01dragonslayer
Administrator
While oxytocin certainly lives up to its reputation as the “Love Hormone,” it also has broader applications like weight management and a performance enhancer. Oxytocin levels reach extreme levels during childbirth and breastfeeding; however, they have also found to be elevated during sexual arousal, skin to skin contact, and orgasm.
Due to this, research has been conducted and shown that exogenous administration of Oxytocin can improve libido, orgasm intensity/frequency and sexual pleasure. For weight management, Oxytocin administration has been shown to decrease overall weight through reduced caloric consumption in both animal and human models.
Data suggests this is done by modulating the activation of hedonic food motivation pathways. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is one part of this pathway and the origin of dopaminergic bodies. The VTA also has oxytocin receptors, and it is believed that saturating these receptors with exogenous oxytocin administration is what leads to the downstream effect of decreased food desire. Lastly, a study has shown that oxytocin may provide benefits in team and personal performance. It showed a direct link between oxytocin, prosocial behavior, and social emotions, all of which are key to team performance.
Oxytocin can greatly increase one’s ability to trust, empathy, overall team cohesion, and more. While more research needs to be done on this topic, initial results seem very promising that all corporate and athletic teams could benefit from more oxytocin.
How it works
Oxytocin levels reach extreme levels during childbirth and breastfeeding; however they have also been found to be elevated during sexual arousal, skin to skin contact, and orgasm. Due to this, research has been conducted and shown that exogenous administration of oxytocin can improve libido, orgasm intensity/frequency and sexual pleasure.
For weight management the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is one part of this pathway and the origin of dopaminergic bodies. The VTA also has oxytocin receptors, and it is believed that saturating these receptors with exogenous oxytocin administration is what leads to the downstream effect of decreased food desire.
It showed a direct link between oxytocin, prosocial behavior and social emotions, all of which are key to team performance. Oxytocin can greatly increase one's ability to trust, empathy, overall team cohesion, and more.
Based on the literature, oxytocin has been shown to:
• Increases libido
• Enhanced orgasm intensity/frequency and sexual pleasure
• Increases trust, empathy, and team cohesion
• Decreases food desire
• Wound healing
Research Example #1
Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on the Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Signal in Food Motivation and Cognitive Control Pathways in Overweight and Obese Men.
Recent research indicates that the hypothalamic neuropeptide hormone oxytocin is a key central nervous system factor in the regulation of food intake and weight. However, the mechanisms underlying the anorexigenic effects of oxytocin in humans are unknown and critical to study to consider oxytocin as a neurohormonal weight loss treatment. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study with single-dose intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) in ten overweight or obese, otherwise healthy men. Following oxytocin/placebo administration, participants completed an established functional magnetic resonance imaging food motivation paradigm.
We hypothesized that oxytocin would reduce the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal to high-calorie food vs non-food visual stimuli in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the origin of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system. Following oxytocin administration, compared to placebo, participants showed bilateral VTA hypoactivation to high-calorie food stimuli.
A secondary exploratory whole-brain analysis revealed hypoactivation in additional hedonic (orbitofrontal cortex, insula, globus pallidus, putamen, hippocampus, and amygdala) and homeostatic (hypothalamus) food motivation and hyperactivation in cognitive control (anterior cingulate and frontopolar cortex) brain regions following oxytocin administration vs placebo.
Oxytocin administration reduces the BOLD signal in reward-related food motivation brain regions, providing a potential neurobiological mechanism for the anorexigenic oxytocin effects in humans. Furthermore, our data indicate that oxytocin administration reduces activation in homeostatic and increases activation in cognitive control brain regions critically involved in regulating food intake and resolving affective conflict, respectively. Future studies are required to link these changes in brain activation to oxytocin effects on food intake and weight.
Research Example #2
Oxytocin modulates human chemosensory decoding of sex in a dose-dependent manner
There has been accumulating evidence of human social chemo-signaling, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Considering the evolutionarily conserved roles of oxytocin and vasopressin in reproductive and social behaviors, we examined whether the two neuropeptides are involved in the subconscious processing of androsta-4,16,-dien-3-one and estra-1,3,5 (10),16-tetraen-3-ol, two human chemo signals that convey masculinity and femininity to the targeted recipients, respectively. Psychophysical data collected from 216 heterosexual and homosexual men across five experiments totaling 1056 testing sessions consistently showed that such chemosensory communications of masculinity and femininity were blocked by a competitive antagonist of both oxytocin and vasopressin receptors called atosiban, administered nasally. On the other hand, intranasal oxytocin, but not vasopressin, modulated the decoding of androstadiene and estratetraenol in manners that were dose-dependent, nonmonotonic, and contingent upon the recipients’ social proficiency. Taken together, these findings establish a causal link between neuroendocrine factors and subconscious chemosensory communications of sex-specific information in humans.
Research Example #3
The orgasmic history of oxytocin: Love, lust, and labor
“The story of oxytocin begins right before pregnancy, continues during birth and later, travels from the brain to the heart and throughout the entire body, triggering, or modulating a full range of physiological functions and emotions: happiness, attraction, love, affection, and hatred after stress. These are all governed directly or indirectly, at least in part, by oxytocin. The multidimensional nonapeptide appears to play a central role in social behavior, and emerging clinical trials seek to assess and define its therapeutic potential in the treatment of pathophysiological behaviors. Therefore, there is a strong impetus to develop and establish new technological tools that will enable us to harness the full potential of oxytocin and its congeners.
Taken together, the insights gained from more than 100 years of research indicate that the success story of the hormone of “swift birth” will continue unabated. The potential therapeutic uses for oxytocin and more long acting and specific analogues of oxytocin are huge. Chemical, physio-pathological, psychological, philosophical, and ethical studies will reinforce the development of new drugs involving the use of oxytocin, its agonists and antagonists for various human disorders such as autism, premature ejaculation, osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer.
From an innocuous agent as an aid in labor and delivery, to being touted as the latest party drug, oxytocin has come a long way. More research should be encouraged in this field in our country and across the world. Awareness should be generated about the exciting history of this hormone among reproductive and medical endocrinologists, just as it is for insulin.
It seems that during the last 100 years, the hormone of love has had multiple orgasms. It shall experience many more in the times to come. It has been documented that peak nocturnal uterine activity at the end of gestation is because of the nocturnal peak in plasma concentrations of oxytocin. But is it also true that this nocturnal peak of oxytocin is responsible for other nocturnal stories which culminate, nine months later, in keeping the obstetricians awake at night? Much more work needs to be done to completely demystify the mystery of “oxytocin: the mystery hormone”, a new name which can be added to the plethora of existing names this exciting hormone has already earned.”
Research Example #4
Oxytocin Influences Male Sexual Activity via Non-synaptic Axonal Release in the Spinal Cord
Oxytocinergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus that project to extrahypothalamic brain areas and the lumbar spinal cord play an important role in the control of erectile function and male sexual behavior in mammals. The gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) system in the lumbosacral spinal cord is an important component of the neural circuits that control penile reflexes in rats, circuits that are commonly referred to as the “spinal ejaculation generator (SEG).” We have examined the functional interaction between the SEG neurons and the hypothalamic-spinal oxytocin system in rats. Here, we show that SEG/GRP neurons express oxytocin receptors and are activated by oxytocin during male sexual behavior. Intrathecal injection of oxytocin receptor antagonist not only attenuates ejaculation but also affects pre-ejaculatory behavior during normal sexual activity. Electron microscopy of potassium-stimulated acute slices of the lumbar cord showed that oxytocin-neurophysin-immunoreactivity was detected in large numbers of neurosecretory dense-cored vesicles, many of which are located close to the plasmalemma of axonal varicosities in which no electron-lucent macrovesicles or synaptic membrane thickenings were visible. These results suggested that, in rats, release of oxytocin in the lumbar spinal cord is not limited to conventional synapses but occurs by exocytosis of the dense-cored vesicles from axonal varicosities and acts by diffusion—a localized volume transmission—to reach oxytocin receptors on GRP neurons and facilitate male sexual function.
References
Plessow F, Marengi DA, Perry SK, Felicione JM, Franklin R, Holmes TM, Holsen, LM, Makris N, Deckersbach T, Lawson EA. Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on the Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Signal in Food Motivation and Cognitive Control Pathways in Overweight and Obese Men. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018 Feb;43(3):638-645. doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.226. Epub 2017 Sep 20. PubMed PMID:28930284; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5770767.
Due to this, research has been conducted and shown that exogenous administration of Oxytocin can improve libido, orgasm intensity/frequency and sexual pleasure. For weight management, Oxytocin administration has been shown to decrease overall weight through reduced caloric consumption in both animal and human models.
Data suggests this is done by modulating the activation of hedonic food motivation pathways. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is one part of this pathway and the origin of dopaminergic bodies. The VTA also has oxytocin receptors, and it is believed that saturating these receptors with exogenous oxytocin administration is what leads to the downstream effect of decreased food desire. Lastly, a study has shown that oxytocin may provide benefits in team and personal performance. It showed a direct link between oxytocin, prosocial behavior, and social emotions, all of which are key to team performance.
Oxytocin can greatly increase one’s ability to trust, empathy, overall team cohesion, and more. While more research needs to be done on this topic, initial results seem very promising that all corporate and athletic teams could benefit from more oxytocin.
How it works
Oxytocin levels reach extreme levels during childbirth and breastfeeding; however they have also been found to be elevated during sexual arousal, skin to skin contact, and orgasm. Due to this, research has been conducted and shown that exogenous administration of oxytocin can improve libido, orgasm intensity/frequency and sexual pleasure.
For weight management the ventral tegmental area (VTA) is one part of this pathway and the origin of dopaminergic bodies. The VTA also has oxytocin receptors, and it is believed that saturating these receptors with exogenous oxytocin administration is what leads to the downstream effect of decreased food desire.
It showed a direct link between oxytocin, prosocial behavior and social emotions, all of which are key to team performance. Oxytocin can greatly increase one's ability to trust, empathy, overall team cohesion, and more.
Based on the literature, oxytocin has been shown to:
• Increases libido
• Enhanced orgasm intensity/frequency and sexual pleasure
• Increases trust, empathy, and team cohesion
• Decreases food desire
• Wound healing
Research Example #1
Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on the Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Signal in Food Motivation and Cognitive Control Pathways in Overweight and Obese Men.
Recent research indicates that the hypothalamic neuropeptide hormone oxytocin is a key central nervous system factor in the regulation of food intake and weight. However, the mechanisms underlying the anorexigenic effects of oxytocin in humans are unknown and critical to study to consider oxytocin as a neurohormonal weight loss treatment. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study with single-dose intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) in ten overweight or obese, otherwise healthy men. Following oxytocin/placebo administration, participants completed an established functional magnetic resonance imaging food motivation paradigm.
We hypothesized that oxytocin would reduce the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal to high-calorie food vs non-food visual stimuli in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the origin of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward system. Following oxytocin administration, compared to placebo, participants showed bilateral VTA hypoactivation to high-calorie food stimuli.
A secondary exploratory whole-brain analysis revealed hypoactivation in additional hedonic (orbitofrontal cortex, insula, globus pallidus, putamen, hippocampus, and amygdala) and homeostatic (hypothalamus) food motivation and hyperactivation in cognitive control (anterior cingulate and frontopolar cortex) brain regions following oxytocin administration vs placebo.
Oxytocin administration reduces the BOLD signal in reward-related food motivation brain regions, providing a potential neurobiological mechanism for the anorexigenic oxytocin effects in humans. Furthermore, our data indicate that oxytocin administration reduces activation in homeostatic and increases activation in cognitive control brain regions critically involved in regulating food intake and resolving affective conflict, respectively. Future studies are required to link these changes in brain activation to oxytocin effects on food intake and weight.
Research Example #2
Oxytocin modulates human chemosensory decoding of sex in a dose-dependent manner
There has been accumulating evidence of human social chemo-signaling, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Considering the evolutionarily conserved roles of oxytocin and vasopressin in reproductive and social behaviors, we examined whether the two neuropeptides are involved in the subconscious processing of androsta-4,16,-dien-3-one and estra-1,3,5 (10),16-tetraen-3-ol, two human chemo signals that convey masculinity and femininity to the targeted recipients, respectively. Psychophysical data collected from 216 heterosexual and homosexual men across five experiments totaling 1056 testing sessions consistently showed that such chemosensory communications of masculinity and femininity were blocked by a competitive antagonist of both oxytocin and vasopressin receptors called atosiban, administered nasally. On the other hand, intranasal oxytocin, but not vasopressin, modulated the decoding of androstadiene and estratetraenol in manners that were dose-dependent, nonmonotonic, and contingent upon the recipients’ social proficiency. Taken together, these findings establish a causal link between neuroendocrine factors and subconscious chemosensory communications of sex-specific information in humans.
Research Example #3
The orgasmic history of oxytocin: Love, lust, and labor
“The story of oxytocin begins right before pregnancy, continues during birth and later, travels from the brain to the heart and throughout the entire body, triggering, or modulating a full range of physiological functions and emotions: happiness, attraction, love, affection, and hatred after stress. These are all governed directly or indirectly, at least in part, by oxytocin. The multidimensional nonapeptide appears to play a central role in social behavior, and emerging clinical trials seek to assess and define its therapeutic potential in the treatment of pathophysiological behaviors. Therefore, there is a strong impetus to develop and establish new technological tools that will enable us to harness the full potential of oxytocin and its congeners.
Taken together, the insights gained from more than 100 years of research indicate that the success story of the hormone of “swift birth” will continue unabated. The potential therapeutic uses for oxytocin and more long acting and specific analogues of oxytocin are huge. Chemical, physio-pathological, psychological, philosophical, and ethical studies will reinforce the development of new drugs involving the use of oxytocin, its agonists and antagonists for various human disorders such as autism, premature ejaculation, osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer.
From an innocuous agent as an aid in labor and delivery, to being touted as the latest party drug, oxytocin has come a long way. More research should be encouraged in this field in our country and across the world. Awareness should be generated about the exciting history of this hormone among reproductive and medical endocrinologists, just as it is for insulin.
It seems that during the last 100 years, the hormone of love has had multiple orgasms. It shall experience many more in the times to come. It has been documented that peak nocturnal uterine activity at the end of gestation is because of the nocturnal peak in plasma concentrations of oxytocin. But is it also true that this nocturnal peak of oxytocin is responsible for other nocturnal stories which culminate, nine months later, in keeping the obstetricians awake at night? Much more work needs to be done to completely demystify the mystery of “oxytocin: the mystery hormone”, a new name which can be added to the plethora of existing names this exciting hormone has already earned.”
Research Example #4
Oxytocin Influences Male Sexual Activity via Non-synaptic Axonal Release in the Spinal Cord
Oxytocinergic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus that project to extrahypothalamic brain areas and the lumbar spinal cord play an important role in the control of erectile function and male sexual behavior in mammals. The gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) system in the lumbosacral spinal cord is an important component of the neural circuits that control penile reflexes in rats, circuits that are commonly referred to as the “spinal ejaculation generator (SEG).” We have examined the functional interaction between the SEG neurons and the hypothalamic-spinal oxytocin system in rats. Here, we show that SEG/GRP neurons express oxytocin receptors and are activated by oxytocin during male sexual behavior. Intrathecal injection of oxytocin receptor antagonist not only attenuates ejaculation but also affects pre-ejaculatory behavior during normal sexual activity. Electron microscopy of potassium-stimulated acute slices of the lumbar cord showed that oxytocin-neurophysin-immunoreactivity was detected in large numbers of neurosecretory dense-cored vesicles, many of which are located close to the plasmalemma of axonal varicosities in which no electron-lucent macrovesicles or synaptic membrane thickenings were visible. These results suggested that, in rats, release of oxytocin in the lumbar spinal cord is not limited to conventional synapses but occurs by exocytosis of the dense-cored vesicles from axonal varicosities and acts by diffusion—a localized volume transmission—to reach oxytocin receptors on GRP neurons and facilitate male sexual function.
References
Plessow F, Marengi DA, Perry SK, Felicione JM, Franklin R, Holmes TM, Holsen, LM, Makris N, Deckersbach T, Lawson EA. Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on the Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Signal in Food Motivation and Cognitive Control Pathways in Overweight and Obese Men. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018 Feb;43(3):638-645. doi: 10.1038/npp.2017.226. Epub 2017 Sep 20. PubMed PMID:28930284; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5770767.
