Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To investigate the mechanism of ovulation in the hen, histological and physiological investigations on the contractility of the follicular wall were carried out. Smooth muscle bundles in the loose connective tissue coat from the stalk to the equator showed spontaneous rhythmic contractions with an alternation of contraction and pausing periods of about 4 min. The administration of prostaglandins F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), E2 (PGE2), ovarian oviposition inducing factor (OOIF), oxytocin and acetylcholine increased the frequency and amplitude of the contractions. The theca layer showed spontaneous contractions at a frequency of about 30 per 10 min. PGF2 alpha, OOIF, acetylcholine, adrenaline and noradrenaline induced tonic contractions, whereas PGE2, oxytocin and histamine induced relaxation. It is suggested that the contraction of the follicular wall promotes the rupture of the stigma at ovulation and the neurotransmitters as well as prostaglandins and OOIF may be involved in this event.
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PMID:Studies on the contractility of follicular wall with special reference to the mechanism of ovulation in hens. 613 16

Contagious yawning is thought to represent a basic form of empathy involved in state matching. Despite recent evidence in support of this connection, the neurochemical basis of contagious yawning remains largely unknown. Here, we investigate whether intranasal oxytocin, a hormone and neuropeptide involved in empathic processing, bonding and social affiliation, influences contagious yawning among human participants in a laboratory setting. Using a double blind procedure, 60 male college students received 30 IU of intranasal oxytocin or placebo and were then recorded during exposure to a contagious yawning video stimulus. Contrary to the empathic modeling hypothesis, oxytocin did not increase contagious yawning but rather appeared to modulate its expression in ways indicative of an enhanced awareness of the social stigma associated with this behavior. In particular, individuals in the oxytocin condition were more likely to conceal their yawns and less likely to display overt cues associated with the behavior. Follow-up research could explore how social context and affiliation with the target stimulus alter this response.
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PMID:The effects of intranasal oxytocin on contagious yawning. 2637 28