Oxytocin: A New Painkiller?

Joselyn Ye Tay^* and Cristina Kochi Yamamoto

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

Corresponding Author:

Joselyn Ye Tay
Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
Tel: (51) 993 430 596
E-mail: Joselyn.ye.t@upch.pe

Received Date: December 07, 2015; Accepted Date: February 01, 2016; Published Date: February 04, 2016

Citation: Tay JY, Yamamoto CK (2016) Oxytocin: A New Painkiller? J Pain Relief S4:001. doi:10.4172/2167-0846.S4-001

Copyright: © 2016 Tay JY, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Abstract

Oxytocin is a peptide hormone released in our body. It plays a very well-known role in pregnancy-related uterine contractions and lactation. But oxytocin does a lot more than just helping women get through labour. Recent studies have shown that it contributes to pain perception and pain physiology. In this short article, we emphasize the potential role it has on pain relief and our aim is to promote the increase of researches about the subject.

Keywords

Oxytocin; Pain relief; Pain treatment; Endogenous oxytocin; Analgesia

Oxytocin (OT) is a neurohormone that has been mostly associated with pregnancy. Nevertheless, it is involved in many more pathways. OT travels from the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus - where it is synthesized - to the rest of the body, activating and modulating a wide range of functions and emotions, including social behavior.

During the last decade, scientists discovered even more functions. One of them is its role in pain perception. It was found that oxytocin induces analgesia through different psychological and physiological processes. Oxytocin plays a dual role as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) and as a peripheral hormone. In the CNS, OT acts indirectly on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, through its effect on the amygdala, which reduces the release of cortisol levels. Subsequently, OT diminishes the influence of stress and anxiety in the nociceptive signaling, that is the main pain pathway. Additionally, it is considered that OT may interact with the central endogenous opioid system and therefore, produce analgesia and nociceptive effects [1]. There are few studies that evidence the role of OT in pain perception through somatosensory transmission, they suggest that low endogenous OT levels are associated to chronic pain conditions and increased pain sensitivity [2].

Russo and contributors reported that oxytocin-induced antihyperalgesic effect was only observed after central administration, as there were no results found with peripheral injections of exogenous oxytocin [3]. In addition, it is suggested that administered OT decreases beta endorphin plasma (endogenous opioid neuropeptide) levels and adrenocorticotropic hormone, because of an interaction with corticotrophin releasing factor, which regulates the release of cortisol and beta endorphin [4]. Therefore, unlike endogenous OT, exogenous or peripheral administered oxytocin would not contribute to pain relief.

Triggering our body to release this hormone could be a potential method for pain treatment. For example, sensory stimulation like touch and warmth, or even food. Furthermore, oxytocin may also be released by stimulation of other senses such as olfaction, [5] as well as by certain types of lights and sound [6]. This means that we could theoretically use this triggers to promote the biochemical pathway of Endogenous Central Oxytocin production. Thereby, these could be as an adjuvant to control chronic or post operatory pain, also aid speedy recovery, help improve patients’ well-being and improve their overall quality of life.

Nevertheless, clinical effectiveness and safety have not been studied yet. There is still a not very known area, so further research is needed, to determine whether if these interventions can be used as a new analgesic treatment, as they are a non-invasive, non-pharmacologic, but effective and inexpensive therapy to ease the pain.

References

1. Tracy L, Georgiou-Karistianis N, Gibson S, Giummarra M (2015) Oxytocin and the modulation of pain experience: Implications for chronic pain management. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 55: 53-67.
2. Goodin B, Ness T, Robbins M (2015) Oxytocin–A multifunctional analgesic for chronic deep tissue pain. Curr Pharm Des 21: 906-913.
3. Russo R, D’Agostinoa G, Mattace Rasoa G, Avaglianoa C, Cristiano C, et al. (2012) Central administration of oxytocin reduces hyperalgesia in mice: Implication for cannabinoid and opioid systems. Peptides 38: 81-88.
4. Genazzani AR, Petraglia F, Facchinetti F, Galli PA, Volpe A (1985) Lack of beta-endorphin plasma level rise in oxytocin-induced labor. Gynecol Obstet Invest 19: 130-134.
5. Moore PA (2016) Smells Like Teen Spirit: The Hidden Power of Smell; How Chemicals Influence Our Lives and Behavior. (1stedn) Springer International Publishing 167-186.
6. Nilsson U (2009) Soothing music can increase oxytocin levels during bed rest after open-heart surgery: a randomised control trial. J Clin Nurs 18: 2153-2161.