ArticleCommunications medicine2023
Oxytocin receptor DNA methylation is associated with exogenous oxytocin needs during parturition and postpartum hemorrhage.
Article in Communications medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 27 citations in OpenAlex.
- An epigenetic framework for understanding contextual influences on neural and socio-emotional development: Narrative review and case-study of the oxytocin receptor.Developmental cognitive neuroscience · 2026Review
- Oxytocin treatment at birth accelerates an epigenetic shift in the oxytocin receptor gene in the maternal brain.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Assessment of the histone mark-based epigenomic landscape in human myometrium at term pregnancy.eLife · 2025Article
- Effects of human-animal interaction on salivary and urinary oxytocin in children and dogs.Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2024Article
- A Common OXTR Risk Variant Alters Regulation of Gene Expression by DNA Hydroxymethylation in Pregnant Human Myometrium.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2024Article
- Epigenetic regulation of the oxytocin system as an indicator of adaptation to over-controlling parenting and psychosocial functioning in adulthood.Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2024Article
- Proteomic studies of VEGFR2 in human placentas reveal protein associations with preeclampsia, diabetes, gravidity, and labor.Cell communication and signaling : CCS · 2024Article
- Design, synthesis, conformational analysis, and biological activity of CαJournal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry · 2023Article
- A prolonged latent phase: An early career in oxytocin during birth.Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology · 2023Article
- Postpartum Hemorrhage and the Likelihood of Exclusive Breastfeeding Through 6 Months Postpartum: A Case-Control Study.Journal of midwifery & women's healthArticle
- Childhood Maltreatment, Labor Duration, and Intrapartum Synthetic Oxytocin Dose and Duration: A Potential Oxytocin-Linked Contributor to Labor Outcomes in Black Birthing People.Journal of midwifery & women's healthArticle
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is regulated, in part, by DNA methylation. This mechanism has implications for uterine contractility during labor and for prevention or treatment of postpartum hemorrhage, an important contributor to global maternal morbidity and mortality.
methodsWe measured and compared the level of OXTR DNA methylation between matched blood and uterine myometrium to evaluate blood as an indicator of uterine methylation status using targeted pyrosequencing and sites from the Illumina EPIC Array. Next, we tested for OXTR DNA methylation differences in blood between individuals who experienced a postpartum hemorrhage arising from uterine atony and matched controls following vaginal birth. Bivariate statistical tests, generalized linear modeling and Poisson regression were used in the analyses.
resultsHere we show a significant positive correlation between blood and uterine DNA methylation levels at several OXTR loci. Females with higher OXTR DNA methylation in blood had required significantly more exogenous oxytocin during parturition. With higher DNA methylation, those who had oxytocin administered during labor had significantly greater relative risk for postpartum hemorrhage (IRR 2.95, 95% CI 1.53-5.71).
conclusionsWe provide evidence that epigenetic variability in OXTR is associated with the amount of oxytocin administered during parturition and moderates subsequent postpartum hemorrhage. Methylation can be measured using a peripheral tissue, suggesting potential use in identifying individuals susceptible to postpartum hemorrhage. Future studies are needed to quantify myometrial gene expression in connection with OXTR methylation.
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