OXYTOCIN

Source: IndianExpress

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Context

• A recent submission in the Delhi High Court flagged the “rampant use of Oxytocin” in such colonies.

Details

• Oxytocin, a hormone known as the "love hormone," is banned in India since April 2018 due to its misuse in increasing milk yield in dairy cattle.
• The Delhi High Court has called for action against the spurious use of oxytocin in dairy colonies, citing it as animal cruelty.
• The Court directed the Department of Drugs Control to conduct weekly inspections and register cases under relevant laws.
• Offences related to oxytocin usage will be investigated by jurisdictional police stations, and the Intelligence Department of Delhi Police will identify sources of spurious oxytocin production.

Legal Framework Regarding Oxytocin Use

• Administering oxytocin is deemed animal cruelty and a cognizable offense under Section 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
• The Delhi High Court directed the Department of Drugs Control, GNCTD, to conduct weekly inspections.
• Cases of spurious oxytocin usage or possession must be registered under Section 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and Section 18(a) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
• The Centre decided that Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KAPL) would be the sole public sector undertaking permitted to produce oxytocin for the entire country.

About Oxytocin

• Oxytocin is a neuropeptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland.
• Often referred to as the "love hormone" or "bonding hormone" due to its role in social bonding, trust, and intimacy.

Biological Functions of Oxytocin:

• Labor and Childbirth: Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions during labor and facilitates childbirth.
• Breastfeeding: It promotes milk ejection (letdown reflex) during breastfeeding by contracting the cells around the milk-producing glands.
• Social Bonding: Oxytocin plays a crucial role in forming social bonds, trust, empathy, and maternal behavior.
• Sexual Activity: It is involved in sexual arousal and orgasm in both men and women.
• Stress Reduction: Oxytocin has anti-stress effects by reducing cortisol levels and promoting relaxation.
• Regulation of Cardiovascular System: It helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate.

Role in Social Behavior:

• Trust and Empathy: Oxytocin enhances trust and empathy, leading to more cooperative and prosocial behaviors.
• Maternal Behavior: In mothers, oxytocin promotes maternal bonding, nurturing, and caregiving behaviors towards infants.
• Pair Bonding: Oxytocin is implicated in the formation and maintenance of romantic relationships and monogamous bonds.

Medical Uses of Oxytocin:

• Induction of Labor: Oxytocin is commonly used to induce labor or augment contractions during childbirth.
• Management of Postpartum Hemorrhage: It can help control bleeding after childbirth by causing uterine contractions.
• Treatment of Breastfeeding Problems: Oxytocin nasal spray or injections may be used to aid milk letdown in breastfeeding mothers.
• Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders: Some studies suggest oxytocin therapy may improve social behavior and communication in individuals with autism.
• Anxiety and Depression: Oxytocin's role in reducing stress and promoting social bonding may have implications for anxiety and depression.
• Autism Spectrum Disorders: Research is ongoing to investigate oxytocin's potential role in alleviating symptoms of autism spectrum disorders.

Controversies and Ethical Considerations:

• Misuse in Childbirth: Overuse of synthetic oxytocin during childbirth may lead to complications such as overly strong contractions or fetal distress.
• Role in Social Behavior: Debate exists over oxytocin's role in promoting positive social behaviors versus potentially enhancing negative behaviors such as ethnocentrism or in-group favoritism.
• Ethical Use in Research: Ethical considerations surround the use of oxytocin in research, particularly regarding informed consent and potential psychological effects.

Sources:

IndianExpress

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.  Oxytocin plays a multifaceted role in human physiology and behavior. Elaborate. (250 words)