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A groundbreaking study has uncovered a potential new role for oxytocin, a hormone widely recognized for its involvement in childbirth, milk release, and maternal bonding. The research, published in Science Advances as part of a special issue on women’s health, suggests that oxytocin may influence early embryo development and could provide crucial insights into pregnancy and fertility challenges.
Led by scientists at NYU Langone Health, the study focused on a phenomenon called diapause. Diapause is a temporary halt in embryo growth before implantation in the uterus, a process seen in various mammals, including armadillos, seals, and giant pandas. This adaptive mechanism is thought to help conserve maternal resources for offspring survival.
Recent evidence indicates that a form of diapause may also occur in humans, but its underlying mechanisms have remained largely unexplored. The new findings in rodents suggest that maternal stress, particularly lactation, triggers an increase in oxytocin levels, which in turn delays embryo implantation. Pregnant rodents that were already nursing a litter exhibited a delay in gestation by about a week. Additionally, exposing mouse embryos to oxytocin in laboratory settings resulted in implantation delays of up to three days.
Notably, the study found that elevated oxytocin levels could lead to pregnancy loss in nearly all cases where surges of the hormone mimicked the amounts seen during nursing. These findings suggest that abnormal oxytocin production might contribute to infertility, miscarriage, and complications related to premature or delayed birth in humans.
Further analysis revealed that oxytocin binds to receptors on the trophectoderm, the outer layer of cells surrounding the early embryo, which later forms the placenta. Mouse embryos genetically modified to lack oxytocin receptors struggled to implant successfully, indicating that the ability to respond to oxytocin fluctuations is vital for embryo survival.
“This research sheds light on oxytocin’s influence on reproductive processes and may help explain some of the challenges associated with infertility and pregnancy loss,” said Dr. Moses Chao, study co-author and professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Senior study author Dr. Robert Froemke emphasized that while these findings are significant, further research is needed to understand how diapause is reversed and how it might impact offspring development after birth. He also noted that human reproductive biology differs from that of mice, and additional studies will be required to determine the extent to which these discoveries translate to human fertility treatments.
Future research will aim to explore the interactions between oxytocin and other reproductive hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their roles in pregnancy maintenance and potential fertility interventions.
Disclaimer: While this study provides valuable insights into the potential effects of oxytocin on fertility, its findings are based on research conducted in rodents. The implications for human reproduction remain under investigation, and individuals experiencing fertility challenges should consult a medical professional for personalized advice and treatment options.
