oxytocin

 Ms. Kim Sally Ou Chemistry 11 (E) June 5th, 2010

__Oxytocin__ __**What is Oxytocin?** __ Oxytocin was discovered in 1909 by Sir Henry H. Dale. He discovered when human posterior pituitary gland contracted the uterus of a pregnant cat.Oxytocin's chemical formula is C43H66N12O12S2. Oxytocin is made up of amino acid, which is also known as nonapeptide. The peptide’s sequence is cysteine -tyrosine - isoleucine - glutamine - asparagine - cysteine - proline - leucine - glycine. Oxytocin’s structure is also very similar to the structure of vasopressin. The difference between Oxytocin and vasopressin is leucine acid.

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The diagrams above are 2-D 9 amino acid chain of the Oxytocin, and 3-D Structure of Oxytocin.

__** How and Where is Oxytocin Produced? **__

 Most hormones in our body is produced by the glandular cells, but Oxytocin is different. Oxytocin is produced by the nerves cells called neurones in the hypothalamic paraventrucular. Which is located in the brain. The axons of neurones that end in the posterior pituitary is where the oxytocin is stored until a certain stimuli it to be released into the circulation. The stimulus are such as cervix distension or suckling of an infant. The diagram beside shows how is oxytocin produced.

**__When and How does Oxytocin affect us?__**

Even today scientists are still not sure what oxytocin is responsible for in males and female, but scientists are sure that oxytocin has two target tissues in women. Even though they are not sure what oxytocin is responsible for, they think it might be responsible for feeling sexual pleasure during and after intercourse.

For females oxytocin is released during and after delivery of a baby. Oxytocin has two target tissues for a women when they have a baby. The two target tissues are uterus and breasts. During delivery oxytocin increase the contraction of smooth muscle cells in the wall of the uterus. In the other hand, after delivery oxytocin stimulates milk ejection from the mammary glands in response to the mechanical stimulus provided by a suckling baby. The diagram beside shows how oxytocin is stimuli to eject milk when a baby is suckling.   Oxytocin can be inject able too. It does not have to be produced by the body, but it would be best if it is produced in the body. The inject able oxytocin is used during late stage of pregnancy to increase labor or another words contraction of smooth muscle cells. It is often used when a person have difficult giving birth dude to problems such as diabetes, eclampsia and many more.
 * __ What Else Do You Have To KNOW? __**

Oxytocin can be also used for testing the heart beat of the fetus during pregnancy.  Some side effects may occur when oxytocin are injected maybe vomiting, cramping, and stomach pain. When these side effects occur the pregnant would women should quickly tell the doctor. This can also effect the baby. The new born baby may have irregular heartbeat, yellowing eyes, skin, bleeding in the eyes, and perhaps seizures, if the moth experience any side effects from the injected oxytocin. The diagram on the side is a bottle of oxytocin.  __**Sources:**__ Karl Harrison, Oxytocin @3Dchem.com [|http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=355#]  Copy righted 2005-2007 R.Bowen, Oxytocin, [] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> April 28, 2007
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Websites: **

Oxytocin Production, Google Image, [] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> May 31st, 2010

Ejection of Milk, Google Image, [] June 2nd, 2010

Aldo Campana, Oxytocin in reproductive biology, [] September 4th, 2008

Medicine Net, Oxytocin Injectable [] 1998-2010

Injectable Oxytocin, Google Image [] June 2nd, 2010 <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Gerard J. Tortora, Sandra Reynolds Grabowski. __Introduction to Human Body/ Essentials of anatomy and physiology(6th edition),__ Biological Sciences 2004
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Books: **