The inability of oxytocin to influence the secretion of testosterone, prolactin, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormone in normal men.

Recently controversial data has been obtained about the endocrine effects of the neurohypophyseal hormone oxytocin both in vitro and in vivo. We measured testosterone, prolactin, LH and FSH by specific radioimmunoassay in seven healthy adult males before, during and after intravenous infusion of either synthetic oxytocin (4IU/100 ml/120 min) or saline. The findings clearly demonstrate that in men oxytocin does not affect plasma prolactin, LH and FSH. Our results do not establish an effect of oxytocin on basal testosterone release in healthy male subjects.