Oxytocin, Functions, Uses and Abuses: A Brief Review

Oxytocin a peptide hormone has the distinction of being the first among the peptide hormones to be sequenced and biochemically synthesized. Oxytocin is secreted from neural as well as non-neural sources inside the body. Among the neural sources supra-optic and paraventricular nuclei of the brain are major sources of secretion, the arcuate nucleus being a minor source. There are many non-neural sources from which synthesis of Oxytocin has been reported. The important ones include interstitial cells of Leydig in testis, epididymis, prostate glands, corpus luteum inside ovary, uterus, oviduct, placenta and adrenal glands. Oxytocin directly acts on the smooth muscle cells and causes muscle contraction. Indirectly it stimulates synthesis of PGF2α inside the female genital tract. As such the Oxytocin is involved in a wide spectrum of activities from milk letdown, parturition, penile erection and ejaculation to social, sexual and maternal behavior. Because of the spectrum of its functions it has since been used therapeutically for conditions like facilitating parturition in uterine inertia, prevent bleeding after parturition and abortion, management of incomplete abortion, milk letdown, retention of placenta etc., although the success has not been predictable. However, Oxytocin is also being misused under the false impression that its use in dairy animals increases the milk yield. Oxytocin abuse is also rampant in fruits and vegetables. This article is an attempt to explore the body of knowledge with respect to functions, uses and most importantly the abuses of this wonderful hormone.