Metabolic Activity of Oxytocin in the Puerperium

Abstract

MORE than half a century has elapsed since Sir Henry Dale first described the oxytocic activity of posterior pituitary extracts¹. Since that time the biological effects of the oxytocic principle have been widely investigated and well established². Moreover, oxytocin, vasopressin, and their analogues have been characterized chemically and prepared synthetically³. Despite almost universal use of posterior pituitary preparations in clinical obstetrics few investigations have been directed toward the metabolic effects of either natural or synthetic oxytocin. Consequently, the preliminary observations presented here are of interest because they show pronounced changes in blood sugar and plasma non-esterified fatty acids after administration of oxytocin to puerperal women.