Syntocinon

Last reviewed 01/2018

Extracts of the posterior pituitary were first used in obstetrics by Blair Bell in 1909.

The extracts contained two major endocrine components:

  • oxytocin
  • antidiuretuc hormone (vasopressin)

The unwanted antidiuretic hormone has been eliminated by chemical synthesis of the oxytocin octapeptide.

Synthetic oxytocin is called Syntocinon.