Oxytocin and Diabetes Mellitus: A Strong Biochemical Relation. Review

K.      Kontoangelos; C.   C.   Papageorgiou; A.   E.   Raptis; A.   D.   Rabavilas; G.   N.   Papadimitriou

Abstract

Oxytocin (OXT) is a neurohypophysial hormone which is synthesized in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. OXT is currently attracting considerable attention because it has been discovered that it regulates various functions of behavior especially in the context of social interactions. OXT is a key component in bone formation, glycemia, male sexuality, cardiac differentiation and pregnancy and thus it is important to be further explored. The authors review various aspects of gestational diabetes, including definition, screening, diagnostic procedures, complications, clinical evaluation, indications of delivery and neonatal aspects. Not only the relation among diabetes mellitus, oxytocin and neurophysiology concerning erectile dysfunction, but also the role of OXT in the activity of arginine and vasopressin is investigated. It is imperative to develop technological and experimental methods that will be able to reveal the oxytocin and its potential.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, oxytocin, labor, endocrinology, pregnancy, neurophysiology.