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Oxytocin

Oxytocin Oxytocin is a cyclic nonapeptide hormone with amino acid sequence CYIQNCPLG that also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain; the principal uterine-contracting and milk-ejecting hormone of the posterior pituitary. Together with the neuropeptide vasop

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Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a cyclic nonapeptide hormone with amino acid sequence CYIQNCPLG that also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain; the principal uterine-contracting and milk-ejecting hormone of the posterior pituitary. Together with the neuropeptide vasopressin, it is believed to influence social cognition and behaviour. It has a role as a vasodilator agent and an oxytocic. It is a heterodetic cyclic peptide and a peptide hormone.

MolecularFormulaC43H66N12O12S2
MolecularWeight1007.2
IUPACName(2S)-1-[(4R,7S,10S,13S,16S,19R)-19-amino-7-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-10-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-13-[(2S)-butan-2-yl]-16-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-6,9,12,15,18-pentaoxo-1,2-dithia-5,8,11,14,17-pentazacycloicosane-4-carbonyl]-N-[(2S)-1-[(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide
  • OXYTOCIN
  • 50-56-6
  • Pitocin
  • Endopituitrina
  • Ocytocin
  • Syntocinon
  • Oxytocinum
  • Orasthin
  • Oxitocina
  • Oxystin
  • Oxytocine
  • alpha-Hypophamine
  • Synthetic oxytocin
  • Piton S
  • (1-Hemicystine)oxytocin
  • Syntocinone
  • Presoxin
  • Syntocin
  • Uteracon
  • Di-sipidin
  • Nobitocin S
  • 3-Isoleucine-8-leucine vasopressin
  • Atonin O
  • Intertocine S
  • DTXSID8048361
  • (2S)-1-[(4R,7S,10S,13S,16S,19R)-19-amino-7-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-10-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-13-[(2S)-butan-2-yl]-16-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl]-6,9,12,15,18-pentaoxo-1,2-dithia-5,8,11,14,17-pentazacycloicosane-4-carbonyl]-N-[(2S)-1-[(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide
  • 1JQS135EYN
  • Vasopressin, 3-L-isoleucine-8-L-leucine-
  • CHEBI:7872
  • OXYTOCIN 5 USP UNITS IN DEXTROSE 5%
  • OXYTOCIN 10 USP UNITS IN DEXTROSE 5%
  • OXYTOCIN 20 USP UNITS IN DEXTROSE 5%
  • TNX1900
  • TTA-121
  • TNX-1900
  • Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2, cyclic 1-6 disulfide
  • L-Cysteinyl-L-tyrosyl-L-isoleucyl-L-glutaminyl-L-asparaginyl-L-cysteinyl-L-prolyl-L-leucylglycinamide cyclic (1-6)-disulfide
  • 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
  • Oxytocin Injectable
  • (2S)-1-((4R,7S,10S,13S,16S,19R)-19-amino-7-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-10-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-13-((2S)-butan-2-yl)-16-((4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl)-6,9,12,15,18-pentaoxo-1,2-dithia-5,8,11,14,17-pentazacycloicosane-4-carbonyl)-N-((2S)-1-((2-amino-2-oxoethyl)amino)-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxamide

Connected reading

Helpful context for this guide

Source-derived material selected through this article’s indexed topics.

Related questions

01What are the side effects of oxytocin?

Common side effects of oxytocin include: Mother

Source: www.medicinenet.com ↗
02What Recent Research Adds

Recent studies have refined rather than fundamentally changed the current understanding of monogamy. A 2025 study showed that monogamy influences reproductive investment in animal models, supporting the concept that mating systems leave measurable evolutionary signatures. Earlier studies published in 2024 identified epigenetic changes associated with pair bonding instead of a single biological mechanism underlying monogamy. A study published in Scientific Reports used seed beetles to show that monogamy influences investment in reproductive tissues under intense sexual selection, providing further insight into the evolutionary costs and benefits of monogamy across species. Together, these animal studies help researchers identify the evolutionary pressures that shape pair-bonding systems, while highlighting that such findings cannot be directly applied to humans. Rather, they provide insights into how pair bonding evolves across species.

Source: www.medscape.com ↗
Research context

Read sources and limitations before applying a claim.

Human & Animal Studies

Human Studies Oxytocin is among the most extensively studied peptide hormones in medicine. Human studies have evaluated oxytocin for: Labor induction Labor augmentation Postpartum hemorrhage Breastfeeding physiology Schizophrenia Social cognition Chronic pain Obesity Eating disorders Obstetric studies have firmly established the efficacy of oxytocin for labor induction and postpartum hemorrhage management, leading to FDA approval. Research involving intranasal oxytocin for psychiatric and neurologic disorders has demonstrated mixed results, with some studies showing improvements in social cognition or emotional processing while others have found limited or inconsistent benefit. Additional large randomized trials are ongoing. Animal & Preclinical Studies Animal studies have demonstrated that oxytocin: Regulates maternal behavior Promotes pair bonding Modulates stress responses Influences social recognition Regulates appetite Alters pain perception Supports wound healing Influences cardiovascular function Modulates immune responses These findings have provided the biologic rationale for investigating oxytocin in numerous human diseases beyond its established obstetric uses.

Source: r2medicalclinic.com ↗
Practical and safety references

These excerpts are educational, not personalised medical instructions.

Dosage reference

Dosages

Oxytocin is administered under medical supervision, with dosages tailored to specific clinical needs and patient conditions. For labor induction, Oxytocin is typically given intravenously using an infusion pump, starting at a low rate of 0.5 to 2 milliunits per minute, gradually increased by 1 to 2 milliunits per minute every 30 to 60 minutes until effective contractions are achieved. The total dose rarely exceeds 20 milliunits per minute to avoid overstimulation of the uterus. In biohacking circles, there are reports that Oxytocin is used in the range of 30-80mcg as needed, via injections and intranasal spray.

Source: exploring-peptides.com ↗
P

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Peptide Therapy Guide Editorial Team

Editorial team for Peptide Therapy Guide.

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