OXT Antibody – Goat Polyclonal

This gene encodes a precursor protein that is processed to produce oxytocin and neurophysin I. Oxytocin is a posterior pituitary hormone which is synthesized as an inactive precursor in the hypothalamus along with its carrier protein neurophysin I. Together with neurophysin, it is packaged into neurosecretory vesicles and transported axonally to the nerve endings in the neurohypophysis, where it is either stored or secreted into the bloodstream. The precursor seems to be activated while it is being transported along the axon to the posterior pituitary. This hormone contracts smooth muscle during parturition and lactation. It is also involved in cognition, tolerance, adaptation and complex sexual and maternal behaviour, as well as in the regulation of water excretion and cardiovascular functions. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2013]

OXT: Neurophysin 1 specifically binds oxytocin. Belongs to the vasopressin/oxytocin family.

Protein type: Secreted; Secreted, signal peptide

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 20p13

Cellular Component: cytosol; extracellular region; extracellular space; secretory granule; terminal button

Molecular Function: neurohypophyseal hormone activity; oxytocin receptor binding

Biological Process: drinking behavior; eating behavior; elevation of cytosolic calcium ion concentration; female pregnancy; grooming behavior; heart development; hyperosmotic salinity response; male mating behavior; maternal behavior; memory; negative regulation of blood pressure; positive regulation of blood pressure; positive regulation of female receptivity; positive regulation of ossification; positive regulation of prostaglandin secretion; positive regulation of synaptic transmission; positive regulation of synaptogenesis; regulation of heart rate; regulation of sensory perception of pain; response to activity; response to amphetamine; response to cAMP; response to cocaine; response to electrical stimulus; response to estradiol stimulus; response to ether; response to food; response to glucocorticoid stimulus; response to peptide hormone stimulus; response to progesterone stimulus; response to retinoic acid; response to sucrose stimulus; signal transduction; sleep; social behavior; sperm ejaculation