Oxytocin and hypothalamo-pituitaryadrenal axis [Oksitosin ve hipotalamus-hipofiz-adrenal bez ekseni]

Abstract

Upon exposure to different types of stressors, neuroendocrine and behavioral responses that include the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are given to allow the individuals to cope with stress conditions. It was proven that oxytocin, a nonapeptide released from the posterior pituitary, has behavioral and stress-attenuating effects by dampening HPA activity. On the other hand, the neuropeptide was also shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects through the modulation of immune and inflammatory processes in several experimental models of tissue injury. The findings of recent studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of oxytocin depends on its role on HPA axis activity and subsequent release of cortisol. Thus, oxytocin seems to restrain the activity within the HPAaxis, which becomes overactive during many inflammatory processes.