Question

Mrs. patton has been 3 weeks past her due date to have her first baby. you decide you need to induce labor by giving her an injection of a synthetic form of a natural hormone. what hormone are you going to give her?

Answer 1

The hormone to be given is oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus then stored in the posterior pituitary gland (along with antidiuretic hormone or vasopressin) that is responsible mainly for uterine contraction and milk ejection or letdown. Oxytocin induces contraction of the myoepithelial cells in the breast for milk letdown. On the other hand, there is upregulation of oxytocin receptors during parturition which makes the uterus more sensitive to oxytocin. Oxytocin is also known to induce labor and reduce post-partum bleeding.