Action of oxytocin on energy balance and the related mechanism / 第二军医大学学报

Obesity is a complex metabolic disorder involving central mechanisms controling food intake and energy expenditure. Though the mechanisms of obesity are not fully understood, oxytocin undoubtedly plays a role in regulating body weight. Previous studies have shown that central or peripheral oxytocin administration induces anorexia. However, recent researches have shown that rodents lack of oxytocin or its receptor can develop late-onset obesity with no total food intake change, which indicates an important role of oxytocin in energy metabolism. In this paper we discussed the effects of oxytocin on energy balance in details, with a special focus on the role of oxytocin in appetite regulation, thermoregulation, and energy metabolism.