Synthesis and some pharmacological properties of [1-(L-2-hydroxy-3-mercaptopropanoic acid), 4-threonine]oxytocin (hydroxy [4-thr]oxytocin), a peptide with strikingly high oxytocic potency and of [1-(L-2-hydroxy-3-mercaptopropanoic acid)]oxytocin (hydroxy-oxytocin).

[1-(L-2-Hydroxy-3-mercaptopropanoic acid), 4-threonine]oxytocin (hydroxy[4-Thr]oxytocin) and [1-(l-2-hydroxy-3-mercaptopropanoic acid)]oxytocin (hydroxy-oxytocin) were synthesized by a combination of solid phase and classical methods of peptide synthesis. Protected octapeptides were synthesized by the solid-phase method and 1 + 8 couplings in solution were then employed to furnish the required key protected intermediates. Hydroxy[4-Thr]oxytocin has oxytocic potency as measured in the rat uterus suspended in a Mg2+-free solution, of about 4200 units/mg, eight times the potency of oxytocin, while its antidiuretic potency is approximately equal to that of oxytocin. It thus exhibits a significantly favorable oxytocic-antidiuretic sleectivity. Hydroxy-oxytocin has an oxytocic potency of approximatels 1300 units/mt, 2.5 times that of oxytocin. Threonine substitution in hydroxy-oxytocin has thus caused a significant enhancement in both oxytocic potency and selectivity. The enhancement in oxytocic potency of these two peptides relative to oxytocin and [4-Thr]oxytocin appears to correlate with their lipophilic characteristics, suggesting a significant role of lipophilicity in the interplay of oxytocin-like peptides with oxytocic receptors.