fuckyeahendocrinology
Oxytocin
- One of two hormones secreted from the posterior pituitary gland
- Primarily responsible for facilitating birth and maternal bonding
- Often referred to as the “love” hormone for its possible role in pair bonding, social recognition, trust, and empathy.
- One of the few hormones that works on a positive feedback loop as opposed to the more common negative feedback loop.
- A synthetic form is used to induce labor and because synthetic Oxytocin gets destroyed in the GI tract, it must be administered intravenously or in a nasal spray.
- Research has linked a genetic difference in Oxytocin receptors to maladaptive social traits such as aggressive behavior.