Oxytocin
aka Pitocin (IV obstetric)
Mechanism
Oxytocin is a nine-amino acid peptide hormone (Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2, with a disulfide bridge between Cys1 and Cys6) produced in the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. The synthetic form (Pitocin) is FDA-approved as IV/IM injection for labor induction/augmentation and postpartum hemorrhage control. Intranasal oxytocin is NOT FDA-approved and is used off-label or in research settings for social/behavioral indications, where evidence is mixed.
Identification
| CAS number | 50-56-6 |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C43H66N12O12S2 |
| Sequence | CYIQNCPLG |
| Typical dose | 24 IU intranasal per administration (common research dose); 24-40 IU intranasal studied in clinical trials; IV obstetric use (Pitocin) is weight/indication-based and distinct from research protocols |
| Half-life | ~3-5 minutes (IV, peripheral plasma) |
Vendors selling Oxytocin
| Vendor | Size | Price | Listed purity | Trust |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Aminos | 10 mg | $55.99 | — | 99 |
| Moglabs | 5 mg | $24.00 | — | 96 |
| BioLongevity Labs | 10 mg | $64.97 | — | 96 |
| Orbitrex Peptides | 2 mg | $29.99 | — | 95 |
| Profound Aminos | 5 mg | $39.00 | — | 95 |
| Licensed Peptides | 10 mg | $76.99 | — | 95 |
| Peptide Tech | — | $28.99 | — | 94 |
| Mile High Compounds | — | $59.99 | — | 94 |
| Riptide Wellness | — | $44.99 | — | 92 |
| Peptidology | 10 mg | $42.99 | — | 89 |
| Peptide Plugs | — | $45.00 | — | 89 |
| Qihang Peptide | — | — | — | 87 |
| Verified Peptides | 10 mg | $35.00 | — | 86 |
| EZ Peptides | 10 mg | $58.00 | — | 85 |
| Simple Peptide | 2 mg | $35.00 | — | 85 |
| Simple Peptide | 10 mg | $35.00 | — | 85 |
| Peptidegurus | 10 mg | — | — | 84 |
| Ascension Peptides | 2 mg | $49.99 | — | 84 |
| Blank Peptides | 5 mg | $60.00 | — | 81 |
| Certified Peptides | 10 mg | $52.00 | — | 62 |
| Peptiatlas | — | — | — | 51 |
| HongDa Peptide | — | $29.00 | — | 43 |
| zztai Peptide Ltd | — | — | — | 43 |
| MJT peptides | 2 mg | $38.00 | — | 39 |
| Alpha Omega | 2 mg | $35.00 | — | — |
| Alpha Omega | 10 mg | $35.00 | — | — |
| Atomik Labz | 5 mg | $34.00 | — | — |
| Biotech Peptides | 10 mg | $45.00 | — | — |
| Bulk Peptides | 5 mg | $120.00 | — | — |
| Core Peptides | 10 mg | $52.00 | — | — |
| Flawless Compounds | — | — | — | — |
| Genetic Peptide | — | $99.00 | — | — |
| Genetic Peptide | 2 mg | $20.00 | — | — |
| Genetic Peptide | 5 mg | $20.00 | — | — |
| Genetic Peptide | 10 mg | $20.00 | — | — |
| Kimera Chems | — | $36.99 | — | — |
| Modern Research Peptides | 2 mg | $24.99 | — | — |
| Oneday Compounds | 5 mg | $54.99 | — | — |
| Paramount Peptides | 10 mg | $65.00 | — | — |
| Peptide Crafters | 5 mg | $45.00 | — | — |
| Peptira | — | $34.00 | — | — |
| Solution Peptides | 5 mg | $34.00 | — | — |
| Soma Peptides | — | $139.00 | — | — |
| Soma Peptides | 2 mg | $49.00 | — | — |
| True Peptide | 5 mg | $34.00 | — | — |
| Welli Labs | — | $54.99 | — | — |
Research
Introduction Oxytocin is widely used to augment uterine contractions during labor. However, its use has been associated with fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities and neonatal morbidity, which may be reduced by discontinuing oxytocin during labor.
source →The rewarding effects of psychostimulants are strongly influenced by social context, yet the underlying neurochemical and neuropeptidergic mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the role of oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) in context-dependent reward induced by subchronic mephedrone treatment in rats.
source →Oxytocin is a putative pharmacological target for social dysfunction. However, clinical trials of intranasal oxytocin have produced modest and inconsistent effects, motivating the search for naturalistic, non-pharmacological ways to recruit endogenous oxytocin.
source →Oxytocin is a nine-amino-acid peptide hormone renowned for its roles in reproduction and childbirth. Beyond these classical functions, it has attracted increasing research interest for its broader biological activities.
source →People with narcolepsy have intrusive episodes of muscle weakness known as cataplexy, which are usually triggered by strong, positive emotions. As cataplexy occurs almost exclusively during social interactions, we examined whether it is promoted by the prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin.
source →Clinical evidence indicates that tactile stimulation of the skin, such as stroking or gentle touch, elicits a range of beneficial physiological and psychological responses, such as increased social interaction, wellbeing, calm, restorative and growth promoting effects, as well as reduced fear, pain, and stress levels.
source →Salivary oxytocin is a widely used peripheral measure for investigating neuroendocrine correlates of social, stress-related, and adaptive physiological processes.
source →Background The neuropeptide oxytocin offers a potentially effective treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Acting centrally in the brain, oxytocin mediates a range of behavioral effects, including reward, stress response, social affiliation, learning, memory, and addictive behaviors.
source →Background Postpartum hemorrhage remains a major cause of maternal morbidity, and cesarean delivery is associated with greater blood loss than vaginal birth.
source →Maternal care is crucial for normal neurodevelopment. Disruptions in early caregiver-infant interactions, potentially linked to modern lifestyles, may contribute to the rising prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
source →Oxytocin modulates social information processing by altering excitatory-inhibitory balance at the microcircuit level, but how such local modulation gives rise to selective processing at the level of distributed brain systems remains unclear.
source →Hormone oxytocin is implicated in the control of food intake and energy balance. Experimental evidence indicates that oxytocin reduces carbohydrate intake, motivation and seeking for palatable foods. We recently showed that intermittent intake of palatable food promotes binge-type eating in rats.
source →The EAGER pilot trial is designed to assess the feasibility of a Canadian, multicentre prospective randomized open-label blinded end-point (PROBE) clinical trial addressing whether induction of labour (IOL) at 38 weeks' gestation compared to expectant management (EM) reduces severe perinatal mortality and morbidity amo…
source →Lactation is a physiological process in which various hormones, especially prolactin and oxytocin, play a role. Methods such as warm showers are preferred because they are easy to apply and have a quick effect, as well as being cost-effective.
source →CT fibers are found in the skin of most mammals and project to the insular cortex. Stimulation of CT fibers by light touch causes a release of oxytocin and is associated with feelings of comfort and wellbeing.
source →This study recruited healthy volunteers and randomly divided them into four groups. They inhaled oxytocin or saline, and watched a pain test video with photos of acquaintances or strangers, respectively, to test whether their feelings of the same thermal pain stimulus had changed.
source →To compare the efficacy and safety of cervical ripening with transcervical Foley catheter in inpatient vs outpatient setting
source →This study aims to evaluate the uptake of oxytocin following intravaginal administration of Vagitocin 400IU over a period of 15 days and also to compare oxytocin bioavailability after vaginal and intravenous administration.
source →This study is designed to determine the minimum effective dose (ED90) of infusions of oxytocin for the prevention of uterine atony / postpartum hemorrhage and the need for additional uterotonics, in low risk parturients presenting for an elective CD.
source →Our purpose was to compare the efficacy and safety of Foley catheter with oxytocin and extraamniotic saline infusion with oxytocin for induction of labor requiring cervical ripening.
source →