckling. Galactorrhea...
personality disorder, and certain other personality disorders. Oxytocin receptor agonists, like oxytocin and LIT-001, are of theoretical interest in the potential...
oxytocin and prolactin. Besides creating maternal feelings, it also decreases a woman's anxiety and increases feelings of bonding and trust. Oxytocin...
In domestic mammals, it is produced by the uterus when stimulated by oxytocin, in the event that there has been no implantation during the luteal phase...
Oxytocin Treatment for Postpartum Depression Oxytocin (OT) has potential to be a treatment for Postpartum Depression (PPD)[1]. Oxytocin is released when...
The posterior pituitary releases oxytocin due to increased firing in the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract. Oxytocin acts on the myometrium, on receptors...
treatment alone, or with a combination of prostaglandin and intravenous oxytocin treatment. Commonly accepted medical reasons for induction include: Postterm...
inversion, the use of magnesium sulfate infusions, and extended use of oxytocin. Uterine distention caused by things like more than one fetus present,...
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