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Sex-Related Differences in Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Humans.

ABSTRACT: Background:Increasing evidence supports a key role of Oxytocin (OT) as a modulator of social relationships in mammals. Objective:The aim of the present study was to investigate possible sex-related differences in plasma OT levels in human beings. Methods:Forty-five healthy men and 45 women (mean age: 34.9 ± 6.2 years), were included in the study. Plasma preparation, peptide extraction and OT radioimmunoassay were carried out according to standardized methods. Results:The results showed that OT plasma levels (pg / ml, mean ± SD) were significantly higher in women than in men (4.53 ± 1.18 vs 1.53 ± 1.19, p ? 0.001). Conclusions:The present finding demonstrates sex-related differences in plasma OT levels in humans. It is tempting to hypothesize that such differences might be related to behaviours, attitudes, as well as susceptibility to stress response, resilience and social emotions specific of women and men.

SUBMITTER: Marazziti D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6446474 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Sex-Related Differences in Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Humans.

Marazziti Donatella D Baroni Stefano S Mucci Federico F Piccinni Armando A Moroni Ilenia I Giannaccini Gino G Carmassi Claudia C Massimetti Enrico E Dell'Osso Liliana L

Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH 20190326

<h4>Background</h4>Increasing evidence supports a key role of Oxytocin (OT) as a modulator of social relationships in mammals.<h4>Objective</h4>The aim of the present study was to investigate possible sex-related differences in plasma OT levels in human beings.<h4>Methods</h4>Forty-five healthy men and 45 women (mean age: 34.9 ± 6.2 years), were included in the study. Plasma preparation, peptide extraction and OT radioimmunoassay were carried out according to standardized methods.<h4>Results</h4 ...[more]

PMID: 31015856

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Project description:IntroductionOxytocin is a key hormone in breastfeeding. No recent review on plasma levels of oxytocin in response to breastfeeding is available.Materials and methodsSystematic literature searches on breastfeeding induced oxytocin levels were conducted 2017 and 2019 in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. Data on oxytocin linked effects and effects of medical interventions were included if available.ResultsWe found 29 articles that met the inclusion criteria. All studies had an exploratory design and included 601 women. Data were extracted from the articles and summarised in tables. Breastfeeding induced an immediate and short lasting (20 minutes) release of oxytocin. The release was pulsatile early postpartum (5 pulses/10 minutes) and coalesced into a more protracted rise as lactation proceeded. Oxytocin levels were higher in multiparous versus primiparous women. The number of oxytocin pulses during early breastfeeding was associated with greater milk yield and longer duration of lactation and was reduced by stress. Breastfeeding-induced oxytocin release was associated with elevated prolactin levels; lowered ACTH and cortisol (stress hormones) and somatostatin (a gastrointestinal hormone) levels; enhanced sociability; and reduced anxiety, suggesting that oxytocin induces physiological and psychological adaptations in the mother. Mechanical breast pumping, but not bottle-feeding was associated with oxytocin and prolactin release and decreased stress levels. Emergency caesarean section reduced oxytocin and prolactin release in response to breastfeeding and also maternal mental adaptations. Epidural analgesia reduced prolactin and mental adaptation, whereas infusions of synthetic oxytocin increased prolactin and mental adaptation. Oxytocin infusion also restored negative effects induced by caesarean section and epidural analgesia.ConclusionsOxytocin is released in response to breastfeeding to cause milk ejection, and to induce physiological changes to promote milk production and psychological adaptations to facilitate motherhood. Stress and medical interventions during birth may influence these effects and thereby adversely affect the initiation of breastfeeding.

Dataset Information

Sex-Related Differences in Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Humans.

Publications

Sex-Related Differences in Plasma Oxytocin Levels in Humans.

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