[The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in the regulation of mammalian reproduction]. / Rol' oksitotsina i vazopressina v reguliatsii razmnozheniia mlekopitaiushchikh.

Nonapeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin are known to be involved in the realization of mammalian reproduction. Nonapeptides are synthetized in neuroendocrine and neuronal brain structures as well as in peripheral tissues, including gonads. The aim of the present review is the analysis of recent literary and authors own data on sexual dimorphism in the nonapeptidergic hypothalamo-hypophysial system, interaction between this system and hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, the role of nonapeptides in sexual behaviour as well as autocrine production of oxytocin and vasopressin in the testis. The special reference in the review is given to the nonapeptide gene expression in the brain and testis.