OXYTOCIN - 10mg

STRUCTURE

Sequence: Cys(1)-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys(1)-Pro-Leu-Gly

Molecular Formula: C43H66N12O12S2

Molecular Weight: 1007.193 g/mol

CAS Number: 50-56-6

Peptide purity: Greater than 98%

Other details: No TFA Salt

Storage: Lyophilized peptide must be stored at -20°C and peptide solution at +4°C

DESCRITPION

Oxytocin, often dubbed the "love hormone" or "cuddle hormone," is a potent peptide hormone and neuropeptide that plays an essential role in social bonding, sexual reproduction, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It is synthesized in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland.

Wound Healing and Immune Function

Recent research has highlighted oxytocin's role in wound healing and immune function. Oxytocin possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation and promote the healing process. It can accelerate wound closure and tissue regeneration, which is particularly beneficial in recovery from injuries or surgeries. Oxytocin's ability to enhance social bonds and reduce stress indirectly contributes to faster recovery from physical injuries. Reduced stress levels can improve immune function, further aiding in the healing process and overall health maintenance.

Social Bonding

Oxytocin is crucial for forming and maintaining social bonds. It promotes trust, empathy, and social recognition, which are fundamental for establishing and nurturing interpersonal relationships. These effects are evident in various social interactions, such as between romantic partners, friends, and within social groups. In romantic relationships, oxytocin is released during physical touch, including hugging, kissing, and sexual activity, which strengthens the emotional bond between partners. This release creates feelings of attachment and intimacy, enhancing relationship satisfaction and stability. Parent-child relationships also benefit significantly from oxytocin. The hormone enhances attachment and bonding, which are crucial for the child's emotional development and well-being. High levels of oxytocin in parents can lead to more nurturing and attentive caregiving behaviors, which positively influence the child's development.

Childbirth and Lactation

One of the most well-known functions of oxytocin is its involvement in childbirth and lactation. During labor, oxytocin stimulates the smooth muscles of the uterus, inducing contractions that help in the delivery of the baby. This function of oxytocin is so critical that it is often administered medically to induce labor or enhance contractions if labor is not progressing naturally. Postpartum, oxytocin continues to play a vital role by helping the uterus contract to its pre-pregnancy size, reducing postpartum bleeding. This contraction is crucial for preventing hemorrhage after childbirth. In lactation, oxytocin is responsible for the milk ejection reflex, also known as the "let-down" reflex. When an infant suckles at the breast, oxytocin is released into the bloodstream, causing the milk ducts to contract and release milk. This reflex not only provides the necessary nutrition to the newborn but also strengthens the emotional bond between mother and child, fostering a secure attachment.

Cognitive Function and Memory

Oxytocin's effects on cognitive functions, particularly those related to social interactions and emotional processing, are noteworthy. It enhances the ability to recognize emotional expressions and remember social information, which is crucial for effective social communication and interaction. However, the effects of oxytocin on memory are complex and context-dependent. While oxytocin can enhance memory for positive social information, it might impair memory for negative social cues. This selective memory effect could serve as a mechanism to reduce social stress and enhance positive social interactions. 

Neural Circuitry and Brain Regions

Oxytocin exerts its effects on the brain by acting on specific neural circuits and brain regions. The amygdala, a brain region involved in processing emotions and social signals, is particularly influenced by oxytocin. By modulating the activity of the amygdala, oxytocin can reduce fear and anxiety responses, facilitating social approach behaviors. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for higher-order cognitive functions such as decision-making, social behavior, and emotion regulation, is another critical area influenced by oxytocin. Oxytocin enhances the connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, promoting better emotional regulation and social functioning.

Emotional Regulation

Oxytocin plays a significant role in emotional regulation by influencing various neurotransmitter systems, including dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are crucial for mood regulation and the experience of pleasure and reward. Oxytocin can enhance feelings of contentment and happiness while reducing stress and anxiety levels. People with higher levels of oxytocin often report feeling more relaxed and emotionally balanced. This emotional stability is essential for maintaining healthy relationships and overall well-being.

Depression and Anxiety

Given its role in mood regulation, oxytocin has been investigated as a potential treatment for mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that oxytocin administration can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, although the exact mechanisms and potential side effects are still being explored. Oxytocin's ability to enhance social bonding and reduce stress responses makes it a promising candidate for therapeutic interventions. By fostering positive social interactions and reducing social stress, oxytocin can improve the emotional well-being of individuals with mood disorders.

Stress and Cortisol Levels

Oxytocin can influence the body's stress response by modulating cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone released in response to stress, and high levels of cortisol are associated with various negative health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, and impaired immune function. Oxytocin can reduce cortisol levels, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of stress on the body and mind. This stress-reducing effect of oxytocin is beneficial for maintaining emotional and physical health, particularly in individuals experiencing chronic stress.

Role in Sexual Behavior

Oxytocin is intimately involved in sexual arousal and reproductive behaviors. During sexual activity, oxytocin levels increase, enhancing feelings of pleasure and emotional closeness between partners. It is released during orgasm in both men and women, contributing to the sensation of euphoria and the post-coital bonding experience. Oxytocin also plays a role in sexual receptivity and performance. It can increase the strength of penile erections in men and contribute to vaginal lubrication and orgasmic contractions in women. These effects not only enhance sexual pleasure but also promote reproductive success.

Sexual Satisfaction and Relationship Quality

The release of oxytocin during sexual activity fosters emotional intimacy and bonding between partners, which can enhance sexual satisfaction and overall relationship quality. Couples with higher levels of oxytocin tend to report greater relationship satisfaction and stability. Oxytocin's role in promoting trust and empathy is particularly relevant in the context of sexual relationships. By enhancing emotional closeness and reducing anxiety, oxytocin can improve communication and intimacy between partners, leading to a more fulfilling sexual relationship.

Anxiolytic Effects

Oxytocin has well-documented anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects, which are crucial for its role in promoting social interactions and bonding. It reduces the activity of the amygdala, a brain region involved in fear and anxiety responses, helping individuals feel more relaxed and open to social interactions. By dampening the amygdala's response, oxytocin can help individuals manage social anxiety and engage more confidently in social situations. This effect is particularly beneficial for individuals with social anxiety disorder, as it can enhance their ability to form and maintain social connections. Oxytocin can influence fear conditioning and extinction processes, which are relevant for understanding and treating anxiety disorders. Fear conditioning is a process by which individuals learn to associate a neutral stimulus with a fearful event, leading to the development of anxiety responses. Oxytocin can facilitate the extinction of conditioned fear responses by enhancing the brain's ability to form new, non-fearful associations with previously feared stimuli. This effect is particularly relevant for therapeutic interventions in conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Oxytocin has garnered significant interest as a potential therapeutic agent for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Individuals with ASD often experience difficulties in social communication and interaction, which are areas where oxytocin has a profound impact. Clinical trials have investigated the effects of oxytocin administration on social behavior and cognitive function in individuals with ASD. Some studies have reported improvements in social skills, emotional recognition, and overall social functioning, although results have been mixed, and more research is needed to determine the efficacy and safety of oxytocin-based treatments for ASD.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Given its role in reducing anxiety and promoting social bonding, oxytocin is a promising candidate for treating social anxiety disorder. Clinical studies have explored the effects of oxytocin administration on social anxiety symptoms, with some findings suggesting that oxytocin can reduce social anxiety and improve social interactions. By enhancing trust, empathy, and emotional regulation, oxytocin can help individuals with social anxiety disorder engage more comfortably in social situations and build meaningful relationships. However, the long-term effects and potential side effects of oxytocin treatment for social anxiety require further investigation.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Oxytocin's effects on fear conditioning and extinction have implications for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterized by persistent anxiety and fear responses following exposure to a traumatic event, often leading to severe impairment in daily functioning. Oxytocin administration has shown promise in reducing PTSD symptoms by facilitating the extinction of conditioned fear responses and promoting emotional regulation. By reducing anxiety and enhancing social support, oxytocin could improve the quality of life for individuals with PTSD.

Schizophrenia

Oxytocin's potential therapeutic applications extend to schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder characterized by disrupted thought processes, emotions, and behaviors. Individuals with schizophrenia often experience social withdrawal, impaired social cognition, and difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships. This impairment in social functioning significantly affects their quality of life and ability to integrate into society. Research has explored the effects of oxytocin on social cognition and functioning in individuals with schizophrenia. Some studies have reported improvements in social perception, empathy, and overall social functioning, suggesting that oxytocin could be a valuable adjunctive treatment for enhancing social outcomes in schizophrenia. These findings are promising, as they indicate that oxytocin may help mitigate some of the social deficits associated with the disorder, potentially improving patients' ability to engage in meaningful social interactions.

Conclusion

Oxytocin is a multifaceted hormone with significant impacts on the body, brain, mood, sexual arousal, and anxiety. Its role in social bonding and emotional regulation underscores its importance in human interactions and overall well-being. While much is known about oxytocin, ongoing research continues to uncover its complexities and potential therapeutic applications. As our understanding of this remarkable hormone deepens, it may pave the way for novel treatments for a variety of psychological and physiological conditions.

REFERENCES

Etsuro Ito et al., "A novel role of oxytocin: Oxytocin-induced well-being in humans" [National Library of Medicine]

A.S. Tsingotjidou "Oxytocin: A Multi-Functional Biomolecule with Potential Actions in Dysfunctional Conditions; From Animal Studies and Beyond" [MDPI]

E.M. Palace et al., "The enhancing effects of anxiety on arousal in sexually dysfunctional and functional women" [PubMed]

S. Wolchik et al., "The effect of emotional arousal on subsequent sexual arousal in men" [PubMed]

H.E. LeWine "Oxytocin: The love hormone [Harvard Medical School]

N. Bernick et al., "Physiologic Differentiation of Sexual Arousal and Anxiety" [PubMed]

H. Shen "Neuroscience: The hard science of oxytocin" [Nature]

N. Yusoff et al., "The Effect of Sex on the Electropsychological Process of Emotional Arousal Intensity" [National Library of Medicine]

B. Hodgson et al., "Using the Dual Control Model to Investigate the Relationship Between Mood, Genital, and Self-Reported Sexual Arousal in Men and Women" [PubMed]

A. Skvortsova et al., "Effects of oxytocin administration and conditioned oxytocin on brain activity: An fMRI study" [Plos]

V. Ruggieri et al., "Relationships among Pleasure, Anxiety and Physiological Response Patterns during the Sexual Sequence in Normal and Dispermic Subjects" [PubMed]

DISCLAIMER

This product is intendend for lab research and development use only. These studies are performed outside of the body. This product is not medicines or drugs and has not been approved by the FDA or EMA to prevent, treat or cure any medical condition, ailment or disease. Bodily introduction of any kind into humans or animals is strictly forbidden by law. This product should only be handled by licensed, qualified professionals.

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