OXYTOCIN (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Delhi High Court has ordered State authorities to take action against the spurious use of oxytocin on cattle in dairy colonies in the Capital.

Oxytocin

• About: Also known as the love hormone,' is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pituitary glands in mammals.
• Natural Functions: It is released during various physiological events such as sexual activity, childbirth, lactation, and social bonding.
• Synthetic Production: Apart from its natural production, oxytocin can also be synthesized chemically and is manufactured by pharmaceutical companies.
• Administration Methods: It is commonly administered either through injections or as a nasal solution.
• Roles: Oxytocin plays crucial roles in contracting the uterus during childbirth, controlling bleeding postpartum, and facilitating the release of breast milk.
• Preventing Complications: Its use is particularly vital in preventing complications such as postpartum hemorrhage, which significantly contributes to maternal mortality rates.
• Current Data: According to a sample registration scheme survey in India conducted from 2001 to 2003, postpartum hemorrhage accounted for 38 percent of maternal deaths, highlighting the importance of interventions like oxytocin administration.