Hormone
oxytocin Audio
ox·y·to·cin [ ok-si-toh-suhn ]
Brand Names:
Pitocin
Effect:
Increased Uterine Smooth Muscle Contraction or Tone
May Treat:
Postpartum Hemorrhage
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to oxytocin:
  • A nonapeptide hormone released from the neurohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, POSTERIOR). It differs from VASOPRESSIN by two amino acids at residues 3 and 8. Oxytocin acts on SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS, such as causing UTERINE CONTRACTIONS and MILK EJECTION.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Peptide hormone produced by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland that induces contraction of the smooth muscle of the uterus and the myoepithelial cells of the mammary gland.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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