Oxytocin Receptors

Oxytocin, a hormone involved in numerous physiologic processes, plays a central role in the mechanisms of parturition and lactation. It acts through its receptor, which is a transmembrane receptor belonging to the rhodopsin-type class I G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, while Gq/phospholipase C (PLC)/inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3) is the main pathway via which it exerts its action in the myometrium. The main signaling pathway is the Gq/LPC/Ins3 pathway, but the MAPK and the RhoA/Rho kinase pathways are also activated, contributing to increased prostaglandin production and direct contractile effect on myometrial cells. Various peptide and nonpeptide antagonists have been developed as potential tocolytic agents or research tools for the various Oxytocin functions. Many of these oxytocin receptor antagonists are used only as pharmacological tools, while others have tocolytic action.