Oxytocin
$35.00
What is Oxytocin?
Oxytocin is a naturally occurring cyclic nonapeptide hormone produced primarily in the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. Its structure was determined and synthesized by Vincent du Vigneaud in 1953, work that earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1955 — making oxytocin the first peptide hormone to be chemically synthesized. Oxytocin contains an internal disulfide bridge between Cys1 and Cys6, forming a six-membered ring essential for receptor binding. It is released from the posterior pituitary into circulation and also acts as a neurotransmitter within the brain. Oxytocin is best known for its roles in parturition (uterine contraction) and lactation (milk ejection), and synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) is widely used in obstetric medicine. More recently, oxytocin has been extensively investigated in social neuroscience for its roles in pair bonding, trust, social cognition, and anxiety modulation.
Mechanism of Action
Oxytocin has been investigated for its activity at the oxytocin receptor (OXTR), a Gq-coupled GPCR expressed in the uterus, mammary glands, brain, and other tissues. In myometrial cells, OXTR activation stimulates phospholipase C, IP3-mediated calcium release, and smooth muscle contraction. In mammary myoepithelial cells, the same calcium signaling pathway triggers milk ejection. In the brain, researchers observed that oxytocin modulates social behavior through OXTR activation in the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex. Studies suggest that central oxytocin signaling reduces amygdala reactivity to threatening stimuli, modulates the HPA axis stress response, and influences reward processing in social contexts. Oxytocin release follows a positive feedback mechanism during parturition — uterine distension triggers oxytocin release, which promotes contractions, which further stimulate oxytocin release (the Ferguson reflex). In the brain, oxytocin is released in a pulsatile manner and acts on both synaptic and volume-transmission timescales.
Published Research
Social Neuroscience
Kosfeld et al. (2005) investigated intranasal oxytocin in human subjects and observed increased trust behavior in an economic trust game, establishing oxytocin as a key molecule in human social cognition research [1].
Anxiolytic Effects
Kirsch et al. (2005) used fMRI to demonstrate that intranasal oxytocin reduces amygdala activation in response to threatening stimuli, providing the neuroimaging basis for oxytocin’s anxiolytic research profile [2].
Receptor Pharmacology
Gimpl and Fahrenholz (2001) comprehensively reviewed oxytocin receptor structure, signaling, and expression patterns, establishing the molecular pharmacology framework for oxytocin research [3].
Product Specifications
| Product | Oxytocin Lyophilized Powder |
|---|---|
| Available Sizes | 8mg |
| Purity | ≥99% (HPLC verified) |
| CAS Number | 50-56-6 |
| Sequence | Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH₂ (disulfide bridge Cys1-Cys6) |
| Molecular Formula | C₄₃H₆₆N₁₂O₁₂S₂ |
| Molecular Weight | 1,007.19 g/mol |
| Appearance | White lyophilized powder in glass vial |
| Storage | Store lyophilized at -20°C. Reconstituted solution at 2-8°C, use within 14 days. |
| Testing | Third-party tested — Certificate of Analysis available |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oxytocin is a naturally occurring cyclic nonapeptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus. It was the first peptide hormone to be chemically synthesized (1953, Nobel Prize 1955).
The CAS registry number for Oxytocin is 50-56-6.
Oxytocin's classical functions include stimulating uterine contractions during labor and milk ejection during lactation. It is also extensively studied for social cognition and bonding.
Store lyophilized Oxytocin at -20°C. Once reconstituted, store at 2-8°C and use within 14 days.
Yes, synthetic oxytocin has the identical amino acid sequence and disulfide bridge as the naturally occurring hormone.
Oxytocin is studied in social neuroscience, reproductive biology, pair bonding, trust, anxiety modulation, and neuroendocrine signaling.
References
- Kosfeld M, et al. Oxytocin increases trust in humans. Nature. 2005;435(7042):673-676. PMID: 15931222
- Kirsch P, et al. Oxytocin modulates neural circuitry for social cognition and fear in humans. J Neurosci. 2005;25(49):11489-11493. PMID: 16339042
- Gimpl G, Fahrenholz F. The oxytocin receptor system: structure, function, and regulation. Physiol Rev. 2001;81(2):629-683. PMID: 11274341
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