Oxytocin treatment at birth accelerates an epigenetic shift in the oxytocin receptor gene in the maternal brain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To date, nearly one in three births in the United States occurs after a labor induced with synthetic oxytocin. Despite how common this intervention is, little is known about its long-term consequences for maternal health. Existing work has identified a link between labor induction with synthetic oxytocin and increased risk for postpartum depression. For some women, the link between labor induction and postpartum depression risk may be altered functioning of the oxytocin system, including epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene, OXTR. Here we use the prairie vole to understand how pregnancy and birth impact epigenetic control of Oxtr, and how a labor induced with synthetic oxytocin may alter this control.

Methods

In an unmanipulated birth model, we me

SUBMITTER: Perkeybile AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12275451 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature