The fate of oxytocin in male and female rats.

A method for quantitative extraction of oxytocin from blood is described. The disappearance of injected oxytocin from the circulation in rats was shown to depend upon its uptake in the kidneys and in organs of the splanchnic vascular area. In lactating rats there was uptake by an additional organ or tissue, probably the mammary gland. In animals without kidneys or lactating mammary glands and with no circulation in the splanchnic area oxytocin was distributed into a volume greater than the extracellular fluid volume, and after equilibration the concentration in plasma did not change significantly. During severe haemorrhage increased amounts of antidiuretic activity were detected in blood when there was no significant increase in oxytocic activity.