Uterotonic

<p >A&nbsp;<b>uterotonic</b>&nbsp;is an agent used to induce contraction or greater&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonicity" title="Tonicity" >tonicity</a>&nbsp;of the uterus. Uterotonics are used both to&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childbirth" title="Childbirth" >induce labor</a>, and to reduce<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postpartum_hemorrhage" title="Postpartum hemorrhage" >postpartum hemorrhage</a>.

Some uterotonics act as analogues of&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytocin" title="Oxytocin" >oxytocin</a>. An&nbsp;<b>oxytocinergic</b>, or&nbsp;<b>oxytocic</b>, means "having to do with&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytocin" title="Oxytocin" >oxytocin</a>&nbsp;(OXT)". The&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxytocin_receptor" title="Oxytocin receptor" >Oxytocin Receptor</a>(OXTR) is the&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binding_(molecular)" title="Binding (molecular)" class="mw-redirect" >binding</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_site" title="Active site" >activation site</a>&nbsp;of oxytocin.

Some agents may act as indirect oxytocinergics:</p>

<ul >

<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HT1A" title="5-HT1A" class="mw-redirect" >5-HT<sub >1A</sub>&nbsp;Receptor</a>&nbsp;(5-HT<sub >1A</sub>R): A&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein" title="Protein" >protein</a>&nbsp;responsible for inducing the&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretion" title="Secretion" >secretion</a>&nbsp;of oxytocin.</li>

<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonergic" title="Serotonergic" >Serotonergic</a>: A drug which acts upon&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin" title="Serotonin" >serotonin</a>&nbsp;and 5-HT<sub >1A</sub>R, resulting in oxytocin release (e.g.,&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA" title="MDMA" >MDMA</a>&nbsp;("<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecstasy_(drug)" title="Ecstasy (drug)" class="mw-redirect" >Ecstasy</a>").</li>

</ul>

<p >Other uterotonics include&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylergonovine" title="Methylergonovine" class="mw-redirect" >Methylergonovine</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostaglandin_F2" title="Prostaglandin F2" class="mw-redirect" >Prostaglandin F2</a>.

A&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocolytic" title="Tocolytic" >tocolytic</a>&nbsp;acts to oppose uterine contractility. These agents may be oxytocinergic in mechanism. For example,&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atosiban" title="Atosiban" >Atosiban</a>&nbsp;works in this way.</p>