출산과 수유 과정에서의 잘 알려진 기능 때문에, 옥시토신(oxytocin, OT)은 '여성 뇌하수체후엽 호르몬(female nerohypophyseal hormone)'으로 알려져 왔다. 그러나 최신 연구들에 따르면 OT가 중추신경계와 말초조직 수준에서 수컷 생식을 조절하는 국부적인 기능을 가짐이 알려졌다. 일부 실험용 설치류에서, OT는 사회적인 자극들에 반응하여 뇌의 특정 지역으로 분비되는데, 이 뇌 OT와 그 수용체(OTR)를 매개로한 작용들은 수

Due to its well-known function in parturition and milk ejection, oxytocin (OT) has been considered as a 'female neurohypophyseal hormone'. Recent studies, however, clearly indicate that OT has some local roles in male reproduction via both central and peripheral routes. In experimental rodents, OT is released within distinct brain regions in response to social stimuli, and the brain OT receptor (OTR) mediated actions were strongly involved in the regulation of a variety of male behaviors such as mating-associated behaviors. In particular, OT and/or OTR knockout mice provide important clues about the molecular regulatory mechanism of the socio-sexual behaviors. Several lines of evidence also show that OT is synthesized within rodents testis, epididymis and prostate, and the presence of OTRs in these organs. In rodent testes, OT might have a role in the modulation of steroidogenesis via stimulation of the conversion of testosterone (T) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by 5alpha-reductase. Similar effects of OT on this androgen conversion were observed in epididymis and prostate suggesting the OT's modulatory role, such as contractility induction, in these androgen-dependent organs. In this context, further investigations on the OT's role in male CNS and reproductive organs are likely to provide better understanding on the complex socio-sexual behaviors and a platform for development of therapeutics to treat some psychological and/or andrological problems.

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