Description
Oxytocin is a synthetic cyclic nonapeptide research reagent corresponding to the naturally occurring mammalian neurohypophysial hormone. It is chemically distinct due to its nine-amino-acid structure containing a crucial disulfide bridge, which allows it to function as both a systemic hormone and a central neuromodulator. Researchers employ this molecule to investigate the oxytocinergic system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, specifically exploring how it modulates neurobiological pathways associated with social buffering, stress allostasis, and psychiatric disorders, as well as its systemic impact on pancreatic beta-cell responsivity, insulin secretion, and tissue regeneration.
Biochemical Characteristics
- Sequence/Structure: Peptide (9 amino acids); Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 (Cyclic nonapeptide with a Cys1-Cys6 disulfide bridge).
- Permeability: Investigated for systemic distribution and specific interactions with oxytocin receptors (OXTR) centrally in the brain and peripherally in tissues such as the pancreas and epithelium.
- Stability: Supplied as a lyophilized salt to ensure long-term stability and prevent hydrolytic degradation during storage.
- Specificity: Highly specific agonist for the oxytocin receptor, regulating intracellular signaling pathways that modulate gene expression, emotional behavior, and metabolic functions.
Chemical Properties
| Property |
Specification |
| Molecule Name |
Oxytocin |
| Synonyms |
Pitocin; α-Hypophamine |
| PubChem CID |
439302 |
| Molecular Formula |
C43H66N12O12S2 |
| Molecular Weight |
1007.2 g/mol |
| Form |
Lyophilized Powder |
| Purity |
$\ge99\%$ (Verified via HPLC) |
| Solubility |
Soluble in water and aqueous buffers (refer to SDS) |
| Documentation |
COA and SDS available per lot |
Oxytocin is strictly for laboratory research and is commonly employed in the following investigational areas:
Neurobiology of Stress and Social Behavior
Research models utilize Oxytocin to evaluate its anxiolytic and prosocial properties. Investigations focus on the peptide’s effects on the central nervous system, quantifying changes in emotional regulation, the social buffering of stress responses, and the modulation of allostasis and resilience in behavioral models.
Metabolic Homeostasis and Diabetes
Experimental protocols employ this neuropeptide to characterize its role in metabolic regulation. Studies assess its ability to modulate pancreatic islet function, measuring its impact on insulin and GLP-1 secretion, beta-cell responsivity, glucose tolerance, and the amelioration of gene expression patterns (e.g., PEPCK) in obesity-induced diabetes models.
Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration
In immunological and physiological research, Oxytocin is used to study the acceleration of tissue repair. Researchers evaluate its anti-inflammatory effects and its interactions with microbial symbionts to facilitate oral ulcer recovery and systemic wound healing processes.
Psychopharmacology and Psychiatric Disorders
Studies utilize this hormone to explore its potential as a novel psychotropic agent. Investigations map the intracellular signaling of the oxytocin receptor to behavior, assessing its experimental application in the treatment paradigms of complex psychiatric and mood disorders.
Pathway / Mechanistic Context
The primary mechanism of action for Oxytocin in research settings involves its targeted binding to the specific G-protein-coupled oxytocin receptor (OXTR), triggering diverse intracellular signaling cascades across central and peripheral tissues.
- Central Neuroregulation: Activates oxytocin receptors in the limbic system to buffer the HPA axis, reducing stress hormone output and modulating emotional behaviors and social cognition.
- Metabolic Modulation: Interacts with receptors on pancreatic beta-cells to directly stimulate the secretion of insulin and GLP-1, improving glucose tolerance and counteracting metabolic disruptions in obesity models.
- Anti-Inflammatory Signaling: Downregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines and interacts with immune pathways to accelerate tissue repair and wound healing in epithelial tissues.
Preclinical Research Summary
Published preclinical and translational literature documents the extensive investigation of Oxytocin across diverse behavioral, metabolic, and physiological experimental models.
- In neurobehavioral studies, Oxytocin administration has been shown to mediate the social buffering of the stress response and regulate both emotional and social behaviors.
- Metabolic research indicates that Oxytocin improves pancreatic beta-cell responsivity, modulates insulin and GLP-1 secretion, and mitigates pathophysiological gene expression in obesity-induced diabetes models.
- Tissue repair models demonstrated that the neuropeptide accelerates the healing of oral ulcers by reducing inflammation, an effect potentially synergized by microbial symbionts.
- Extensive reviews highlight its role as a key modulator of allostasis and its experimental potential as a novel psychotropic treatment for psychiatric disorders.
Form & Analytical Testing
- Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis
- Lyophilization
- Identity Verification: Mass Spectrometry (MS) to confirm molecular weight and identity.
- Purity Verification: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is performed to ensure the product meets the purity standard.
Referenced Citations
References are provided for informational purposes only and are not clinical claims.
- Jurek, B., & Neumann, I. (2018). The Oxytocin Receptor: From Intracellular Signaling to Behavior. Physiological reviews, 98 3, 1805-1908. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00031.2017.
- Wang, Z., & Smith, A. (2014). Hypothalamic Oxytocin Mediates Social Buffering of the Stress Response. Biological Psychiatry, 76, 281-288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.09.017.
- Klement, J., Cobelli, C., Lehnert, H., Piccinini, F., Hallschmid, M., Brede, S., Ott, V., & Rapp, K. (2016). Oxytocin Improves β-Cell Responsivity and Glucose Tolerance in Healthy Men. Diabetes, 66, 264 – 271. https://doi.org/10.2337/db16-0569.
- Erbaş, O., Bora, E., Zeytinoğlu, M., & Çınaroğlu, O. (2025). Healing with Love: Oxytocin Accelerates Oral Ulcer Recovery by Reducing Inflammation. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14082667.
- Wu, C., Cai, D., Xu, Z., Chen, Q., Zhang, H., Wu, J., & Chen, X. (2013). Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes Using Oxytocin or Analogs in Patients and Mouse Models. PLoS ONE, 8. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061477.
RESEARCH USE ONLY
This product is intended strictly for laboratory research use only. It is not for human or veterinary use. It is not intended for diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. All purchases are subject to our Terms of Service and Purity Guarantee.
No COAs available for this product.
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