SHORT COMMUNICATION

EXOGENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF OXYTOCIN AND ITS RESIDUAL EFFECTS  

A. IJAZ AND M. ALEEM  

Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan

Abstract

    Oxytocin is a peptide hormone which is synthesized in the hypothalamic neurons and released from the posterior pituitary gland. This hormone has a wide range of applications in human and veterinary medicine. Whether secreted endogenously or administered exogenously, it produces the desired effects within minutes and is metabolized rapidly into inactive products. If at all oxytocin is secreted in the milk and is ingested alongwith milk, it is degraded by the gut enzymes and can not reach blood circulation in biologically active form. Thus, there seems to be no harm in consuming milk from oxytocin-treated dairy animals. However, its use in pregnant animals should be discouraged.