peptide wiki

Oxytocin

aka Pitocin (IV obstetric)

Nootropic / Cognitive

Mechanism

Oxytocin is a nine-amino acid peptide hormone (Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2, with a disulfide bridge between Cys1 and Cys6) produced in the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei. The synthetic form (Pitocin) is FDA-approved as IV/IM injection for labor induction/augmentation and postpartum hemorrhage control. Intranasal oxytocin is NOT FDA-approved and is used off-label or in research settings for social/behavioral indications, where evidence is mixed.

Identification

CAS number50-56-6
Molecular formulaC43H66N12O12S2
SequenceCYIQNCPLG
Typical dose24 IU intranasal per administration (common research dose); 24-40 IU intranasal studied in clinical trials; IV obstetric use (Pitocin) is weight/indication-based and distinct from research protocols
Half-life~3-5 minutes (IV, peripheral plasma)

Vendors selling Oxytocin

VendorSizePriceListed purityTrust
Glacier Aminos 10 mg $55.99 99
Moglabs 5 mg $24.00 96
BioLongevity Labs 10 mg $64.97 96
Orbitrex Peptides 2 mg $29.99 95
Profound Aminos 5 mg $39.00 95
Licensed Peptides 10 mg $76.99 95
Peptide Tech $28.99 94
Mile High Compounds $59.99 94
Riptide Wellness $44.99 92
Peptidology 10 mg $42.99 89
Peptide Plugs $45.00 89
Qihang Peptide 87
Verified Peptides 10 mg $35.00 86
EZ Peptides 10 mg $58.00 85
Simple Peptide 2 mg $35.00 85
Simple Peptide 10 mg $35.00 85
Peptidegurus 10 mg 84
Ascension Peptides 2 mg $49.99 83
Blank Peptides 5 mg $60.00 81
Certified Peptides 10 mg $52.00 61
Peptiatlas 51
HongDa Peptide $29.00 43
zztai Peptide Ltd 2 mg $28.00 43
zztai Peptide Ltd 5 mg $64.00 43
MJT peptides 2 mg $38.00 39
Kimera Chems $36.99
Welli Labs $54.99
Alpha Omega 2 mg $35.00
Alpha Omega 10 mg $35.00
Atomik Labz 5 mg $34.00
Biotech Peptides 10 mg $45.00
Bulk Peptides 5 mg $120.00
Core Peptides 10 mg $52.00
Flawless Compounds
Genetic Peptide $99.00
Genetic Peptide 2 mg $20.00
Genetic Peptide 5 mg $20.00
Genetic Peptide 10 mg $20.00
Modern Research Peptides 5 mg $35.99
Modern Research Peptides 2 mg $29.99
Oneday Compounds 5 mg $29.24
Paramount Peptides 10 mg $55.25
Peptide Crafters 5 mg $45.00
Peptira $34.00
Solution Peptides 5 mg $34.00
Soma Peptides $139.00
Soma Peptides 2 mg $49.00
True Peptide 5 mg $34.00
realpeptides.co $70.00

Research

Association between salivary oxytocin concentration and social loneliness in older adults: Findings from an uncontrolled pre-post multimodal intervention study
Zaharia G, Valle VI, Corchón S, Cauli O. · Psychoneuroendocrinology (2026) ·

Background loneliness, whether social or emotional, is a significant public health issue due to its substantial impact on physical and mental health.

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Impact of oxytocin discontinuation on fetal heart rate and uterine contractility: A pre-specified ancillary analysis embedded within a randomized trial
Lafforgue L, Girault A, Sentilhes L, Desbriere R, Korb D, Barjat T, Le Ray C, Garabedian C. · Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica (2026) ·

Introduction Oxytocin is widely used to augment uterine contractions during labor. However, its use has been associated with fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities and neonatal morbidity, which may be reduced by discontinuing oxytocin during labor.

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Nucleus accumbens oxytocin modulates avoidance-related behaviors following social isolation in prairie voles
Liu Y, Duclot F, Jia X, Wang Z, Kabbaj M. · Neuropharmacology (2026) ·

Chronic social isolation and loneliness are associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety. Given its ability to modulate a wide range of processes linked to social interactions, the therapeutic potential of the neuropeptide oxytocin has gathered interest.

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Untangling Mephedrone-Induced Social Reward in Rats-The Involvement of Oxytocin and Vasopressin V<sub>1A</sub> Receptors
Wronikowska-Denysiuk O, Kurach Ł, Mlak R, Przygodzka D, Słowik T, Budzyńska B. · Genes, brain, and behavior (2026) · animal

The rewarding effects of psychostimulants are strongly influenced by social context, yet the underlying neurochemical and neuropeptidergic mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the role of oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) in context-dependent reward induced by subchronic mephedrone treatment in rats.

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Endogenous oxytocin-linked heart-rate synchrony and social connection during live sports spectatorship
Matsui T, Yamaguchi T, Funabashi D, Takahashi S, Matsuoka H, Takamizawa R, Tachibana Y, Dobashi S, Kigoshi K, Yamada S, Takagi H. · Translational psychiatry (2026) ·

Oxytocin is a putative pharmacological target for social dysfunction. However, clinical trials of intranasal oxytocin have produced modest and inconsistent effects, motivating the search for naturalistic, non-pharmacological ways to recruit endogenous oxytocin.

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Metal- and Redox-Dependent Oxytocin Species Differentially Regulate Invasion and Migration in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Park J, Heffern MC. · ACS chemical biology (2026) ·

Oxytocin is a nine-amino-acid peptide hormone renowned for its roles in reproduction and childbirth. Beyond these classical functions, it has attracted increasing research interest for its broader biological activities.

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Oxytocin promotes socially triggered cataplexy
Mahoney CE, De Luca R, Joyal AA, Woods C, Zhao W, Coffey AA, Kurimoto E, Kroeger D, Zhu L, Fenselau H, Grinevich V, Burgess CR, Arrigoni E, Scammell TE. · Nature neuroscience (2026) · animal

People with narcolepsy have intrusive episodes of muscle weakness known as cataplexy, which are usually triggered by strong, positive emotions. As cataplexy occurs almost exclusively during social interactions, we examined whether it is promoted by the prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin.

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Oxytocin release patterns and effects, with a focus on touch, social interaction, and closeness
Uvnäs-Moberg K, Petersson M. · Frontiers in psychology (2026) · review

Clinical evidence indicates that tactile stimulation of the skin, such as stroking or gentle touch, elicits a range of beneficial physiological and psychological responses, such as increased social interaction, wellbeing, calm, restorative and growth promoting effects, as well as reduced fear, pain, and stress levels.

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Salivary oxytocin research clings strongly to early theories, despite new frameworks attributing versatile roles to the neuropeptide
Winters C, Gorssen W, Ulbrich SE, Goumon S. · Psychoneuroendocrinology (2026) · review

Salivary oxytocin is a widely used peripheral measure for investigating neuroendocrine correlates of social, stress-related, and adaptive physiological processes.

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Intranasal Oxytocin for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Multisite Trial Assessing Efficacy and Safety
Tiouririne NA, Legan JA, Devine E, Lee K, Weerts EM, Ellis JD, Ray L, Shoptaw S, Falk D, Ryan M, Litten R, Seneviratne C, Ransom J, Scott C. · Alcohol, clinical & experimental research (2026) · rct

Background The neuropeptide oxytocin offers a potentially effective treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Acting centrally in the brain, oxytocin mediates a range of behavioral effects, including reward, stress response, social affiliation, learning, memory, and addictive behaviors.

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Carbetocin and oxytocin use in emergency cesarean delivery: a prospective observational study of 24-hour bleeding outcomes
Eryılmaz T, Gayretli TK, Şefik SÖ, Küçükkayıcı AS, Keskin HL. · BMC pregnancy and childbirth (2026) ·

Background Postpartum hemorrhage remains a major cause of maternal morbidity, and cesarean delivery is associated with greater blood loss than vaginal birth.

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Efficacy of Carbetocin Versus Oxytocin Plus Misoprostol in Decreasing Blood Loss During Cesarean Section
· ClinicalTrials.gov (2022) · rct

The aim of this clinical trial is to test if carbetocin is as effective as oxytocin plus misoprostol in decreasing intraoperative blood loss in women undergoing planned cesarean section.

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Oral Oxytocin's Effects on Attention Control
· ClinicalTrials.gov (2020) · rct

The main aim of the study is to investigate whether orally administered oxytocin (24IU) could modulate attention control using a social-emotional saccade/antisaccade eye-tracking paradigm.

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Video Debriefing at the Delivery Ward
· ClinicalTrials.gov (2020) · rct

Postpartum hemorrhage continues to be the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Successful management of postpartum hemorrhage requires not only administration of the right medicine, but also a rapid and coordinated response from a multi-professional team.

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Carbetocin Versus Oxytocin Infusion Plus Tranexamic Acid During Cesarean Section
· ClinicalTrials.gov (2019) · rct

Purpose to evaluates the effects of oxytocin infusion with or without intravenous tranexamic acid (TA) in comparison with Carbetocin for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage at a cesarean section with one or more risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage.

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Efficacy of Tranexamic Acid in Preventing Postpartum Haemorrhage After Elective Caesarean Section
· ClinicalTrials.gov (2018) · rct

Background Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of maternal mortality worldwide accounting for 25% of maternal deaths. In Zimbabwe PPH is the second most common cause of death. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is widely used to reduce blood loss in elective surgery, bleeding trauma patients, and menorrhagia.

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A Trial of TTA-121 on Autism Spectrum Disorder
· ClinicalTrials.gov (2018) · rct

To test efficacy and safety of a novel nasal spray of oxytocin on social deifies in autism spectrum disorder, and To compare effect sizes of different doses

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High Dose Versus Low Dose Oxytocin for Augmentation of Delayed Labour
· ClinicalTrials.gov (2013) · rct

In a randomized control trial conducted in six study centers/labour wards in Sweden, consenting nulliparous women in active phase of labour and with a defined delayed labour progress will be randomized to receive a regimen of either high or low dose of oxytocin. Primary outcome is caesarean delivery rate.

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Misoprostol for Secondary Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage at the Community Level in India
· ClinicalTrials.gov (2011) · rct

This study compares two community-level strategies: selective administration of 800 mcg sublingual misoprostol to women at 350 mL blood loss for secondary prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) with universal use of 600 mcg oral misoprostol at the time of delivery for primary prevention of PPH.

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Oxytocin
· (2006) · review

Oxytocin is an essential lactation hormone released during breastfeeding that causes milk ejection and appears to have calming effect on the mother.[1] Administration of exogenous oxytocin to mothers having difficulty in breastfeeding has not been clearly shown to have a beneficial effect on lactation success or in the…

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