Oxytocin
A posterior pituitary nonapeptide with a disulfide bridge, among the earliest peptide hormones characterised and synthesised. An established medicine in obstetric practice.
Development status: Approved as a medicine in one or more jurisdictions
Identifiers and molecular characteristics
- CAS number
- Not verified
- Molecular formula
- Not verified
- Molecular mass
- Not verified
- Amino-acid sequence
- Not verified
- PubChem CID
- Not verified
Identifiers are published only with a source and a check date. Fields marked “not verified” have not yet been confirmed against a primary source — we show the gap rather than an unchecked figure. Always confirm against the certificate of analysis for the specific lot you hold.
Biological targets
- Oxytocin receptor
Mechanism of action
Acts at the oxytocin receptor on uterine smooth muscle and mammary myoepithelium. Also studied extensively for central effects, where the translational picture is far less settled than popular accounts suggest.
Research evidence and its limits
Long-established clinical use; separately, a large and much less conclusive literature on behavioural effects of intranasal administration.
Safety considerations
Where this compound is an approved medicine, the authoritative safety source is the product labelling issued by the relevant regulator — not this page. Research-grade material is not pharmaceutical product and carries none of those assurances. Supplied and discussed here strictly as a laboratory research material. Not a medicine, not for human or veterinary administration, and nothing on this page should be read as a dosing, treatment or safety recommendation.
Analytical identification and quality testing
Identity by high-resolution mass spectrometry against the expected mass, purity by RP-HPLC with UV detection. Tandem MS sequencing or peptide mapping gives stronger identity evidence than mass alone.
Regulatory status
Approved in many jurisdictions for obstetric indications.
Frequently asked questions
Is the evidence for oxytocin’s behavioural effects as strong as for its obstetric use?
No. Its obstetric pharmacology is well established. The intranasal behavioural literature has substantial replication and methodological difficulties, and should not be cited with the same confidence.
References
- PubMed — search oxytocinreview
Related compounds
Entry last reviewed 2026-10-11. Regulatory status and scientific understanding change; verify against primary sources before relying on anything here.