The role of oxytocin in cardiovascular regulation

Abstract

Studies of body volume expansion have indicated that lesions of the anteroventral third ventricle and median eminence block the release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) into the circulation. Detailed analysis of the lesions showed that activation of oxytocin (OT)-ergic neurons is responsible for ANP release, and it has become clear that activation of neuronal circuitry elicits OT secretion into the circulation, activating atrial OT receptors and ANP release from the heart. Subsequently, we have uncovered the entire functional OT system in the rat and the human heart. An abundance of OT has been observed in the early development of the fetal heart, and the capacity of OT to generate cardiomyocytes (CMs) has been demonstrated in various types of stem cells. OT treatment of mesenchymal stem cells stimulates paracrine factors beneficial for cardioprotection. Cardiovascular actions of OT include: i) lowering blood pressure, ii) negative inotropic and chronotropic effects, iii) parasympathetic neuromodulation, iv) vasodilatation, v) anti-inflammatory activity, vi) antioxidant activity, and vii) metabolic effects. OT actions are mediated by nitric oxide and ANP. The beneficial actions of OT may include the increase in glucose uptake by CMs and stem cells, reduction in CM hypertrophy, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial protection of several cell types. In experimentally induced myocardial infarction in rats, continuous in vivo OT delivery improves cardiac healing and cardiac work, reduces inflammation, and stimulates angiogenesis. Because OT plays anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective roles and improves vascular and metabolic functions, it demonstrates potential for therapeutic use in various pathologic conditions.

Positive emotion inducement modulates cardiovascular responses caused by mental work

“…The present study presented pleasant low-arousal pictures to induce positive emotion before a mental task and we think that the different timing and characteristic of task may influence the effects on cardiac responses. Previous studies have reported that positive emotion inducement may influence automatic nervous and endocrine system responses [9, 11, 18, 26–28], but the physiological mechanism of influences of positive emotion inducement on hemodynamic response is not clear yet, and we think further examination is necessary in the future.…”

Oxytocin in The Prevention of Injury Due to Testicular Torsion/Detorsion in Rats

“…To date, many pharmaceutical agents have been used in cases of testicular torsion or oxidative injury; however, limited number of studies have been conducted on the testicular effects of oxytocin, the receptors of which have been identified in the urinary system. [8,9] Oxytocin is generally known as a female hormone involved in lactation and childbirth. However, in recent years, its presence in the male reproductive system has been revealed, and in various studies, its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects have been demonstrated.…”

Plasma and Urinary Oxytocin Trajectories in Extremely Premature Infants During NICU Hospitalization

“…OT contributes to a range of neurologic functions, including modulation of infant social behaviors (Weisman, Zagoory-Sharon, & Feldman, 2012), affiliation (Feldman, 2012), and bonding (Nagasawa, Okabe, Mogi, & Kikusui, 2012). OT also has significant vascular effects, including reducing blood pressure (Gutkowska, Jankowski, & Antunes-Rodrigues, 2014), inflammation (Yuan et al, 2016), and metabolic rates (Chaves, Tilelli, Brito, & Brito, 2013). In animal models, these protective vascular effects promote healing after brain insults such as infarction (Karelina et al, 2011) or hypoxia (Ceanga, Spataru, & Zagrean, 2010), insults that are common in the extremely preterm population.…”