Assay Principle: 

The Oxytocin ELISA Kits quantitatively measures oxytocin in serum, plasma (EDTA and Heparin), saliva, clarified milk, and tissue culture media. This competitive ELISA ensures reliability and convenience for researchers. Consult the kit insert for complete instructions before use. The kit includes an oxytocin standard to create a standard curve.

Protocol Summary:

• Transfer standards or diluted samples into the provided transparent microtiter plate coated with goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody.
• Add oxytocin peroxidase conjugate and oxytocin polyclonal antibody, shake for 15 minutes to mix, then incubate the mixture overnight at 4°C.
• The immunological reaction is inversely proportional to the oxytocin concentration in the sample.
• Post-incubation, remove excess conjugate and introduce the TMB substrate. The TMB substrate reacts with the bound conjugate, producing a measurable signal.
• Calculate oxytocin concentration using a plate reader at 450nm, based on the standard curve.

Background:

Oxytocin is a neurohypophysial peptide produced in the hypothalamus. It binds to specific cell surface receptors, initiating a secondary intracellular response cascade via a phosphoinositide signaling pathway. Oxytocin is also commonly known as the “love hormone” because it plays essential roles in many reproduction-related functions in both males and females. Oxytocin modulates behavioral actions, such as orgasm, social recognition, pair bonding, anxiety, and maternal behaviors. Other classical activities of oxytocin include stimulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction during labor and milk ejection during lactation.

Vincent du Vigneaud first isolated and synthesized the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin, earning him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1955. The molecule comprises nine amino acids linked with a [1-6] disulfide bond and a semi-flexible carboxyamidated tail. Oxytocin is highly conserved across species. In mesotocin, a common oxytocin-like peptide found in some fishes, reptiles, amphibians, marsupials, and non-mammalian tetrapods, there is isoleucine at residue eight instead of leucine.

The DetectX® Oxytocin ELISA Kit is an essential tool in neuroendocrinology and reproductive biology research. It enables researchers to quantify oxytocin levels accurately in various biological samples, aiding studies related to social behavior, reproductive health, and the broader understanding of neurohypophysial peptide functions.