Entry
Name
Oxytocin signaling pathway - Homo sapiens (human)
Description
Oxytocin (OT) is a nonapeptide synthesized by the magno-cellular neurons located in the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the hypothalamus. It exerts a wide variety of central and peripheral effects. However, its best-known and most well-established roles are stimulation of uterine contractions during parturition and milk release during lactation. Oxytocin also influences cardiovascular regulation and various social behaviors. The actions of OT are all mediated by one type of OT receptor (OTR). This is a transmembrane receptor belonging to the G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily. The main signaling pathway is the Gq/PLC/Ins3 pathway, but the MAPK and the RhoA/Rho kinase pathways are also activated, contributing to increased prostaglandin production and direct contractile effect on myometrial cells. In the cardiovascular system, OTR is associated with the ANP-cGMP and NO-cGMP pathways, which reduce the force and rate of contraction and increase vasodilatation.
Class
Organismal Systems; Endocrine system
BRITE hierarchy
Pathway map
Ortholog table
Drug
D00089 Oxytocin (JP18/USP/INN)
D01840 Fasudil hydrochloride (JAN)
D03115 Fasudil hydrochloride hydrate (JAN)
D07229 Carbetocin (USAN/INN/BAN)
Organism
Homo sapiens (human) [GN:
hsa ]
Gene
5020 OXT; oxytocin/neurophysin I prepropeptide [KO:K05243 ]
3265 HRAS; HRas proto-oncogene, GTPase [KO:K02833 ]
3845 KRAS; KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase [KO:K07827 ]
4893 NRAS; NRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase [KO:K07828 ]
3725 JUN; Jun proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit [KO:K04448 ]
2353 FOS; Fos proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit [KO:K04379 ]
4208 MEF2C; myocyte enhancer factor 2C [KO:K04454 ]
2002 ELK1; ETS transcription factor ELK1 [KO:K04375 ]
7226 TRPM2; transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 2 [KO:K04977 ] [EC:3.6.1.13 ]
3759 KCNJ2; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 2 [KO:K04996 ]
3768 KCNJ12; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 12 [KO:K05005 ]
100134444 KCNJ18; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 18 [KO:K05005 ]
3761 KCNJ4; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 4 [KO:K04998 ]
3770 KCNJ14; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 14 [KO:K05007 ]
1938 EEF2; eukaryotic translation elongation factor 2 [KO:K03234 ]
775 CACNA1C; calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 C [KO:K04850 ]
776 CACNA1D; calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 D [KO:K04851 ]
778 CACNA1F; calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 F [KO:K04853 ]
779 CACNA1S; calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 S [KO:K04857 ]
782 CACNB1; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit beta 1 [KO:K04862 ]
783 CACNB2; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit beta 2 [KO:K04863 ]
784 CACNB3; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit beta 3 [KO:K04864 ]
785 CACNB4; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit beta 4 [KO:K04865 ]
781 CACNA2D1; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit alpha2delta 1 [KO:K04858 ]
9254 CACNA2D2; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit alpha2delta 2 [KO:K04859 ]
55799 CACNA2D3; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit alpha2delta 3 [KO:K04860 ]
93589 CACNA2D4; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit alpha2delta 4 [KO:K04861 ]
786 CACNG1; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 1 [KO:K04866 ]
10369 CACNG2; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 2 [KO:K04867 ]
10368 CACNG3; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 3 [KO:K04868 ]
27092 CACNG4; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 4 [KO:K04869 ]
27091 CACNG5; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 5 [KO:K04870 ]
59285 CACNG6; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 6 [KO:K04871 ]
59284 CACNG7; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 7 [KO:K04872 ]
59283 CACNG8; calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit gamma 8 [KO:K04873 ]
3708 ITPR1; inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 [KO:K04958 ]
3709 ITPR2; inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 [KO:K04959 ]
3710 ITPR3; inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 3 [KO:K04960 ]
5534 PPP3R1; protein phosphatase 3 regulatory subunit B, alpha [KO:K06268 ]
5535 PPP3R2; protein phosphatase 3 regulatory subunit B, beta [KO:K06268 ]
4772 NFATC1; nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 [KO:K04446 ]
4773 NFATC2; nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 [KO:K17332 ]
4775 NFATC3; nuclear factor of activated T cells 3 [KO:K17333 ]
4776 NFATC4; nuclear factor of activated T cells 4 [KO:K17334 ]
5997 RGS2; regulator of G protein signaling 2 [KO:K18154 ]
1827 RCAN1; regulator of calcineurin 1 [KO:K17901 ]
5564 PRKAB1; protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit beta 1 [KO:K07199 ]
5565 PRKAB2; protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit beta 2 [KO:K07199 ]
5571 PRKAG1; protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit gamma 1 [KO:K07200 ]
53632 PRKAG3; protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit gamma 3 [KO:K07200 ]
51422 PRKAG2; protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit gamma 2 [KO:K07200 ]
815 CAMK2A; calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II alpha [KO:K04515 ] [EC:2.7.11.17 ]
817 CAMK2D; calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II delta [KO:K04515 ] [EC:2.7.11.17 ]
816 CAMK2B; calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II beta [KO:K04515 ] [EC:2.7.11.17 ]
818 CAMK2G; calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II gamma [KO:K04515 ] [EC:2.7.11.17 ]
387 RHOA; ras homolog family member A [KO:K04513 ]
4659 PPP1R12A; protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 12A [KO:K06270 ]
4660 PPP1R12B; protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 12B [KO:K12329 ]
54776 PPP1R12C; protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 12C [KO:K17457 ]
2770 GNAI1; G protein subunit alpha i1 [KO:K04630 ]
2773 GNAI3; G protein subunit alpha i3 [KO:K04630 ]
2771 GNAI2; G protein subunit alpha i2 [KO:K04630 ]
2775 GNAO1; G protein subunit alpha o1 [KO:K04534 ]
5294 PIK3CG; phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit gamma [KO:K21289 ] [EC:2.7.1.153 ]
23533 PIK3R5; phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 5 [KO:K21290 ]
146850 PIK3R6; phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 6 [KO:K21290 ]
3760 KCNJ3; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 3 [KO:K04997 ]
3763 KCNJ6; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 6 [KO:K05000 ]
3765 KCNJ9; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 9 [KO:K05002 ]
3762 KCNJ5; potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 5 [KO:K04999 ]
1026 CDKN1A; cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A [KO:K06625 ]
Compound
C01245 D-myo-Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate
Reference
Authors
Devost D, Wrzal P, Zingg HH
Title
Oxytocin receptor signalling.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Viero C, Shibuya I, Kitamura N, Verkhratsky A, Fujihara H, Katoh A, Ueta Y, Zingg HH, Chvatal A, Sykova E, Dayanithi G
Title
REVIEW: Oxytocin: Crossing the bridge between basic science and pharmacotherapy.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Gutkowska J, Jankowski M
Title
Oxytocin revisited: its role in cardiovascular regulation.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Vrachnis N, Malamas FM, Sifakis S, Deligeoroglou E, Iliodromiti Z
Title
The oxytocin-oxytocin receptor system and its antagonists as tocolytic agents.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Tom N, Assinder SJ
Title
Oxytocin in health and disease.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Strakova Z, Copland JA, Lolait SJ, Soloff MS
Title
ERK2 mediates oxytocin-stimulated PGE2 synthesis.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Slater DM, Zervou S, Thornton S
Title
Prostaglandins and prostanoid receptors in human pregnancy and parturition.
Journal
J Soc Gynecol Investig 9:118-24 (2002)
Reference
Authors
Shmygol A, Gullam J, Blanks A, Thornton S
Title
Multiple mechanisms involved in oxytocin-induced modulation of myometrial contractility.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Tahara M, Morishige K, Sawada K, Ikebuchi Y, Kawagishi R, Tasaka K, Murata Y
Title
RhoA/Rho-kinase cascade is involved in oxytocin-induced rat uterine contraction.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Slattery MM, Morrison JJ
Title
Preterm delivery.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Pont JN, McArdle CA, Lopez Bernal A
Title
Oxytocin-stimulated NFAT transcriptional activation in human myometrial cells.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Gutkowska J, Jankowski M, Lambert C, Mukaddam-Daher S, Zingg HH, McCann SM
Title
Oxytocin releases atrial natriuretic peptide by combining with oxytocin receptors in the heart.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Antunes-Rodrigues J, de Castro M, Elias LL, Valenca MM, McCann SM
Title
Neuroendocrine control of body fluid metabolism.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Lee ES, Uhm KO, Lee YM, Kwon J, Park SH, Soo KH
Title
Oxytocin stimulates glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells through the calcium-CaMKK-AMPK pathway.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Cassoni P, Sapino A, Fortunati N, Munaron L, Chini B, Bussolati G
Title
Oxytocin inhibits the proliferation of MDA-MB231 human breast-cancer cells via cyclic adenosine monophosphate and protein kinase A.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Busnelli M, Peverelli E, Mantovani G, Spada A, Chini B
Title
Deciphering the specific role of G(alphai/o) isoforms: functional selective oxytocin ligands and somatostatin SST5 receptor mutants.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Reversi A, Rimoldi V, Brambillasca S, Chini B
Title
Effects of cholesterol manipulation on the signaling of the human oxytocin receptor.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Salmina AB, Lopatina O, Ekimova MV, Mikhutkina SV, Higashida H
Title
CD38/cyclic ADP-ribose system: a new player for oxytocin secretion and regulation of social behaviour.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Higashida H, Yokoyama S, Kikuchi M, Munesue T
Title
CD38 and its role in oxytocin secretion and social behavior.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Lopatina O, Inzhutova A, Salmina AB, Higashida H
Title
The roles of oxytocin and CD38 in social or parental behaviors.
Journal
Reference
Authors
Guse AH
Title
Second messenger function and the structure-activity relationship of cyclic adenosine diphosphoribose (cADPR).
Journal
Related pathway
KO pathway