1. Oxytocin By: Victoria Lee

2. Produced? Oxytocin is a nine amino acid peptide hormone synthesized in magnocellular neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The sequence is cysteine - tyrosine - isoleucine - glutamine - asparagine - cysteine - proline - leucine - glycine).amino acid hormonecysteinetyrosine isoleucineglutamineasparaginecysteineprolineleucineglycine

3. Target Cell Mammary alveoli are surrounded by smooth muscle (myoepithelial) cells which are a prominant target cell for oxytocin.

4. What Causes it to be Produced? It is produced when a woman is pregnant to help her go into labor. The stimulation causes neurons that make oxytocin to fire action potentials in intermittent bursts; these bursts result in the secretion of pulses of oxytocin from the neurosecretory nerve terminals of the pituitary gland.

5. Structure? Peptide

6. If too much is produced? Overdosage - Effects of overdosage on the uterus depend on the stage of the uterus and the position of the fetus(es). Hypertonic or tetanic contractions can occur leading to tumul­tuous labor, uterine rupture, fetal injury or death.