Pitocin is a prescription injectable medication containing oxytocin, used to induce or strengthen labor by stimulating uterine contractions. It is administered intravenously and manufactured by Endo USA, Inc. This information was generated using AI and is provided for informational and research purposes only.

Abstract: Affectionate touch, which is vital for mental and physical health, was restricted during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study investigated the association between momentary affectionate touch and subjective well-being, as well as salivary oxytocin and cortisol in everyday life during the pandemic. In the first step, we measured anxiety and depression symptoms, loneliness, and attitude toward social touch in a large cross-sectional online survey (N=1,050). From this sample, N=247 participants completed ecologically momentary assessments (EMA) over two days with six daily assessments by answering smartphone-based questions on affectionate touch and momentary mental state and providing concomitant saliva samples for cortisol and oxytocin assessment. Multilevel models showed that on a within-person level, affectionate touch was associated with decreased self-reported anxiety, general burden, stress, and increased oxytocin levels. On a between-person level, affectionate touch was associated with decreased cortisol levels and higher happiness. Moreover, individuals with a positive attitude towards social touch experiencing loneliness reported more mental health problems. Our results suggest that affectionate touch is linked to higher endogenous oxytocin in times of pandemic and lockdown and might buffer stress on a subjective and hormonal level. These findings might have implications for preventing mental burden during social contact restrictions.

The dataset contains the files (DARE_Workfile, Empathy_Workfile) used for the analyses of the study published by Fragkaki and Cima (2019) in Psychoneuroendocrinology. The study examined the effect of oxytocin administration on empathy and emotion recognition in 100 male adolescents living in residential youth care facilities. The study had a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design. The study included 3 sessions: screening session and two experimental sessions. In the experimental sessions, the participants received oxytocin in one session and placebo in the other session and performed the same experimental tasks on empathy and emotion recognition 30 min after administration. The order of the sprays as well as the order of the tasks were randomized using computer randomization. We performed mixed modeling to examined the effect of oxytocin on the outcome variables. The file “Documentation-ReadMe” describes the trial information, methodology, and the variables included in the datasets. The file "icu_dutch" is the Dutch version of the Inventory of callous-unemotional traits, the file ctq_dutch" is the Dutch version of the Childhood trauma questionnaire", and the file "ades_dutch" is the Dutch version of the Adolescent dissociative experiences scale.

This study examined oxytocin expression in experimental models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and evaluated the therapeutic potential of treatment with oxytocin. They investigated changes in oxytocin expression in APP/PS1 mouse model and developed a chronic intranasal treatment protocol to increase oxytocin levels in the brain. Then, tested oxytocin as a potential approach to attenuate microglial activation and reverse memory deficits. This dataset includes source data used to assemble different figures in the publication. The source data contains data about hypothalamic expression of oxytocin is reduced in AD models, chronic intranasal administration of oxytocin increases hippocampal oxytocin and attenuates fear response in mice, cellular and molecular impact of intranasal oxytocin in APP/PS1 mouse brains, oxytocin attenuates AβO-induced microglial activation in vitro, and intranasal oxytocin reverses social and non-social memory deficits in aged APP/PS1 mice.

It has been demonstrated that secretion of several hormones can be classically conditioned, however, the underlying brain responses of such conditioning have never been investigated before. In this study we aimed to investigate how oxytocin administration and classically conditioned oxytocin influence brain responses. In total, 88 females were allocated to one of three groups: oxytocin administration, conditioned oxytocin, or placebo, and underwent an experiment consisting of three acquisition and three evocation days. Participants in the conditioned group received 24 IU of oxytocin together with a conditioned stimulus (CS) during three acquisition days and placebo with the CS on three evocation days. The oxytocin administration group received 24 IU of oxytocin and the placebo group received placebo during all days. On the last evocation day, fMRI scanning was performed for all participants during three tasks previously shown to be affected by oxytocin: presentation of emotional faces, crying baby sounds and heat pain. Region of interest analysis revealed that there was significantly lower activation in the right amygdala and in two clusters in the left superior temporal gyrus in the oxytocin administration group compared to the placebo group in response to observing fearful faces. The activation in the conditioned oxytocin group was in between the other two groups for these clusters but did not significantly differ from either group. No group differences were found in the other tasks. Preliminary evidence was found for brain activation of a conditioned oxytocin response; however, despite this trend in the expected direction, the conditioned group did not significantly differ from other groups. Future research should, therefore, investigate the optimal timing of conditioned endocrine responses and study whether the findings generalize to other hormones as well.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute a vast protein family that encompasses a wide range of functions, including various autocrine, paracrine and endocrine processes. They show considerable diversity at the sequence level, on the basis of which they can be separated into distinct groups . The term clan can be used to describe the GPCRs, as they embrace a group of families for which there are indications of evolutionary relationship, but between which there is no statistically significant similarity in sequence . The currently known clan members include rhodopsin-like GPCRs (Class A, GPCRA), secretin-like GPCRs (Class B, GPCRB), metabotropic glutamate receptor family (Class C, GPCRC), fungal mating pheromone receptors (Class D, GPCRD), cAMP receptors (Class E, GPCRE) and frizzled/smoothened (Class F, GPCRF) . GPCRs are major drug targets, and are consequently the subject of considerable research interest. It has been reported that the repertoire of GPCRs for endogenous ligands consists of approximately 400 receptors in humans and mice . Most GPCRs are identified on the basis of their DNA sequences, rather than the ligand they bind, those that are unmatched to known natural ligands are designated by as orphan GPCRs, or unclassified GPCRs .

Abstract Domestication is of unquestionable importance to the technological revolution that has given rise to modern human societies. In this study, we analyzed the DNA and protein sequences of six genes of the oxytocin and arginine vasopressin systems (OXT-OXTR; AVP-AVPR1a, AVPR1b and AVPR2) in 40 placental mammals. These systems play an important role in the control of physiology and behavior. According to our analyses, neutrality does not explain the pattern of molecular evolution found in some of these genes. We observed specific sites under positive selection in AVPR1b (ω = 1.429, p = 0.001) and AVPR2 (ω= 1.49, p = 0.001), suggesting that they could be involved in behavior and physiological changes, including those related to the domestication process. Furthermore, AVPR1a, which plays a role in social behavior, is under relaxed selective constraint in domesticated species. These results provide new insights into the nature of the domestication process and its impact on the OXT-AVP system.

Demographic data, illness characteristics, basal and induced oxytocin levels and dimensions of empathy in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

The global oxytocin testing kits market is anticipated to reach USD 1,351.4 million by 2035, rising from USD 740.5 million in 2025 at a 6.2% CAGR.

Top Countries Manufacturing, Distributing, and Scaling Oxytocin Testing Kits

The Oxytocin Market Report is Segmented by Indication (Antepartum, Postpartum), Route of Administration (Parenteral, Intranasal, Oromucosal), Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Main effect for healthy controls on oxytocin

Collection description

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design to compare the impacts of a single intranasal oxytocin dose on amygdala connectivity among individuals with schizophrenia (n = 22) versus healthy controls (n = 24).

Subject species

homo sapiens

Modality

fMRI-BOLD

Analysis level

group

Cognitive paradigm (task)

rest eyes closed

Map type

Z

README

Contact: Dr. Natalie Ebner (natalie.ebner@ufl.edu)
Please see the following a preprint for the Data in Brief manuscript associated with this dataset: https://osf.io/wn7sj/

Overview

Single Dose Intranasal Oxytocin Administration: Data from Healthy Younger and Older Adults This study examined the effects of a single-dose (24 international units) intranasal OT vs. PL administration on brain and behavioral outcomes in younger (n = 44; aged 18-31 years; 48% female) and older (n = 43; aged 63-81 years; 56% female) adults. The study followed a 2 (age: Younger, Older) X 2 (sex: Male, Female) X 2 (treatment: OT, PL) design. Data was collected between August 2013 and October 2014. Potential participants were first prescreened for study eligibility over the phone (~30 min), during which they completed the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (Brandt, Specter, & Folstein, 1988) and self-reported demographic information. Eligible participants then came to the University of Florida for an in-person screening session (~45 min) during which they completed cognitive tests (Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Weschler, 1981; Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Rey, 1964) as well as provided blood and saliva samples. Participants then returned for an in-person full session (~3 hrs) during which they self-administered the intranasal spray (OT or PL; randomized, double-blind procedure) and underwent a T1-weighted (T1w) structural scan along with a resting-state fMRI scan. Neuroimaging data were collected on a 3T Philips Achieva MRI Scanner at the UF McKnight Brain Institute.

Subjects

Generally healthy younger (n = 44; aged 18-31 years; 48% female) and older (n = 43; aged 63-81 years; 56% female) adults were recruited from the Gainesville, FL area. No participant had neurological or psychiatric disorders, and all participants were able to understand and give informed written consent for this study. All older participants scored ≥ 30 on the Telephone Interview For Cognitive Status (Brandt, Specter, & Folstein, 1988). Only white, English-speaking adults were included in this study. All older women included in the study were postmenopausal whereas all younger women were premenopausal. Individuals with contraindications for MRI or intranasal OT spray self-administration were excluded for safety. Individuals with certain metal implants or pacemakers; who were pregnant or breastfeeding; excessively smoked or drank alcohol; and/or had severe or progressive medical illness(es) were not eligible for this study. Participants were debriefed and compensated at the end of the study.

Apparatus

A 3T Philips Achieva MRI Scanner with a 32-channel head coil was used to acquire brain images. Participants were placed in the MRI scanner with their heads comfortably positioned and stabilized with cushions to reduce head motion.

Task details

Following recommendations for the standardized administration of intranasal OT (Guastella et al., 2013), participants self-administered 24 IU (i.e., one puff per nostril) of OT or PL, which contained the same ingredients as the OT spray except for the synthetic OT (IND 100,860). Compounding, dispensing, and randomization were overseen by the dispensing pharmacy. Before MRI scanning, participants received instructions about the MRI procedure as well as an overview of the experimental tasks they would complete inside the scanner. Participants were settled into the 3T MRI scanner ~45 minutes after self-administration of OT or PL. Participants underwent anatomical image acquisition followed by functional image acquisition across four tasks (not included in this dataset), including an eyes-open resting-state scan. Anatomical data was collected in the first 10 minutes of the MRI scanning for anatomical details. These anatomical scans included a high-resolution three-dimensional T1w scan using an MP-RAGE sequence (sagittal plane, TR/TE/TI = 7/3.2/2750 ms, flip angle = 8°; in-plane FOV = 240 mm x 240 mm; imaging matrix 240 x 240; 170 contiguous sagittal slices with 1 mm slice thickness, 1x1x1 mm3 isotropic voxels). For functional scans, a single-shot gradient echo, echo-planar imaging sequence sensitized to blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast (TR = 2000 ms, TE = 30 ms, flip angle = 90°, in-plane FOV = 240 mm x 240 mm, 80x80 matrix size, 3x3x3 mm3 isotropic voxels, 38 interleaved axial slices (ascending 1, 3, 5, etc.), zero inter-slice gap) was used for whole-brain fMRI coverage. Every functional run started with 4 dummy scans (each lasting 1 TR (2000ms) which is 8 seconds); each run ended with a “fade out” period of 4 dummy scans (each lasting 1 TR (2000ms) which is 8 seconds). The resting-state scan took place between 70–90 minutes after spray administration and lasted about 8 minutes with 240 time points acquired. Participants lay supine and were instructed to relax and look at a white fixation cross on a black screen.

Additional data acquired

This study comprised 1) an initial phone prescreening call to determine study eligibility (~30 min), 2) an in-person screening session (~45 min), and 3) an in-person full MRI session (~3 hrs; see task details above). Only the acquisition of measures provided in this dataset is described here. 1. Prescreening call During an initial phone prescreening, older participants underwent the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status to screen for cognitive decline (Brandt, Spencer, & Fosltein, 1988). All participants completed an MRI Eligibility Form and a study-specific Health Screening and Demographics Form to assess demographic information, present health conditions, and health history. Based on these measures, eligibility for the study was determined. Eligible participants were then scheduled for an in-person screening session and full session on campus. All participants provided informed written consent before enrollment . All in-person sessions took place at ~8:00 AM. Participants were also instructed to stay hydrated and abstain from substance use and caffeine for 24 hours and from food, exercise, and sexual activity for at least two hours before the sessions. 2. In-person screening session During the in-person screening session, participants completed an intake interview and cognitive measures that included the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning task (RAVLT; Rey, 1964), which measures short-term verbal memory, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST; Wechsler, 1981), which measures sensorimotor processing speed, among other questionnaires. For female participants, menstrual cycle phase data was also obtained via self-report. Saliva (i.e., ApoE status) and blood sampling (i.e., plasma OT and AVP levels) were conducted along with a health review by a clinician. Saliva samples were collected using the OraGene DNA Self Collection Kit OG-500 (http://www.dnagenotek.com/ROW/products/OG500.html); participants salivated approximately 2mL into a collection tube that is part of the kit. Saliva samples were assayed by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (PI: Huentelman) between February and April 2022. Blood plasma was frozen to –70 °C directly after collection and only thawed immediately before assay. OT (unextracted) and AVP were measured via Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA), purchased from Enzo Life Sciences, Inc. (Farmingdale, New York); plasma samples were run at the same time with inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation less than 8%. 3. In-person full MRI session Participants eligible for full study participation returned to campus at a later date for the in-person full session. During this session, participants underwent further MRI safety determination and completed another intake interview. See task details above for more information.

Experimental location

Participants were recruited around the Gainesville area in Florida, USA (GPS coordinates: 29.6446° N, 82.3535° W) and attended study sessions at the University of Florida. Sessions were conducted in the Department of Psychology, the Institute on Aging, and the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida between August 2013 to October 2014.

Missing data

Some data was not included in this repository due to technical issues (resulting in missing or corrupted files) as well as study attrition. Several participants did not complete the resting-state functional scan, which was the last scan in the imaging sequence, due to time restrictions (e.g., technical difficulties earlier on in the session, late arrival of participant) and thus are not included in this dataset. Any missing phenotype data are designated with “n/a” (i.e., not applicable) in the dataset.

Notes

Two subjects (sub-11001 and sub-12000) had slightly different resting state scan parameters from the rest of the participants. Participant specific JSON resting state files are in the /func directories for these participants, while the JSON files at the root directory apply to all other participants.

Both oxytocin (OT) and touch are key mediators of social attachment. In rodents, tactile stimulation elicits endogenous release of OT, potentially facilitating attachment and other forms of prosocial behavior, yet the relationship between endogenous OT and neural modulation remains unexplored in humans. Using serial sampling of plasma hormone levels during functional neuroimaging across two successive social interactions, we show that contextual circumstances of social touch influence not only current hormonal and brain responses but also later responses. Namely, touch from a male to his female romantic partner enhanced her subsequent OT release for touch from an unfamiliar stranger, yet females’ OT responses to partner touch were dampened following stranger touch. Hypothalamus and dorsal raphe activation reflected plasma OT changes during the initial social interaction. In the subsequent interaction, precuneus and parietal-temporal cortex pathways tracked time- and context-dependent va...

The Oxytocin Market size was valued at USD 4.07 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 8.89 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.8 % during the forecasts period.

Oxytocin (Oxtr) and dopamine (Drd1, Drd2) receptors provide a canonical example for how differences in neuromodulatory receptors drive individual and species-level behavioral variation. These systems exhibit striking and functionally-relevant differences in nucleus accumbens (NAc) expression across monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and promiscuous meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus). However, their cellular organization remains largely unknown. Using multiplex in situ hybridization, we mapped Oxtr, Drd1, and Drd2 expression in sexually naïve and mate-paired prairie and meadow voles. Prairie voles have more Oxtr+ cells than meadow voles, but Oxtr distribution across dopamine-receptor cell class was similar, indicating a general upregulation rather than cell class bias. Oxtr was enriched in cells that express both dopamine receptors (Drd1+/Drd2+) in prairie voles, suggesting these cells may be particularly sensitive to oxytocin. We found no species or pairing-induced diff..., Images were analyzed using Fiji ImageJ software (version 2.14.0/1.54f). Images were split into four channels:

Channel 0 = DAPI Channel 1 = Drd1 Channel 2 = Drd2 Channel 3 = Oxtr

Regions of interest (ROIs) outlining DAPI-stained nuclei were automatically generated in Fiji ImageJ. Thresholds for DAPI nuclear staining were manually established to eliminate background and accurately overlay nuclei. DAPI Mask Validation

Accuracy was verified in 10% of images (one per animal) by comparing experimenter-counted vs. automatic nuclei counts. Counts differed by ≤5%, supporting the reliability of automatic ROI generation.

Signal Detection & Quantification

The DAPI mask overlay was applied to Drd1, Drd2, and Oxtr images (Fig. 1C). A white top-hat transformation enhanced contrast, improving bright feature detection. Collected signal data included:

ROI number (nucleus number) Minimum, mean, and maximum intensity values % area (for both 16-bit and 8-bit data)

Data Processing & Analysis..., # Oxytocin and dopamine receptor expression: Cellular Level implications for pair bonding

Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.s1rn8pkk3

Description of the data and file structure

Data Description

This dataset was collected from four cohorts of voles:

• Sexually naive prairie voles (NP)
• Sexually naive meadow voles (NM)
• Pairbonded prairie voles (PP)
• Paired meadow voles (PM)

Data was obtained through microscopy image analysis using Fiji ImageJ software.

Data Collection & Processing

Microscopy Analysis

• DAPI masks were generated using the Analyze Particles function in Fiji ImageJ. Each region of interest (ROI) represents a nucleus.
• The presence or absence of transcript was assessed for each ROI across three channels: D1DR (Drd1), D2DR (Drd2), and OXTR (Oxtr).
• Data collected per ROI included:
  • ROI number
  • ROI area
  • Mean, minimum, and maximum gray values
  • Percent area covered by pixels

Oxtr Puncta Quantification

• Oxtr pun...,

This pathway shows a high-level overview of oxytocin signalling.

Oxytocin (OXT) (OT) - BioCentury Target Profiles for the biopharma industry

Global trade data of Oxytocin under 3004390001, 3004390001 global trade data, trade data of Oxytocin from 80+ Countries.

The neurohormone oxytocin regulates many aspects of physiology primarily by binding to its receptor, the oxytocin receptor. The oxytocin receptor gene (Oxtr) has been shown to have alternative transcripts in the mouse brain which may each have different biological functions or be used in specific contexts. A popular animal model for studying oxytocin-dependent social behaviors is the prairie vole, a biparental and monogamous rodent. Alternative transcriptional capacity of Oxtr in prairie voles is unknown. We used 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends to identify alternative Oxtr transcription start sites in prairie vole brain tissue and uterine tissue. We then validated expression of specific transcripts in fetal brains and assessed the impact of exogenous oxytocin administration in utero on offspring brain development. We identified seven distinct Oxtr transcripts, all of which are present in both brain and uterine tissue. We then demonstrated that maternal oxytocin administration alters expression of a specific subset of Oxtr transcripts and that these different transcripts are under unique epigenetic regulation, such that in the perinatal period only one of the alternative transcripts is associated with DNA methylation in the Oxtr promoter. These data establish the existence of multiple Oxtr transcripts in prairie vole brain and uterine tissue and implicate oxytocin in the regulation of alternative transcript expression. These data have significant implications for our understanding of null mutant models in both mice and voles and translation in human birth and behavior.

This study examined the interaction of acetylcholine (ACh) and oxytocin (OXT) at slow and fast timescales during various brain states. They used simultaneous fiber-photometric measurements of ACh and OXT variations in the hippocampus using G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based Ach and OXT sensors. These optical measurements were compared with sleep-wake changes and characteristic brain-state-dependent fine timescale changes of neuronal activity, including theta, gamma oscillations, SPW-Rs, sleep spindles, and population spike synchrony. Consecutively, they investigated the direction of neuromodulation-network pattern relationships by optogenetic control of ACh and OXT neurons. The dataset includes electrophysiology and sensor imaging data.