Oxytocin

1. Oxytocin By:MichelleCederberg

2. Oxytocin is • Produced in the hypothalamus • It acts as a neurotransmitter and is secreted in the pituitary gland

3. Target Cell • The target cell of oxytocin is the muscle of the ovaries as well as the pituitary gland in the brain.

4. Oxytocin is Produced Due to: • The uterus going into labor • Cuddling, or the feeling of love • Sexual reproduction • There is no specific time when this hormone is more active, however, it is often associated with bonding and loneliness, hence its nickname “the bonding hormone”

5. How it Enters the Target Cell • It is produced in the nerve cells in the hypothalamus where it then stimulates nerve cells to produce secretion which in turn allows it to bind to a substance in the pituitary gland. It is released in the blood stream, allowing it to attach to the uterus as well.

6. Amount found in blood • There is no set amount that is usually found in the blood as oxytocin is produced depending on the emotions of a person or whether labor is happening

7. Oxytocin Causes: • Induced labor • Reduced anxiety • A feeling of loveand bonding • A want to cuddle

8. Too Little or Too Much? • While it is not entirely certain what will happen if you have too little or too much oxytocin, a few things can be guessed at. With too little a mother may not be able to produce milk and have been linked to autism. With over production it has been linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia. No one really knows how to treat this

9. Replacing Oxytocin Synthetically • Oxytocin can be synthetically replaced and was actually the first hormone that could be made by man. Since oxytocin can be created by man, the replacement is oxytocin in pill form