The two main actions of oxytocin in the body are contraction of the womb (uterus) during childbirth and lactation. Oxytocin stimulates the uterine muscles to contract and also increases production of prostaglandins, which increase the contractions further.

1. OXYTOCIN
Presented by Zuhaib Akhtar Baloch
Pharm – D student of 5th semester
University of balochistan sub Campus Mastung

2. ■ Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary
gland.
■ But more explain you can say Oxytocin is normally produced by the paraventricular
nucleus of the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary .
■ For men, oxytocin function is less important, but it does have a role to play in
moving sperm. It also appears to affect the production of testosterone in the testes
■ When released it produces a feeling of love and satisfaction. It is the primary
hormone released during an orgasm and causes new moms to form a loving bond
with their babies after birth.
■ This love hormone has been linked to important functions, such as sexual arousal,
trust, and bonding .

3. ■ you've ever had the feeling after meeting a girl that she may, in fact, be the one,
that's the oxytocin talking. Oxytocin is responsible for causing us to feel love,
whether it's love from a mother for her child, or love between partners in an intimate
relationship. That’s why oxytocin is known as the Love hormone
■ In female oxytocin releases the milk from the breast by way of contracting the
mother's mammary glands. While the baby is feeding, the nerves in the breast tell
the brain to release both oxytocin and prolactin in order to make more milk.
■ Oxytocin was discovered by Henry Dale in 1906.
■ Estrogen has been found to increase the secretion of oxytocin and to increase the
expression of its receptor (the oxytocin receptor) in the brain .
■ Oxytocin has peripheral (hormonal) actions, and also has actions in the brain. Its
actions are mediated by specific, oxytocin receptors . The oxytocin receptor is a G-
protein-coupled receptor that requires magnesium andcholesterol .

4. ■ Oxytocin is secreted into the bloodstream due to electrical activity of nerve cells
when they are excited. The release causes the uterus to contract, which causes labor
contractions and tightens the uterus after a baby is born to deliver the placenta.
Have you ever heard of a milk let down? That's the oxytocin causing the milk to be
released into a mother's breasts to feed her baby.
■ The hormone works by a positive feedback system, where the more oxytocin is
released the more is produced. So that explains why a woman in labor continues to
produce stronger and more frequent contractions. It also explains why the more a
baby nurses, the more breast milk the mother produces.
■ Have you ever heard of a pregnant woman having her labor induced? Synthetic
oxytocin, called pitocin, can be given to expectant mothers through an intravenous
drip to stimulate labor contractions or make the contractions she is already
experiencing stronger. An injection of pitocin can be given after birth to stop
postpartum hemorrhage.

6. ■ Milk ejection : Inlactating (breastfeeding ) mothers, oxytocin acts at the mammary
glands , causing milk to be 'let down' into subareolar sinuses , from where it can be
excreted via the nipple . Suckling by the infant at the nipple is relayed by spinal nerves
to the hypothalamus. The stimulation causes neurons that make oxytocin to fire action
potentials in intermittent bursts; these bursts result in the secretion of pulses of
oxytocin from the neurosecretory nerve terminals of the pituitary gland.
■ Uterine contraction : Important for cervical dilation before birth, oxytocin causes
contractions during the second and third stages of labor. Oxytocin release
duringbreastfeeding causes mild but often painfulcontractions during the first few
weeks of lactation. This also serves to assist the uterus in clotting the placental
attachment point postpartum. However, in knockout mice lacking the oxytocin
receptor, reproductivebehavior and parturition are normal
■ Cardiac effects : oxytocin and oxytocin receptors are also found in the heart in some
rodents, and the hormone may play a role in the embryonal development of the heart
by promoting cardiomyocyte differentiation.

7. ■ Preparing fetal neurons for delivery: crossing the placenta, maternal
oxytocin reaches the fetal brain and induces a switch in the action of
neurotransmitter GABA from excitatory to inhibitory on fetal cortical
neurons. This silences the fetal brain for the period of delivery and
reduces its vulnerability to hypoxic damage .
■ oxytocin released into the brain of the female during sexual activity is
important for forming a pair bond with her sexual partner.
■ Breast : The myoepithelium. which surrounds the alveolar ramifications of
the mammary glands, is stimulated by Oxytocin. resulting in expulsion of
milk from the alveolar lumen and ducts into the bigger milk sinusoids.
■ Kidney : In high doses it has an ADH like action-urine output is decreased.
■ The contractions also squeeze the maternal blood out of the placenta into
the maternal inferior vena cave. The periods of relaxation in between two
contractions allow refilling of the placental blood vessels by the maternal
arterial blood and thus prevent asphyxial injury to the fetus.

11. 1. Induction & Augmentation of term labour :
■ Labour has to be induced in case of postmaturity Or prematurely in case of toxemia of
pregnancy , dibetic mother , erthroblastosis fetalis , placental insufficiency etc .
2. Uterine inertia :
■ When uterine contractions are feeble and labour is not progressing satisfactorily Oxytocrn
can be given to augment contractions .
■ Low doses allow normal relaxations in between contractions-allow fetal oxygenation
3. Postpartum Hemorrhage :
■ oxytocrn is routinely administered after delivery of placenta to produce a
firm contraction of the uterus and thus prevent postpartum hemorrhage
■ May be used after delivery of the anterior shoulder of the fetus to produce a
prompt expulsion of the placenta and to prevent postpartum hemorrhage
■ Same dose may also be injected directly into the uterus, after delivering the
fetus by caesarean section .

12. 4. Abortion :
Was and still be used to induce therapeutic abortion during the 2"" or the 3" trimester of
pregnancy
5. To Promote Milk Ejection :
Oxytocan may be given intranasatiy before breast-feeding to promote milk ejection when
this component at tactatron appears to be deficcent in nursing mothers
Deficiency of Oxytocin reaults in :
■ Menopause in women. And, of course, oxytocin deficiency comes with its own set of
side effects:
■ Icluding:A strong sweet tooth
■ Muscle aches
■ Sleep deprivation
■ Sexual difficulties (difficulty achieving orgasm and/or less lubrication
■ Anxiety and/or irritability

14. 1. Wrong and faulty use during labour may result in too strong
uterine contractions forclng the presenting part through
incompletely dilated birth canal causing :
■ Maternal and fetal soft tissue injury
■ Rupture of uterus
■ Fetal asphyxia (a condition arising when the body is deprived of
oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death; suffocation.)
■ Fetal death
2 . Water retention – ADH like action-water intoxication
characterized by nausea , vomiting , anorexia , weight gain and
lethargy (a lack of energy and enthusiasm.)

15. 1. Never used to hasten normal labour
2. Abnormal fetus presentation
3. Fetal lungs not mature or other cause of fetal distress
4. Cephalopelvic disproportion
5. Uterine scar from previous surgery
6. Placenta previa
7. Multiple pregnancies

16. Thanks !
For any question You can contact to me on instagram : @Zuaib_baloc