What Is, And What Function Does The Hormone Oxytocin Have?
What is the hormone oxytocin? Oxytocin is known to induce labor and interfere with breastfeeding. In total, it consists of 9 amino acids, including cysteine, tyrosine, isoleucine, glycine, proline and asparagine. It is located in the posterior pituitary gland and is strongly involved in various physiological processes.
The chemical composition is similar to the opposite hormone, vasopressin, which is located in the anterior pituitary gland and has several functions.
As with all organic substances, oxytocin has different receptors found mainly in:
- The uterus
- The kidneys
- Leg
- The heart
- The brain
- Ovarian tissue
- The mammary glands
Oxytocin has functional properties that make it the pregnancy hormone due to the hormone’s behavior in several processes at a physiological level.
What regulates the hormone oxytocin?
Reproduction
First of all, this hormone has an excellent function in the female reproductive system. First, it induces and increases the rate of birth.
Normally, the body releases large amounts of oxytocin as birth approaches. In addition, the levels are even higher when the nipple is stimulated in the woman during childbirth. High oxytocin levels generate contractions of the myometrium, which facilitates the physiological extraction of the fetus.
On the other hand, this hormone acts directly on the erectile tissue of both the corpus cavernosum and the corpus spongiosum of the male reproductive system. Thus, this hormone is also associated with ejaculation through the ejaculatory tract and urethra.
The hormone oxytocin: The mammary glands
In addition, the hormone oxytocin induces contractions in the myoepithelial cells of the mammary gland. Thus, it interferes with milk production through the montgomery glands. Overall, this facilitates the breastfeeding process during stimulation in the areola of the newborn.
The renal system
In addition, urinary retention caused by the hormone oxytocin is closely linked to molecular events in the basolateral membrane of the kidney.
Symptomatic hyponatremia usually occurs in pregnant women who have been given oxytocin during childbirth.
Birth
Naturally, oxytocin receptors in the uterus before birth have a direct dependence on the body’s levels of this hormone. In the early stages of birth, the best starting dose is between 1 and 6 mU / min. Then increase it by 15 to 60 minutes.
From that moment on, the receptors will have a greater hormonal affinity for oxytocin. Thus, it improves the contractions to facilitate childbirth.
Mother-child relationship
Naturally, the mother-child relationship begins right after birth. Believe it or not, both the natural and artificial synthesis of oxytocin generate this.
Side effects of the hormone oxytocin
Like all synthetic hormones, oxytocin is not harmless and may cause side effects during administration. Taken together, these include:
- Arterial hypertension
- Marked mood swings
- Tachycardia in mother and fetus
- Abnormal contractions after birth
In general, doctors have noticed the side effects associated with high oxytocin levels in the body in stimulated patients. Despite this, they facilitate contractions during childbirth.
