The multifarious oxytocin: a review

Oxytocin over centuries has always been regarded as the drug of paramount importance during childbirth. Oxytocin, a peptide hormone facilitates parturition and breastfeeding. These nine amino acid peptides have presently been found to be associated with a wide variety of pathophysiological functions associated with social behaviours. It has been recently recognised as an important modulator of human social behaviour. Its correlation as a common factor important in various neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, personality disorders and autism, mood and anxiety disorders has been highlighted. Anticipatory role of oxytocin in osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer has been coaxing the researchers for developing new therapeutic modalities. Over a course of past 100 years, oxytocin has come a long way from being an insipid agent used as an aid in labour and delivery to the drug of neuropsychiatric conditions. This review article summarises the varied functions of oxytocin, its apt dosing when used therapeutically and reinforcement of development of new lines of treatment involving the use of oxytocin and antagonists for multiple human disorders.