Oxytocin treatment at birth accelerates an epigenetic shift in the oxytocin receptor gene in the maternal brain
Date
2025-07-19
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Abstract
To date, nearly one in three births in the United States occurs after a labor induced with synthetic oxytocin. Despite how common this intervention is, little is known about its long-term consequences for maternal health. Existing work has identified a link between labor induction with synthetic oxytocin and increased risk for postpartum depression. For some women, the link between labor induction and postpartum depression risk may be altered functioning of the oxytocin system, including epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene, OXTR. Here we use the prairie vole to understand how pregnancy and birth impact epigenetic control of Oxtr, and how a labor induced with synthetic oxytocin may alter this control.
Description
This article was originally published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07868-7
© 2025 The Authors. Published by Springer Nature. This publication is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)
Keywords
Oxytocin, Birth, Labor induction, Epigenetics, Oxytocin receptor gene, Prarie vole
Citation
Perkeybile, A.M., Kenkel, W.M., Yee, J.R. et al. Oxytocin treatment at birth accelerates an epigenetic shift in the oxytocin receptor gene in the maternal brain. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 25, 777 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07868-7