Oxytocin increases and a specific oxytocin antagonist decreases pain threshold in male rats

Changes in Biochemical Markers of Pain Perception and Stress Response After Spinal Manipulation

“…39 Oxytocin is a nonapeptide that plays a major neuroendocrine role, modulating several physiological functions in mammals, like somatosensory transmission, nociception, and pain. 2,64,65 Oxytocin is synthesized and secreted by a subpopulation of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. 64 In fact, several studies now support the idea that oxytocin exerts a potent antinociceptive control after its release in the spinal cord from hypothalamo-hypophysal descending projections.…”

“…2,64,65 Oxytocin is synthesized and secreted by a subpopulation of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. 64 In fact, several studies now support the idea that oxytocin exerts a potent antinociceptive control after its release in the spinal cord from hypothalamo-hypophysal descending projections. 17,59,73 Breton et al 12 have shown that this antinociceptive action is mediated, in part, by an increase in synaptic inhibition within the most superficial layers of the spinal cord.…”

Oxytocin is expressed throughout the human gastrointestinal tract

“…It increases the threshold for peripheral pain in rats [21] and visceral pain in patients with IBS during continuous infusion [22]. Clinically, it has been observed that children with recurrent abdominal pain have lower plasma concentrations of oxytocin than age-matched controls [23].…”

Central oxytocin regulates social familiarity and scent marking behavior that involves amicable odor signals between male mice

“…OT exerts a wide range of physiological actions within the central nervous system (CNS), and as a hormone on peripherally target tissues when released into the blood stream [24,25]. In the CNS, receptors of OT are localized in a number of areas that play a role in reproductive, social and adaptive behaviors [26,27]; in the regulation of stress responses of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis [28,29]; and in nociception [30,31]. Several lines of evidence from studies using rats and mice have linked central OT pathways to social motivation and familiarity [32,33].…”