A member asked:

Would intranasal oxytocin go from lungs to the bloodstream and act as a hormone? i'm wondering since i don't have a pituitary gland, so no ot hormone.

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Oxytocin: Oxytocin is a peptide made by the hypothalamus & stored/secreted by the posterior pituitary gland. When administered intranasally, it can act on the breasts and uterus via the systemic blood circulation. However, it's unclear whether it can cross the blood-brain barrier directly to affect the brain. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/2013/12/08/spinal-taps-save-oxytocin-research/

Answered 9/18/2014

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