oxytocin

One entry found for oxytocin.

Main Entry: oxy·to·cin
Pronunciation: -ts-n
Function: noun
1 : an octapeptide hormone C₄₃H₆₆N₁₂O₁₂S₂ secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stimulates especially the contraction of uterine muscle and the secretion of milk -- called also alpha-hypophamine
2 : a synthetic version of oxytocin used especially to initiate or increase uterine contractions (as in the induction of labor) -- see PITOCIN