Oxytocin Acetate

Oxytocin is a cyclic nonapeptide neurohormone with a Cys1-Cys6 disulfide bridge. The most studied neuropeptide in social behavior, reproductive biology, and neuroendocrine signaling research.

Oxytocin (sequence: Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH₂, with an intramolecular Cys1-Cys6 disulfide bridge forming a 20-membered ring) is a nine-amino acid cyclic peptide neurohormone synthesized by magnocellular neurosecretory neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus. It is transported along axons to the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) for systemic release and is simultaneously released centrally within the brain as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator. Oxytocin and vasopressin are the two neurohypophysial hormones, differing by only two amino acid residues, yet mediating strikingly different biological functions.

The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) is a Gq/11-coupled GPCR that signals through phospholipase C, IP3-mediated calcium release, and protein kinase C activation. OXTR expression is remarkably widespread: uterine myometrium (driving parturition contractions), mammary myoepithelial cells (milk ejection reflex), brain regions including amygdala, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, and ventral tegmental area (social behavior, reward, anxiety modulation), cardiac tissue (cardioprotection), bone (osteoblast differentiation), and adipose tissue (metabolic regulation). This broad expression pattern underlies the extraordinarily diverse research applications of oxytocin.

Research applications span reproductive physiology (uterine contractility mechanisms, parturition onset, lactation), social neuroscience (pair bonding, maternal behavior, social recognition, trust, empathy, in-group/out-group dynamics), psychiatric research (anxiety, social cognition, autism spectrum models), cardiovascular research (cardiac ischemia-reperfusion models, cardiomyocyte protection), metabolic research (adipocyte differentiation, food intake regulation), bone biology (osteoblast stimulation), and pain modulation (spinal oxytocin analgesia).

Key published milestones include the Nobel Prize-winning synthesis by du Vigneaud (1955), the discovery of central oxytocin release and social bonding effects by Insel and Young, and the ongoing Human Oxytocin Research Consortium studies in social neuroscience. Oxytocin is one of the most extensively published neuropeptides in biomedical literature.

Supplied as an acetate salt in lyophilized form with ≥99% purity. Store at -20°C desiccated. For neuroscience and reproductive biology research only.

Product Specifications

Certificate of Analysis

Every batch ships with a Janoshik-verified COA covering HPLC purity, mass spectrometry confirmation, and batch traceability.

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• US warehouse: ships within 1–2 business days · estimated 3–5 day delivery
• HK warehouse: ships within 2–3 business days · estimated 7–14 day international delivery
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• Discreet outer packaging — no peptide branding visible
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