Description
CAS 50-56-6
Oxytocin is a natural chemical made in the brain that helps control important body and emotional functions. Scientists discovered that very small amounts of hormones like oxytocin can strongly affect things such as childbirth, breastfeeding, bonding, stress, and social behavior. Oxytocin is produced in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus and released both into the bloodstream and directly inside the brain. Because of this, it works in two ways: it acts as a hormone in the body and as a messenger in the brain. It helps trigger labor and milk release, but it also plays a big role in trust, emotional bonding, and calming stress. Rather than acting quickly like nerve signals, oxytocin works slowly and steadily to support long-term emotional balance and social connection (Du Vigneaud et al., 1953; Insel, 2010).
References
Du Vigneaud, V. et al. (1953). Structure of oxytocin. Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Insel, T. R. (2010). The challenge of translation in social neuroscience. Neuron
