Oxytocin - wikipedia Oxytocin This article is about the endogenous peptide. For the exogenous peptide, see Oxytocin ( medication ). Not to be confused with Oxycontin. Oxytocin Pronunciation / ˌɒksɪˈtoʊsɪn / Physiological data Source tissues pituitary gland Target tissues wide spread Receptors oxytocin receptor Antagonists atosiban Precursor oxytocin / neurophysin I prepropeptide Metabolism liver and other oxytocinases Pharmacokinetic data Protein binding 30 % Metabolism liver and other oxytocinases Biological half - life 1 -- 6 min ( IV ) ~ 2 h ( intranasal ) Excretion Biliary and kidney Identifiers IUPAC name 1 - ( ( ( 4R, 7S, 10S, 13S, 16S, 19R ) - 19 - amino - 7 - ( 2 - amino - 2 - oxoethyl ) - 10 - ( 3 - amino - 3 - oxopropyl ) - 16 - ( 4 - hydroxybenzyl ) - 13 - ( ( 1S ) - 1 - methylpropyl ) - 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 - pentaoxo - 1, 2 - dithia - 5, 8, 11, 14, 17 - pentaazacycloicosan - 4 - yl ) carbonyl ) - L - prolyl - L - leucylglycinamide CAS Number 50 - 56 - 6 PubChem CID 439302 IUPHAR / BPS 2174 DrugBank DB00107 ChemSpider 388434 UNII 1JQS135EYN KEGG D00089 ChEBI CHEBI : 7872 ChEMBL CHEMBL395429 ECHA InfoCard 100.000. 045 Chemical and physical data Formula Molar mass 1007.19 g / mol 3D model ( JSmol ) Interactive image SMILES CC ( C@H ) ( C ) ( C @ @ H ) 1NC ( = O ) ( C@H ) ( Cc2ccc ( O ) cc2 ) NC ( = O ) ( C @ @ H ) ( N ) CSSC ( C@H ) ( NC ( = O ) ( C@H ) ( CC ( N ) = O ) NC ( = O ) ( C@H ) ( CCC ( N ) = O ) NC1 = O ) C ( = O ) N3CCC ( C@H ) 3C ( = O ) N ( C @ @ H ) ( CC ( C ) C ) C ( = O ) NCC ( N ) = O InChI InChI = 1S / C43H66N12O12S2 / c1 - 5 - 22 ( 4 ) 35 - 42 ( 66 ) 49 - 26 ( 12 - 13 - 32 ( 45 ) 57 ) 38 ( 62 ) 51 - 29 ( 17 - 33 ( 46 ) 58 ) 39 ( 63 ) 53 - 30 ( 20 - 69 - 68 - 19 - 25 ( 44 ) 36 ( 60 ) 50 - 28 ( 40 ( 64 ) 54 - 35 ) 16 - 23 - 8 - 10 - 24 ( 56 ) 11 - 9 - 23 ) 43 ( 67 ) 55 - 14 - 6 - 7 - 31 ( 55 ) 41 ( 65 ) 52 - 27 ( 15 - 21 ( 2 ) 3 ) 37 ( 61 ) 48 - 18 - 34 ( 47 ) 59 / h8 - 11, 21 - 22, 25 - 31, 35, 56H, 5 - 7, 12 - 20, 44H2, 1 - 4H3, ( H2, 45, 57 ) ( H2, 46, 58 ) ( H2, 47, 59 ) ( H, 48, 61 ) ( H, 49, 66 ) ( H, 50, 60 ) ( H, 51, 62 ) ( H, 52, 65 ) ( H, 53, 63 ) ( H, 54, 64 ) / t22 -, 25 -, 26 -, 27 -, 28 -, 29 -, 30 -, 31 -, 35 - / m0 / s1 Key : XNOPRXBHLZRZKH - DSZYJQQASA - N ( verify ) Oxytocin ( Oxt ; / ˌɒksɪˈtoʊsɪn /, / ˌɒksi - / ) is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide. Oxytocin is normally produced by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. It plays a role in social bonding, sexual reproduction in both sexes, and during and after childbirth. Oxytocin is released into the bloodstream as a hormone in response to stretching of the cervix and uterus during labor and with stimulation of the nipples from breastfeeding. This helps with birth, bonding with the baby, and milk production. Oxytocin was discovered by Henry Dale in 1906. Its molecular structure was discovered in 1952. Oxytocin is also used as a medication to facilitate childbirth. Contents 1 Biochemistry 1.1 Biosynthesis 1.2 Neural sources 1.3 Non-neural sources 1.3. 1 Male 1.3. 2 Female 1.4 Evolution 2 Biological function 2.1 Physiological 2.2 Psychological 2.2. 1 Bonding 2.2. 2 Drugs 2.2. 3 Fear and anxiety 2.2. 4 Mood and depression 2.2. 5 Sex differences 2.2. 6 Social 3 Chemistry 4 History 5 References 6 Further reading Biochemistry OXT Identifiers Aliases OXT, OT, OT - NPI, OXT - NPI, oxytocin / neurophysin I prepropeptide External IDs OMIM : 167050 MGI : 97453 HomoloGene : 55494 GeneCards : OXT Gene location ( Human ) Chr. Chromosome 20 ( human ) Band n / a Start 3,071,620 bp End 3,072,517 bp Gene location ( Mouse ) Chr. Chromosome 2 ( mouse ) Band n / a Start 130,576,173 bp End 130,577,054 bp Gene ontology Molecular function oxytocin receptor binding hormone activity neurohypophyseal hormone activity neuropeptide hormone activity Cellular component terminal bouton extracellular region cytoplasm secretory granule extracellular space Biological process response to amphetamine regulation of digestive system process sperm ejaculation positive regulation of hindgut contraction female pregnancy positive regulation of penile erection response to steroid hormone signal transduction response to activity regulation of heart rate response to sucrose positive regulation of ossification positive regulation of synapse assembly drinking behavior hyperosmotic salinity response male mating behavior positive regulation of cytosolic calcium ion concentration response to estradiol regulation of sensory perception of pain response to cAMP response to cocaine response to progesterone positive regulation of blood pressure heart development negative regulation of urine volume response to organic cyclic compound negative regulation of gastric acid secretion positive regulation of prostaglandin secretion response to peptide hormone maternal behavior negative regulation of blood pressure memory positive regulation of norepinephrine secretion social behavior response to glucocorticoid grooming behavior response to prostaglandin E eating behavior response to ether positive regulation of female receptivity sleep maternal aggressive behavior positive regulation of synaptic transmission response to electrical stimulus positive regulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction response to food response to retinoic acid positive regulation of renal sodium excretion Sources : Amigo / QuickGO Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 5020 18429 Ensembl ENSG00000101405 ENSMUSG00000027301 UniProt P01178 P35454 RefSeq ( mRNA ) NM_000915 NM_011025 RefSeq ( protein ) NP_000906 NP_035155 Location ( UCSC ) Chr 20 : 3.07 -- 3.07 Mb Chr 20 : 130.58 -- 130.58 Mb PubMed search Wikidata View / Edit Human View / Edit Mouse Estrogen has been found to increase the secretion of oxytocin and to increase the expression of its receptor, the oxytocin receptor, in the brain. In women, a single dose of estradiol has been found to be sufficient to increase circulating oxytocin concentrations. Biosynthesis The oxytocin peptide is synthesized as an inactive precursor protein from the OXT gene. This precursor protein also includes the oxytocin carrier protein neurophysin I. The inactive precursor protein is progressively hydrolyzed into smaller fragments ( one of which is neurophysin I ) via a series of enzymes. The last hydrolysis that releases the active oxytocin nonapeptide is catalyzed by peptidylglycine alpha - amidating monooxygenase ( PAM ). The activity of the PAM enzyme system is dependent upon vitamin C ( ascorbate ), which is a necessary vitamin cofactor. By chance, sodium ascorbate by itself was found to stimulate the production of oxytocin from ovarian tissue over a range of concentrations in a dose - dependent manner. Many of the same tissues ( e.g. ovaries, testes, eyes, adrenals, placenta, thymus, pancreas ) where PAM ( and oxytocin by default ) is found are also known to store higher concentrations of vitamin C. Oxytocin is known to be metabolized by the oxytocinase, leucyl / cystinyl aminopeptidase. Other oxytocinases are also known to exist. Amastatin, bestatin ( ubenimex ), leupeptin, and puromycin have been found to inhibit the enzymatic degradation of oxytocin, though they also inhibit the degradation of various other peptides, such as vasopressin, met - enkephalin, and dynorphin A. Neural sources In the hypothalamus, oxytocin is made in magnocellular neurosecretory cells of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, and is stored in Herring bodies at the axon terminals in the posterior pituitary. It is then released into the blood from the posterior lobe ( neurohypophysis ) of the pituitary gland. These axons ( likely, but dendrites have not been ruled out ) have collaterals that innervate neurons in the nucleus accumbens, a brain structure where oxytocin receptors are expressed. The endocrine effects of hormonal oxytocin and the cognitive or behavioral effects of oxytocin neuropeptides are thought to be coordinated through its common release through these collaterals. Oxytocin is also produced by some neurons in the paraventricular nucleus that project to other parts of the brain and to the spinal cord. Depending on the species, oxytocin receptor - expressing cells are located in other areas, including the amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. In the pituitary gland, oxytocin is packaged in large, dense - core vesicles, where it is bound to neurophysin I as shown in the inset of the figure ; neurophysin is a large peptide fragment of the larger precursor protein molecule from which oxytocin is derived by enzymatic cleavage. Secretion of oxytocin from the neurosecretory nerve endings is regulated by the electrical activity of the oxytocin cells in the hypothalamus. These cells generate action potentials that propagate down axons to the nerve endings in the pituitary ; the endings contain large numbers of oxytocin - containing vesicles, which are released by exocytosis when the nerve terminals are depolarised. Non-neural sources Endogenous oxytocin concentrations in the brain have been found to be as much as 1000-fold higher than peripheral levels. Outside the brain, oxytocin - containing cells have been identified in several diverse tissues, including in females in the corpus luteum and the placenta, in males in the testicles ' interstitial cells of Leydig, the retina, the adrenal medulla, the thymus and the pancreas. The finding of significant amounts of this classically `` neurohypophysial '' hormone outside the central nervous system raises many questions regarding its possible importance in these different tissues. Male The Leydig cells in some species have been shown to possess the biosynthetic machinery to manufacture testicular oxytocin de novo, to be specific, in rats ( which can synthesize vitamin C endogenously ), and in guinea pigs, which, like humans, require an exogenous source of vitamin C ( ascorbate ) in their diets. Female Oxytocin is synthesized by corpora lutea of several species, including ruminants and primates. Along with estrogen, it is involved in inducing the endometrial synthesis of prostaglandin F to cause regression of the corpus luteum. Evolution Virtually all vertebrates have an oxytocin - like nonapeptide hormone that supports reproductive functions and a vasopressin - like nonapeptide hormone involved in water regulation. The two genes are usually located close to each other ( less than 15,000 bases apart ) on the same chromosome, and are transcribed in opposite directions ( however, in fugu, the homologs are further apart and transcribed in the same direction ). The two genes are believed to result from a gene duplication event ; the ancestral gene is estimated to be about 500 million years old and is found in cyclostomata ( modern members of the Agnatha ). Biological function Oxytocin has peripheral ( hormonal ) actions, and also has actions in the brain. Its actions are mediated by specific, oxytocin receptors. The oxytocin receptor is a G - protein - coupled receptor that requires magnesium and cholesterol. It belongs to the rhodopsin - type ( class I ) group of G - protein - coupled receptors. Studies have looked at oxytocin 's role in various behaviors, including orgasm, social recognition, pair bonding, anxiety, and maternal behaviors. Physiological The peripheral actions of oxytocin mainly reflect secretion from the pituitary gland. The behavioral effects of oxytocin are thought to reflect release from centrally projecting oxytocin neurons, different from those that project to the pituitary gland, or that are collaterals from them. Oxytocin receptors are expressed by neurons in many parts of the brain and spinal cord, including the amygdala, ventromedial hypothalamus, septum, nucleus accumbens, and brainstem. Milk ejection reflex / Letdown reflex : In lactating ( breastfeeding ) mothers, oxytocin acts at the mammary glands, causing milk to be ' let down ' into subareolar sinuses, from where it can be excreted via the nipple. Suckling by the infant at the nipple is relayed by spinal nerves to the hypothalamus. The stimulation causes neurons that make oxytocin to fire action potentials in intermittent bursts ; these bursts result in the secretion of pulses of oxytocin from the neurosecretory nerve terminals of the pituitary gland. Uterine contraction : Important for cervical dilation before birth, oxytocin causes contractions during the second and third stages of labor. Oxytocin release during breastfeeding causes mild but often painful contractions during the first few weeks of lactation. This also serves to assist the uterus in clotting the placental attachment point postpartum. However, in knockout mice lacking the oxytocin receptor, reproductive behavior and parturition are normal. Due to its similarity to vasopressin, it can reduce the excretion of urine slightly. In several species, oxytocin can stimulate sodium excretion from the kidneys ( natriuresis ), and, in humans, high doses can result in low sodium levels ( hyponatremia ). Cardiac effects : Oxytocin and oxytocin receptors are also found in the heart in some rodents, and the hormone may play a role in the embryonal development of the heart by promoting cardiomyocyte differentiation. However, the absence of either oxytocin or its receptor in knockout mice has not been reported to produce cardiac insufficiencies. Modulation of hypothalamic - pituitary - adrenal axis activity : Oxytocin, under certain circumstances, indirectly inhibits release of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol and, in those situations, may be considered an antagonist of vasopressin. Preparing fetal neurons for delivery : Crossing the placenta, maternal oxytocin reaches the fetal brain and induces a switch in the action of neurotransmitter GABA from excitatory to inhibitory on fetal cortical neurons. This silences the fetal brain for the period of delivery and reduces its vulnerability to hypoxic damage. Feeding : A 2012 paper suggested that oxytocin neurons in the para-ventricular hypothalamus in the brain may play a key role in suppressing appetite under normal conditions and that other hypothalamic neurons may trigger eating via inhibition of these oxytocin neurons. This population of oxytocin neurons are absent in Prader - Willi syndrome, a genetic disorder that leads to uncontrollable feeding and obesity, and may play a key role in its pathophysiology. Psychological Autism : Oxytocin has been implicated in the etiology of autism, with one report suggesting autism is correlated with genomic deletion of the gene containing the oxytocin receptor gene ( OXTR ). Studies involving Caucasian and Finnish samples and Chinese Han families provide support for the relationship of OXTR with autism. Autism may also be associated with an aberrant methylation of OXTR. Bonding In the prairie vole, oxytocin released into the brain of the female during sexual activity is important for forming a monogamous pair bond with her sexual partner. Vasopressin appears to have a similar effect in males. Oxytocin has a role in social behaviors in many species, so it likely also does in humans. In a 2003 study, both humans and dog oxytocin levels in the blood rose after five to 24 minutes of a petting session. This possibly plays a role in the emotional bonding between humans and dogs. Maternal behavior : Female rats given oxytocin antagonists after giving birth do not exhibit typical maternal behavior. By contrast, virgin female sheep show maternal behavior toward foreign lambs upon cerebrospinal fluid infusion of oxytocin, which they would not do otherwise. Oxytocin is involved in the initiation of maternal behavior, not its maintenance ; for example, it is higher in mothers after they interact with unfamiliar children rather than their own. Ingroup bonding : Oxytocin can increase positive attitudes, such as bonding, toward individuals with similar characteristics, who then become classified as `` in - group '' members, whereas individuals who are dissimilar become classified as `` out - group '' members. Race can be used as an example of in - group and out - group tendencies because society often categorizes individuals into groups based on race ( Caucasian, African American, Latino, etc. ). One study that examined race and empathy found that participants receiving nasally administered oxytocin had stronger reactions to pictures of in - group members making pained faces than to pictures of out - group members with the same expression. This shows that oxytocin may be implicated in our ability to empathize with individuals of different races and could potentially translate into willingness to help individuals in pain or stressful situations. Moreover, individuals of one race may be more inclined to help individuals of the same race than individuals of another race when they are experiencing pain. Oxytocin has also been implicated in lying when lying would prove beneficial to other in - group members. In a study where such a relationship was examined, it was found that when individuals were administered oxytocin, rates of dishonesty in the participants ' responses increased for their in - group members when a beneficial outcome for their group was expected. Both of these examples show the tendency to act in ways that benefit people with which one feels is part of their social group, or in - group. Oxytocin is not only correlated with the preferences of individuals to associate with members of their own group, but it is also evident during conflicts between members of different groups. During conflict, individuals receiving nasally administered oxytocin demonstrate more frequent defense - motivated responses toward in - group members than out - group members. Further, oxytocin was correlated with participant desire to protect vulnerable in - group members, despite that individual 's attachment to the conflict. Similarly, it has been demonstrated that when oxytocin is administered, individuals alter their subjective preferences in order to align with in - group ideals over out - group ideals. These studies demonstrate that oxytocin is associated with intergroup dynamics. Further, oxytocin influences the responses of individuals in a particular group to those of another group. The in - group bias is evident in smaller groups ; however, it can also be extended to groups as large as one 's entire country leading toward a tendency of strong national zeal. A study done in the Netherlands showed that oxytocin increased the in - group favoritism of their nation while decreasing acceptance of members of other ethnicities and foreigners. People also show more affection for their country 's flag while remaining indifferent to other cultural objects when exposed to oxytocin. It has thus been hypothesized that this hormone may be a factor in xenophobic tendencies secondary to this effect. Thus, oxytocin appears to affect individuals at an international level where the in - group becomes a specific `` home '' country and the out - group grows to include all other countries. Drugs Drug interaction Impact on effects of alcohol and other drugs : According to several studies in animals, oxytocin inhibits the development of tolerance to various addictive drugs ( opiates, cocaine, alcohol ), and reduces withdrawal symptoms. MDMA ( ecstasy ) may increase feelings of love, empathy, and connection to others by stimulating oxytocin activity primarily via activation of serotonin 5 - HT1A receptors, if initial studies in animals apply to humans. The anxiolytic Buspar ( buspirone ) may produce some of its effects via 5 - HT1A receptor - induced oxytocin stimulation as well. Addiction vulnerability Endogenous oxytocin can also impact on drug effects and susceptibility to develop Substance use disorder. Endogenous oxytocin concentrations can directly impact on drug effects. Additionally, bilateral interactions with numerous systems, including the dopamine system, Hypothalamic -- pituitary -- adrenal axis and immune system, can impact on development of dependence. The status of the endogenous oxytocin system might enhance or reduce susceptibility to addiction through its interaction with these systems. Individual differences in the endogenous oxytocin system based on genetic predisposition, gender and environmental influences, may therefore affect addiction vulnerability. Oxytocin may be related to the place conditioning behaviors observed in habitual drug abusers. Fear and anxiety Oxytocin is typically remembered for the effect it has on prosocial behaviors, such as its role in facilitating trust and attachment between individuals. Consequently, oxytocin is often referred to as the `` love hormone ''. However, oxytocin has a more complex role than solely enhancing prosocial behaviors. There is consensus that oxytocin modulates fear and anxiety ; that is, it does not directly elicit fear or anxiety. Two dominant theories explain the role of oxytocin in fear and anxiety. One theory states that oxytocin increases approach / avoidance to certain social stimuli and the second theory states that oxytocin increases the salience of certain social stimuli, causing the animal or human to pay closer attention to socially relevant stimuli. Nasally administered oxytocin has been reported to reduce fear, possibly by inhibiting the amygdala ( which is thought to be responsible for fear responses ). Indeed, studies in rodents have shown oxytocin can efficiently inhibit fear responses by activating an inhibitory circuit within the amygdala. Some researchers have argued oxytocin has a general enhancing effect on all social emotions, since intranasal administration of oxytocin also increases envy and Schadenfreude. Individuals who receive an intranasal dose of oxytocin identify facial expressions of disgust faster than individuals who do not receive oxytocin. Facial expressions of disgust are evolutionarily linked to the idea of contagion. Thus, oxytocin increases the salience of cues that imply contamination, which leads to a faster response because these cues are especially relevant for survival. In another study, after administration of oxytocin, individuals displayed an enhanced ability to recognize expressions of fear compared to the individuals who received the placebo. Oxytocin modulates fear responses by enhancing the maintenance of social memories. Rats that are genetically modified to have a surplus of oxytocin receptors display a greater fear response to a previously conditioned stressor. Oxytocin enhances the aversive social memory, leading the rat to display a greater fear response when the aversive stimulus is encountered again. Mood and depression Oxytocin produces antidepressant - like effects in animal models of depression, and a deficit of it may be involved in the pathophysiology of depression in humans. The antidepressant - like effects of oxytocin are not blocked by a selective antagonist of the oxytocin receptor, suggesting that these effects are not mediated by the oxytocin receptor. In accordance, unlike oxytocin, the selective non-peptide oxytocin receptor agonist WAY - 267,464 does not produce antidepressant - like effects, at least in the tail suspension test. In contrast to WAY - 267,464, carbetocin, a close analogue of oxytocin and peptide oxytocin receptor agonist, notably does produce antidepressant - like effects in animals. As such, the antidepressant - like effects of oxytocin may be mediated by modulation of a different target, perhaps the vasopressin V receptor where oxytocin is known to weakly bind as an agonist. Sildenafil has been found to enhance electrically evoked oxytocin release from the pituitary gland. In accordance, the drug shows oxytocin - dependent antidepressant - like effects in animals, and it has proposed that sildenafil may hold promise as a potential antidepressant in humans. Sex differences It has been shown that oxytocin differentially affects males and females. Females who are administered oxytocin are overall faster in responding to socially relevant stimuli than males who received oxytocin. Additionally, after the administration of oxytocin, females show increased amygdala activity in response to threatening scenes ; however, males do not show increased amygdala activation. This phenomenon can be explained by looking at the role of gonadal hormones, specifically estrogen, which modulate the enhanced threat processing seen in females. Estrogen has been shown to stimulate the release of oxytocin from the hypothalamus and promote receptor binding in the amygdala. It has also been shown that testosterone directly suppresses oxytocin in mice. This has been hypothesized to have evolutionary significance. With oxytocin suppressed, activities such as hunting and attacking invaders would be less mentally difficult as oxytocin is strongly associated with empathy. Social Affecting generosity by increasing empathy during perspective taking : In a neuroeconomics experiment, intranasal oxytocin increased generosity in the Ultimatum Game by 80 %, but had no effect in the Dictator Game that measures altruism. Perspective - taking is not required in the Dictator Game, but the researchers in this experiment explicitly induced perspective - taking in the Ultimatum Game by not identifying to participants into which role they would be placed. Serious methodological questions have arisen, however, with regard to the role of oxytocin in trust and generosity. Empathy in healthy males has been shown to be increased after intranasal oxytocin This is most likely due to the effect of oxytocin in enhancing eye gaze. There is some discussion about which aspect of empathy oxytocin might alter -- for example, cognitive vs. emotional empathy. * Trust is increased by oxytocin. Disclosure of emotional events is a sign of trust in humans. When recounting a negative event, humans who receive intranasal oxytocin share more emotional details and stories with more emotional significance. Humans also find faces more trustworthy after receiving intranasal oxytocin. In a study, participants who received intranasal oxytocin viewed photographs of human faces with neutral expressions and found them to be more trustworthy than those who did not receive oxytocin. This may be because oxytocin reduces the fear of social betrayal in humans. Even after experiencing social alienation by being excluded from a conversation, humans who received oxytocin scored higher in trust on the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. Moreover, in a risky investment game, experimental subjects given nasally administered oxytocin displayed `` the highest level of trust '' twice as often as the control group. Subjects who were told they were interacting with a computer showed no such reaction, leading to the conclusion that oxytocin was not merely affecting risk aversion. When there is a reason to be distrustful, such as experiencing betrayal, differing reactions are associated with oxytocin receptor gene ( OXTR ) differences. Those with the CT haplotype experience a stronger reaction, in the form of anger, to betrayal. Romantic attachment : In some studies, high levels of plasma oxytocin have been correlated with romantic attachment. For example, if a couple is separated for a long period of time, anxiety can increase due to the lack of physical affection. Oxytocin may aid romantically attached couples by decreasing their feelings of anxiety when they are separated. Group - serving dishonesty / deception : In a carefully controlled study exploring the biological roots of immoral behavior, oxytocin was shown to promote dishonesty when the outcome favored the group to which an individual belonged instead of just the individual. Sexual activity : The relationship between oxytocin and human sexual response is unclear. At least two uncontrolled studies have found increases in plasma oxytocin at orgasm -- in both men and women. Plasma oxytocin levels are notably increased around the time of self - stimulated orgasm and are still higher than baseline when measured five minutes after self arousal. The authors of one of these studies speculated that oxytocin 's effects on muscle contractibility may facilitate sperm and egg transport. In a study measuring oxytocin serum levels in women before and after sexual stimulation, the author suggests it serves an important role in sexual arousal. This study found genital tract stimulation resulted in increased oxytocin immediately after orgasm. Another study reported increases of oxytocin during sexual arousal could be in response to nipple / areola, genital, and / or genital tract stimulation as confirmed in other mammals. Murphy et al. ( 1987 ), studying men, found oxytocin levels were raised throughout sexual arousal with no acute increase at orgasm. A more recent study of men found an increase in plasma oxytocin immediately after orgasm, but only in a portion of their sample that did not reach statistical significance. The authors noted these changes `` may simply reflect contractile properties on reproductive tissue ''. Oxytocin affects social distance between adult males and females, and may be responsible at least in part for romantic attraction and subsequent monogamous pair bonding. An oxytocin nasal spray caused men in a monogamous relationship, but not single men, to increase the distance between themselves and an attractive woman during a first encounter by 10 to 15 centimeters. The researchers suggested that oxytocin may help promote fidelity within monogamous relationships. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as the `` bonding hormone ''. There is some evidence that oxytocin promotes ethnocentric behavior, incorporating the trust and empathy of in - groups with their suspicion and rejection of outsiders. Furthermore, genetic differences in the oxytocin receptor gene ( OXTR ) have been associated with maladaptive social traits such as aggressive behavior. Social behavior and wound healing : Oxytocin is also thought to modulate inflammation by decreasing certain cytokines. Thus, the increased release in oxytocin following positive social interactions has the potential to improve wound healing. A study by Marazziti and colleagues used heterosexual couples to investigate this possibility. They found increases in plasma oxytocin following a social interaction were correlated with faster wound healing. They hypothesized this was due to oxytocin reducing inflammation, thus allowing the wound to heal more quickly. This study provides preliminary evidence that positive social interactions may directly influence aspects of health. According to a study published in 2014, silencing of oxytocin receptor interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex ( mPFC ) of female mice resulted in loss of social interest in male mice during the sexually receptive phase of the estrous cycle. Oxytocin evokes feelings of contentment, reductions in anxiety, and feelings of calmness and security when in the company of the mate. This suggests oxytocin may be important for the inhibition of the brain regions associated with behavioral control, fear, and anxiety, thus allowing orgasm to occur. Research has also demonstrated that oxytocin can decrease anxiety and protect against stress, particularly in combination with social support. Chemistry Oxytocin ( ball - and - stick ) bound to its carrier protein neurophysin ( ribbons ) Oxytocin is a peptide of nine amino acids ( a nonapeptide ) in the sequence cysteine - tyrosine - isoleucine - glutamine - asparagine - cysteine - proline - leucine - glycine - amide ( Cys -- Tyr -- Ile -- Gln -- Asn -- Cys -- Pro -- Leu -- Gly -- NH, or CYIQNCPLG - NH ) ; its C - terminus has been converted to a primary amide and a disulfide bridge joins the cysteine moieties. Oxytocin has a molecular mass of 1007 Da, and one international unit ( IU ) of oxytocin is the equivalent of about 2 μg of pure peptide. While the structure of oxytocin is highly conserved in placental mammals, a novel structure of oxytocin was recently reported in marmosets, tamarins, and other new world primates. Genomic sequencing of the gene for oxytocin revealed a single in - frame mutation ( thymine for cytosine ) which results in a single amino acid substitution at the 8 - position ( proline for leucine ). Since this original Lee et al. paper, two other laboratories have confirmed Pro8 - OT and documented additional oxytocin structural variants in this primate taxon. Vargas - Pinilla et al. sequenced the coding regions of the OXT gene in other genera in new world primates and identified the following variants in addition to Leu8 - and Pro8 - OT : Ala8 - OT, Thr8 - OT, and Val3 / Pro8 - OT. Ren et al. identified a variant further, Phe2 - OT in howler monkeys. The biologically active form of oxytocin, commonly measured by RIA and / or HPLC techniques, is also known as the octapeptide `` oxytocin disulfide '' ( oxidized form ), but oxytocin also exists as a reduced straight - chain ( non-cyclic ) dithiol nonapeptide called oxytoceine. It has been theorized that oxytoceine may act as a free radical scavenger, as donating an electron to a free radical allows oxytoceine to be re-oxidized to oxytocin via the dehydroascorbate / ascorbate redox couple. The structure of oxytocin is very similar to that of vasopressin. Both are nonapeptides with a single disulfide bridge, differing only by two substitutions in the amino acid sequence ( differences from oxytocin bolded for clarity ) : Cys -- Tyr -- Phe -- Gln -- Asn -- Cys -- Pro -- Arg -- Gly -- NH. A table showing the sequences of members of the vasopressin / oxytocin superfamily and the species expressing them is present in the vasopressin article. Oxytocin and vasopressin were isolated and their total synthesis reported in 1954, work for which Vincent du Vigneaud was awarded the 1955 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with the citation : `` for his work on biochemically important sulphur compounds, especially for the first synthesis of a polypeptide hormone. '' Oxytocin and vasopressin are the only known hormones released by the human posterior pituitary gland to act at a distance. However, oxytocin neurons make other peptides, including corticotropin - releasing hormone and dynorphin, for example, that act locally. The magnocellular neurosecretory cells that make oxytocin are adjacent to magnocellular neurosecretory cells that make vasopressin. These are large neuroendocrine neurons which are excitable and can generate action potentials. History The word oxytocin was coined from the term oxytocic. Greek ὀξύς, oxys, and τόκος, tokos, meaning `` quick birth '' ) Its uterine - contracting properties were discovered by British pharmacologist Sir Henry Hallett Dale in 1906. And its milk ejection property was described by Ott and Scott in 1910 and by Schafer and Mackenzie in 1911. Oxytocin became the first polypeptide hormone to be sequenced or synthesized. Du Vigneaud was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1955 for his work. 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The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 64 ( 1 ) : 27 -- 31. PMID 3782434. doi : 10.1210 / jcem - 64 - 1 - 27. Jump up ^ Carmichael MS, Warburton VL, Dixen J, Davidson JM ( February 1994 ). `` Relationships among cardiovascular, muscular, and oxytocin responses during human sexual activity ''. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 23 ( 1 ) : 59 -- 79. PMID 8135652. doi : 10.1007 / BF01541618. Jump up ^ Blaicher W, Gruber D, Bieglmayer C, Blaicher AM, Knogler W, Huber JC ( 1999 ). `` The role of oxytocin in relation to female sexual arousal ''. Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation. 47 ( 2 ) : 125 -- 6. PMID 9949283. doi : 10.1159 / 000010075. Jump up ^ Anderson - Hunt M, Dennerstein L ( 1995 ). `` Oxytocin and female sexuality ''. Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation. 40 ( 4 ) : 217 -- 21. PMID 8586300. doi : 10.1159 / 000292340. Jump up ^ Murphy MR, Seckl JR, Burton S, Checkley SA, Lightman SL ( October 1987 ). `` Changes in oxytocin and vasopressin secretion during sexual activity in men ''. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 65 ( 4 ) : 738 -- 41. PMID 3654918. doi : 10.1210 / jcem - 65 - 4 - 738. Jump up ^ Krüger TH, Haake P, Chereath D, Knapp W, Janssen OE, Exton MS, Schedlowski M, Hartmann U ( April 2003 ). `` Specificity of the neuroendocrine response to orgasm during sexual arousal in men ''. The Journal of Endocrinology. 177 ( 1 ) : 57 -- 64. PMID 12697037. doi : 10.1677 / joe. 0.1770057. Jump up ^ Scheele D, Striepens N, Güntürkün O, Deutschländer S, Maier W, Kendrick KM, Hurlemann R ( November 2012 ). `` Oxytocin modulates social distance between males and females ''. The Journal of Neuroscience. 32 ( 46 ) : 16074 -- 9. PMID 23152592. doi : 10.1523 / JNEUROSCI. 2755 - 12.2012. 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Cell. 159 ( 2 ) : 295 -- 305. PMC 4206218. PMID 25303526. doi : 10.1016 / j. cell. 2014.09. 020. Lay summary -- SciGuru Science News. Jump up ^ Heinrichs M, Baumgartner T, Kirschbaum C, Ehlert U ( December 2003 ). `` Social support and oxytocin interact to suppress cortisol and subjective responses to psychosocial stress ''. Biological Psychiatry. 54 ( 12 ) : 1389 -- 98. PMID 14675803. doi : 10.1016 / S0006 - 3223 ( 03 ) 00465 - 7. ^ Jump up to : Burtis CA, Ashwood ER, Bruns DE ( 2012 ). Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics ( 5th ed. ). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 1833. ISBN 9781455759422. Jump up ^ Lee AG, Cool DR, Grunwald WC, Neal DE, Buckmaster CL, Cheng MY, Hyde SA, Lyons DM, Parker KJ ( August 2011 ). `` A novel form of oxytocin in New World monkeys ''. Biology Letters. 7 ( 4 ) : 584 -- 7. PMC 3130245. PMID 21411453. doi : 10.1098 / rsbl. 2011.0107. 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Jump up ^ Kukucka MA ( 1993 - 04 - 18 ). `` Mechanisms by which hypoxia augments Leydig cell viability and differentiated cell function in vitro ''. Digital Library and Archives. Retrieved 2010 - 02 - 21. Jump up ^ du Vigneaud V, Ressler C, Swan JM, Roberts CW, Katsoyannis PG ( 1954 ). `` The Synthesis of Oxytocin ''. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 76 ( 12 ) : 3115 -- 3121. doi : 10.1021 / ja01641a004. Jump up ^ `` The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1955 ''. Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB. Retrieved 17 November 2016. Jump up ^ Leng, G ; Brown, CH ; Russell, JA ( April 1999 ). `` Physiological pathways regulating the activity of magnocellular neurosecretory cells ''. Progress in neurobiology. 57 ( 6 ) : 625 -- 655. PMID 10221785. doi : 10.1016 / s0301 - 0082 ( 98 ) 00072 - 0. Jump up ^ Dale HH ( May 1906 ). `` On some physiological actions of ergot ''. The Journal of Physiology. 34 ( 3 ) : 163 -- 206. PMC 1465771. PMID 16992821. doi : 10.1113 / jphysiol. 1906. sp001148. Jump up ^ Ott I, Scott JC ( 1910 ). `` The Action of Infundibulum upon Mammary Secretion ''. Proc Soc Exp Biol. 8 : 48 -- 49. Jump up ^ Schafer EA, Mackenzie K ( July 1911 ). `` The Action of Animal Extracts on Milk Secretion ''. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 84 ( 568 ) : 16 -- 22. doi : 10.1098 / rspb. 1911.0042. Jump up ^ Du Vigneaud V, Ressler C, Trippett S ( December 1953 ). `` The sequence of amino acids in oxytocin, with a proposal for the structure of oxytocin ''. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 205 ( 2 ) : 949 -- 57. PMID 13129273. Jump up ^ du Vigneaud V, Ressler C, Swan JM, Roberts CW, Katsoyannis PG, Gordon S ( 1953 ). `` The synthesis of an octapeptide amide with the hormonal activity of oxytocin ''. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 75 ( 19 ) : 4879 -- 80. doi : 10.1021 / ja01115a553. Jump up ^ du Vigneaud V, Ressler C, Swan JM, Roberts CW, Katsoyannis PG ( June 1954 ). `` The synthesis of oxytocin ''. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 76 ( 12 ) : 3115 -- 3121. doi : 10.1021 / ja01641a004. Jump up ^ du Vigneaud V, Ressler C, Swan JM, Roberts CW, Katsoyannis PG ( 1954 ). `` The Synthesis of Oxytocin1 ''. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 76 ( 12 ) : 3115 -- 21. doi : 10.1021 / ja01641a004. Jump up ^ Du Vigneaud V ( June 1956 ). `` Trail of sulfur research : from insulin to oxytocin ''. Science. 123 ( 3205 ) : 967 -- 74. PMID 13324123. doi : 10.1126 / science. 123.3205. 967. Further reading Caldwell HK, Young WS ( 2006 ). `` Oxytocin and Vasopressin : Genetics and Behavioral Implications ''. In Abel L, Lim R. Handbook of neurochemistry and molecular neurobiology ( PDF ). Berlin : Springer. pp. 573 -- 607. ISBN 0 - 387 - 30348 - 0. Fillod, Odile ( 2014 ), `` Oxytocin as proximal cause of ' maternal instinct ' : weak science, post-feminism, and the hormones of mystique '', in Schmitz, Sigrid ; Höppner, Grit, Gendered neurocultures : feminist and queer perspectives on current brain discourses, challenge GENDER, 2, Wien : Zaglossus, ISBN 9783902902122. Yong, Ed ( 13 November 2015 ), `` The weak science behind the wrongly named moral molecule '', The Atlantic. Hormones Endocrine glands Hypothalamic - pituitary Hypothalamus GnRH TRH Dopamine CRH GHRH Somatostatin ( GHIH ) MCH Posterior pituitary Oxytocin Vasopressin Anterior pituitary FSH LH TSH Prolactin POMC CLIP ACTH MSH Endorphins Lipotropin GH Adrenal axis Adrenal cortex aldosterone cortisol cortisone DHEA DHEA - S androstenedione Adrenal medulla epinephrine norepinephrine Thyroid Thyroid hormone Calcitonin Thyroid axis Parathyroid PTH Gonadal axis Testis testosterone AMH inhibin Ovary estradiol progesterone activin and inhibin relaxin ( pregnancy ) Placenta hCG HPL estrogen progesterone Pancreas glucagon insulin amylin somatostatin pancreatic polypeptide Pineal gland melatonin N, N - dimethyltryptamine 5 - methoxy - N, N - dimethyltryptamine Other Thymus Thymosins Thymosin α1 Beta thymosins Thymopoietin Thymulin Digestive system Stomach gastrin ghrelin Duodenum CCK Incretins GIP GLP - 1 secretin motilin VIP Ileum enteroglucagon peptide YY Liver / other Insulin - like growth factor IGF - 1 IGF - 2 Adipose tissue leptin adiponectin resistin Skeleton Osteocalcin Kidney JGA ( renin ) peritubular cells EPO calcitriol prostaglandin Heart Natriuretic peptide ANP BNP Peptides : neuropeptides Hormones see hormones Opioid peptides Dynorphins Big dynorphin Dynorphin A Dynorphin B Leumorphin Endomorphins Endomorphin - 1 Endomorphin - 2 Endorphins α - Endorphin β - Endorphin γ - Endorphin α - Neoendorphin β - Neoendorphin Enkephalins Met - enkephalin Leu - enkephalin Others Adrenorphin Amidorphin Hemorphin Hemorphin - 4 Nociceptin Opiorphin Spinorphin Valorphin Other neuropeptides Kinins Bradykinin Tachykinins : mammal Substance P Neurokinin A Neurokinin B amphibian Kassinin Physalaemin Neuromedins U Orexins Other Angiotensin Bombesin Calcitonin gene - related peptide Carnosine Cocaine - and amphetamine - regulated transcript Delta sleep - inducing peptide FMRFamide Galanin Galanin - like peptide Gastrin releasing peptide Ghrelin Neuropeptide AF Neuropeptide FF Neuropeptide SF Neuropeptide VF Neuropeptide S Neuropeptide Y Neurophysins Neurotensin Pancreatic polypeptide Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide RVD - Hpα VGF Neurotransmitters Amino acid - derived Major excitatory / inhibitory systems : Glutamate system : Agmatine Aspartic acid ( aspartate ) Cycloserine Glutamic acid ( glutamate ) Glutathione Glycine GSNO GSSG Kynurenic acid NAA NAAG Proline Serine ; GABA system : GABA GABOB GHB ; Glycine system : α - Alanine β - Alanine Glycine Hypotaurine Proline Sarcosine Serine Taurine ; GHB system : GHB T - HCA ( GHC ) Biogenic amines : Monoamines : 6 - OHM Dopamine Epinephrine ( adrenaline ) NAS ( normelatonin ) Norepinephrine ( noradrenaline ) Serotonin ( 5 - HT ) ; Trace amines : 3 - Iodothyronamine N - Methylphenethylamine N - Methyltryptamine m - Octopamine p - Octopamine Phenylethanolamine Phenethylamine Synephrine Tryptamine m - Tyramine p - Tyramine ; Others : Histamine Neuropeptides : See here instead. Lipid - derived Endocannabinoids : 2 - AG 2 - AGE ( noladin ether ) 2 - ALPI 2 - OG AA - 5 - HT Anandamide ( AEA ) DEA LPI NADA NAGly OEA Oleamide PEA RVD - Hpα SEA Virodhamine ( O - AEA ) Neurosteroids : See here instead. Nucleobase - derived Nucleosides : Adenosine system : Adenosine ADP AMP ATP Vitamin - derived Cholinergic system : Acetylcholine Miscellaneous Gasotransmitters : Carbon monoxide ( CO ) Hydrogen sulfide ( H S ) Nitric oxide ( NO ) ; Candidates : Acetaldehyde Ammonia ( NH ) Carbonyl sulfide ( COS ) Nitrous oxide ( N O ) Sulfur dioxide ( SO ) LCCN : sh85096354 GND : 4044251 - 2 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oxytocin&oldid=799424620 '' Categories : Genes on human chromosome 20 Articles with evidence out of context Breastfeeding Human female endocrine system Interpersonal attraction Neuropeptides Neurotransmitters Orgasm Oxytocin receptor agonists Posterior pituitary hormones Vasopressin receptor agonists Hormones of the hypothalamus Hormones of the pregnant female Hidden categories : Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from September 2010 ECHA InfoCard ID from Wikidata Drugs missing an ATC code Drugs with no legal status Drugboxes which contain changes to watched fields All pages needing factual verification Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from March 2017 Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Azərbaycanca বাংলা Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Български Bosanski Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch ދިވެހިބަސް Eesti Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge Galego 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית ಕನ್ನಡ Қазақша Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar Македонски မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk ଓଡ଼ିଆ پنجابی Polski Português Română Русский Scots Shqip Simple English Slovenčina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 7 September 2017, at 17 : 10. 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Question: where is oxytocin made and what is its function
Answer: paraventricular nucleus