Serum profiles of oxytocin during oral contraceptive treatment

Serum profiles of oxytocin were studied by means of a continuous blood sampling system in five young healthy women before and during treatment with a combined oral contraceptive. Oxytocin levels were determined by a specific radioimmunoassay in blood samples collected in 10-min fractions from 22.00 to 06.00. The values were further analyzed by the pulse detection program PULSAR. Great individual differences in oxytocin profiles were observed, and in some of the women these differences were also pronounced between the two sampling occasions. All 10 profiles demonstrated irregular peaks which occurred with varying frequency. Although the baseline level of oxytocin increased in all women and the average concentration increased in four of the women during treatment, there was no clear-cut effect on the peak frequency. Based on results from animal experiments, it is suggested that the increase in oxytocin levels may be related to an excitatory effect exerted by estrogen on oxytocin secreting neurons.