After you are prescribed Oxytocin by your doctor, you might as well try to understand the nature of this hormone. The basic use of this hormone is concerned with stimulating contractions of the uterus and smooth muscle tissue. Ideally called the "hormone of love", Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter synthesized by the hypothalamus at the base of the brain. It is stored in the posterior pituitary. Oxytocin induces many emotions, like feelings of love and altruism, warmth, calm, bonding, tenderness and togetherness. The satisfaction during body contact, sexual arousal and sexual fulfillment are some of the other elements which surfaces as a result of this particular hormone. Oxytocin floods through the bloodstream during the peak orgasm in both men and women. The human brain due to Oxytocin is concerned with social recognition and bonding. This is also responsible for the shaping up of trust between people.
Working of Oxytocin:
Made in magnocellular neurosecretory cells in the supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus of the
Hypothalamus, Oxytocin is basically released into the blood from the rear end lobe of the pituitary gland. It is made of some neurons in the paraventricular nucleus which is projected to other parts of brain and spinal cord. In the pituitary gland, Oxytocin is found in large, dense-core vesicles. Here it is bound to neurophysin I. This is a large peptide fragment and is apart of the larger precursor protein molecule from which Oxytocin is derived. The derivation of Oxytocin is done by enzymatic cleavage. The secretion of Oxytocin from neurosecretory nerve endings actually gets regulated by electrical activity. This is made possible due to Oxytocin cell activity in the hypothalamus. Action potential is generated by these cells, which propagates down axons to the nerve endings. The endings comprises of large numbers of vesicles containing Oxytocin. These vesicles are released by exocytosis when depolarization takes place at the nerve endings.
The action of Oxytocin:
The actions of Oxytocin are not restricted to peripheral or hormonal functions only, but it also affects brain in a major way. The Oxytocin action is intermediated by precise, high affinity Oxytocin receptors. The Oxytocin receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor which needs Mg2+ and cholesterol. This belongs to rhodopsin-type (class I) group of G-protein-coupled receptors.
Pregnancyxl.com informs you about Oxytocin, to know more on the other hormones which play major role in Pregnancy, do keep browsing other pages of the site. Navigate your way through good health!
|
|
For more information, do check out the following links:
|
