The neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin were isolated and synthesized by Vincent du Vigneaud at Cornell Medical College in 1953, work for which he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1955. Oxytocin is highly conserved across vertebrate species and consists of nine amino acids linked with a [1-6] disulfide bond and a semi-flexible carboxyamidated tail. It is produced primarily in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary into systemic circulation. Oxytocin-like neurohypophysial peptides are substituted primarily at residues 4 and/or 8. For example in mesotocin, a common peptide found in certain fishes, reptiles, birds, amphibians, marsupials and non-mammalian tetrapods, the leucine at residue 8 of oxytocin is substituted for isoleucine.

The classical actions of oxytocin are stimulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction during labor and milk ejection during lactation, however oxytocin also plays an important role in many other reproduction-related functions in both males and females. Oxytocin, either systemic or synthesized in peripheral tissues, has been implicated in behavioral actions such as orgasm, social recognition, pair bonding, anxiety, and maternal behaviors.

Oxytocin Chemical Compound

Oxytocin ELISA Kits

The Arbor Assays’ Oxytocin Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (K048-C1/C5), breaks the 10 pg/mL barrier, and along with the Oxytocin Enzyme Immunoassay (K048-H1/H5), offers reproducible, reliable, affordable, consistent and quantitative detection of oxytocin, mesotocin, and isotocin. After an overnight incubation at 4°C, the plate is washed and substrate is added. For the CLIA kits, the substrate reacts with the bound oxytocin-peroxidase conjugate to produce light. For the EIA kits, the TMB substrate reacts with the bound oxytocin-peroxidase conjugate to produce a yellow colored product read at 450 nm. An oxytocin standard is provided to generate a standard curve for the assays. Both kits are designed to measure oxytocin or oxytocin-like peptides present in serum, plasma, clarified milk and tissue culture media samples from a wide range of species including mammals, fish, reptiles, birds and marsupials.

Publications Using Our Kits

Date Publication
Aug 16 2016
Proteomics tools reveal startlingly high amounts of oxytocin in plasma and serum
Dec 01 2015 Oxytocin Dysregulation in Critically Ill Newborn Foals
Mar 25 2015 Oxytocin Concentration in Septicemia and Maladjustment Foal Syndrome

Back to All Posts

Featured Products

Related Products