Which gland secretes oxytocin

Scientists have proposed that it might help improve interpersonal and individual wellbeing, and that it could have applications for people with some neuropsychiatric disorders. They believe it could help people who avoid social interaction, and those who experience persistent fear and an inability to trust others. Children with autism could benefit from oxytocin, say some researchers. In , a small study suggested that oxytocin levels in the brain affected how 17 children perceived a series of social and non-social images.

Oxytocin may also play a role in anger management. Research has indicated that certain polymorphisms of the oxytocin receptor OXTR gene are associated with an increased tendency to react angrily to situations. In particular, differences in OXTR gene expression appear to affect the regulation of the relationship between alcohol and aggressive behavior. Oxytocin appears to increase the release of prostaglandin E2 PGE2 in cells lining the intestine. This helps to encourage the repair of intestinal injury and to protect against such injury.

If this is confirmed, oxytocin could be a useful therapy for preventing chemo-radiotherapy-induced intestine injury, and it could be used to treat irritable bowel syndrome IBS.

Participants in a study were more likely to lie for the benefit of others in the same group after receiving oxytocin. While it is natural to experience hormonal imbalances at certain times in life, such as puberty, menopause, and pregnancy, some hormonal changes are….

Crying is a natural and often uncontrollable reaction we have to sadness, grief, joy, and pain. Is crying good for your health? Find out. Some experts believe sex may provide benefits for physical and mental health in certain people. However, more research is necessary to confirm the…. Serotonin is a chemical that transmits messages between nerve cells. Known as the happy chemical, it may help prevent depression. Oxytocin is also believed to cause an indirect effect on milking through the hormone, prolactin PRL.

Sexual behaviour: Studies show that, injection of Oxytocin into the cerebrospinal fluid causes spontaneous erections in rats 9 and reflex actions in the hypothalamus and spinal cord. Oxytocin receptor antagonists that are administered centrally prevent non-contact erections. Oxytocin receptors are found in the corpus cavernosum and epididymis of the penis in men. Therefore, binding of the hormone to these receptors in these areas may significantly have an impact on contractility 28 and subsequent ejaculation.

The primary aim of oxytocin treatment in women is to induce labour, as it aids in the contraction of uterus. Role in reproduction: Penile erection is essential for successful reproduction. Oxytocin is known to be one of the most potent inducer of erecting penis in man. An Oxytocin based reflex arc similar to milk let down reflex in females, transmits somato-sensory signals from penis to hypothalamus. Reports suggest an increase in plasma levels of oxytocin during orgasm in both the sexes Oxytocin may assist in regulation of testicular steroidogenesis.

It also possesses an influence on conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. Oxytocin is involved in the regulation of a wide variety of intertwined behaviours. Oxytocin has a role in regulating the social behaviours of many species, and so can also influence the social behaviours in humans. Oxytocin helps in the emotional bonding between humans and dogs. Across species, Oxytocin is necessary in modulating the formation of social memories, and also expression of aggressive and affiliative behaviours.

Social memory and social recognition: An aspect regarding social behaviour is social memory, the ability to recognize and differentiate between individuals.

Without the ability to identify friend from foe, it is impossible to display the appropriate and suitable behaviours no matter whether it is affiliative or aggressive.

Central oxytocin administration enhances social memory in male 44 , 45 whereas an oxytocin receptor antagonist blocks social memory in female and male rats. Further investigation of social memory will provide more detailed analysis of the importance of Oxytocin in social memory. Markers of the oxytocinergic system have been found associated to parental behaviour and parent-infant relationship and bonding.

For example, high levels of endogenous oxytocin during the postpartum period are linked with intensified mother-infant bonding. Anxiety: Oxytocin can also function as an anxiolytic agent as it decreases stress hormone release in both humans 52 and rats. For example, under stress oxytocin causes rodents to maintain closeness with familiar rodents.

Oxytocin in humans can work to reduce anxiety by increasing recognition and feelings of affiliation. These effects have been noticed in a variety of species. Oxytocin has the ability to evoke feelings of contentment, cause a reduction in anxiety, and feelings of calmness and security around the mate. Love and trust: Different studies done previously have already revealed a correlation of Oxytocin with human bonding, and that it increases in trust and decreases in fear.

The oxytocin amounts in blood rises during hugging and orgasm. People in their first stages of romantic attachment had increased levels of oxytocin, compared with those of non-attached single people. These levels remained stable for a minimum of 6 months. It was firm that there was a positive correlation between plasma levels of oxytocin and romantic attachment between adults. Autism : Autism spectrum disorder ASD is a type of brain disorder that onsets during early childhood.

The characteristics of this disorder include core social communication impairments as well as restricted, repetitive behaviours, which threaten the formation of appropriate social skills and the conservation of social relationships.

Oxytocin therapy has the ability to reduce suffering in ASD patients by enhancing quality of life through improved social potentials. People with schizophrenia may be like that they have lost their ideas with reality. It is one of the most disabling type of a psychiatric disorder, with a small proportion of patients troubled with this disorder possible to maintain independent function. Eating behaviour: Several studies conducted in animals specifies that oxytocin is a powerful regulator of caloric intake and metabolism.

A single dose of intranasally administered oxytocin seems to reduce male caloric intake, and these effects could become greater in them with the degree of obesity. Intranasal oxytocin acutely increases the burning of fat in order to use it up as a fuel for the bodily needs, but effects of the hormone in supplementing energy expenditure have not yet been manifested in man. In a pilot study conducted of 8 weeks duration, administration of intranasal oxytocin in a small group of men and women with overweight or obesity made to cause a considerable loss in their body weight.

While emphasizing about the effects of the hormone irrespective of body weight, oxytocin might help to improve glucose homeostasis. Oxytocin also put forward some kind of novel therapeutic targets for both obesity and metabolic disorders. In feeding and grooming: Oxytocin helps in the regulation of food and water intake.

Generally, Oxytocin suppresses food intake. Centrally-administered Oxytocin and Oxytocin agonists strongly inhibit feeding. Oxytocin magnifies grooming activity in both the sexes of rats. Other studies confirm the relationship and elucidate that selected regions of the brain can control grooming behaviour.

Cellular proliferation and cancer: The knowledge about the connection between oxytocin and cancer is scarce, partly because of the lack of appropriate research in this area or due to the inconsistency in the current data.

Oxytocin modulate mitotic activity in various organs. The role of oxytocin in cellular proliferation is found to be tissue specific. Oxytocin can act as a factor in differentiation of cells, and it is now identified that the neuro-hormone can also serve as a growth factor, which can control cell proliferation, with an eminent effect on cancer cells. At the same time, oxytocin hinders the proliferation of neoplastic cells of the epithelium in mammary glands and endometrium, nerves and bone, both exogenously 76 —79 and endogenously.

Oxytocin can serve as a prostate cancer biomarker. Studies show that oxytocin restrain proliferation of breast cancer cell lines, 86 , 87 Oxytocin was also found to prevent the progression of ovarian carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo.

Pain perception: Pain is a normal sensation set off in the nervous system as a warning signal to the possibility of injury and also the need for rest and recuperation. Animal studies reviewed that there is relation between oxytocin and pain perception. Oxytocin causes analgesia for acute or chronic pain in humans. Oxytocin lowers pain threshold in rats.

Oxytocin has been recognized recently as a significant mediator of endogenous analgesia 89 , 90 and it can reduce frequency of headache and pain in chronic migraine. It was also proposed that this association was an active process underlying acupuncture-induced analgesia. Well-being: Oxytocin causes a feeling of well-being such as calm, improved social interactions, trust, decreased fear, human bonding as well as hormonal and physiological changes.

Oxytocin is of potential use in well-being and applications in neuropsychiatric disorders. Oxytocin is a hormone with variety of functions including reproduction, social functioning, implications in human behaviour etc. A brief description of each functions are covered in this article. Further studies are required to find out the role of oxytocin in cancer and eating behaviours. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.

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Hypothalamus and Pituitary: Introduction and Index. Updated Send comments to Richard. Bowen colostate. A Bosnian translation of this page by Amina Dugalic is available at Bosnian translation. A Estonian translation of this page by Karolin Lohmus is available at Estonian translation. A Finnish translation of this page by Elsa Jansson is available at Finnish translation. A French translation of this page by Mathilde Guibert is available at French translation.

A Hungarian translation of this page by Elana Pavlet is available at Hungarian translation. The mechanism for hormone transport via hypothalamoportal vessels involves cells that are regulated by different nuclei in the hypothalamus; for instance, neurons that release neurotransmitters as hormones in the connective link between the pituitary and the brain.

The Anterior Pituitary The anterior pituitary secretes seven hormones that regulate several physiological processes, including stress, growth, and reproduction. Learning Objectives Identify the location and the hormones produced by the anterior pituitary. Key Takeaways Key Points A major organ of the endocrine system, the anterior pituitary, also called the adenohypophysis, is the glandular, anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

The anterior pituitary regulates several physiological processes, including stress, growth, reproduction, and lactation.

The anterior pituitary gland secretes 7 hormones: follicle -stimulating hormone, luteinizing horomone, adrenocorticotropic horomone, thyroid -stimulating horomone, prolactin, endorphins, and growth hormone.

Key Terms anterior pituitary gland : A major organ of the endocrine system that regulates several physiological processes including stress, growth, reproduction, and lactation. The Posterior Pituitary The posterior pituitary secretes two important endocrine hormones—oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone.

Learning Objectives Identify the location of the posterior pituitary and the hormones associated with it. Key Takeaways Key Points The posterior pituitary or neurohypophysis comprises the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and is part of the endocrine system.

Hormones known as posterior pituitary hormones are synthesized by the hypothalamus, and include oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone. The hormones are then stored in neurosecretory vesicles Herring bodies before being secreted by the posterior pituitary into the bloodstream. Key Terms oxytocin : A hormone that stimulates contractions during labor.

Despite its name, the posterior pituitary gland is not a true gland; rather, it is largely a collection of axonal projections from the hypothalamus that terminate behind the anterior pituitary gland. Antidiuretic hormone : A hormone that stimulates water re-absorption in the kidneys.

Pituitary : Pituitary gland representation. Licenses and Attributions.