Oxytocin – Hormones

Neuropeptide and hormone involved in many processes, including- social bonding–sexual reproduction- childbirth and breastfeeding. Oxytocin is synthesised in the hypothalamus as a prepropeptide consisting of a signal peptide, the oxytocin peptide hormone, a processing signal and the carrier protein- neurophysin. The prohormone then undergoes endoproteolytic cleavage and amidation to form the final oxytocin peptide. Dysregulation of oxytocin has been implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders that impact social functioning, such as autism, schizophrenia, and depression as well as anorexia nervosa. Intranasal oxytocin administration may reduce amygdala activity and amygdala-midbrain connectivity in response to fearful situations- reduce cortisol release and anxiety in response to psychosocial stress- increase trust behaviour- increase the ability to interpret mental states, and increase the amount of time spent gazing at the eyes when viewing faces.

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