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Description

Oxytocin receptor (UniProt P97926, also known as OT-R) is encoded by the Oxtr (also known as Otr) gene (Gene ID 18430) in murine species. Oxytocin receptor (OT-R) is widely expressed in the reproductive tract, brain, kidneys, and many other organs, where it mediates the biological functions of oxytocin (OT) in mammals. Best known for their role in lactation and parturition, OT-R and OT meidate a wide variety of physiological functions, including estrous cycle, bone formation, social behaviors, as well as regulation of energy homeostasis, including food intake and thermoregulation. Central administration of OT decreases food consumption in rats, and nesfatin (a satiety hormone) increases OT secretion. Oxt-null and Oxtr-null mice display aberrant thermoregulatory function. In addition, Oxtr-knockout mice have a morphological defect in brown adipose tissue (BAT) cells and develop obesity. Human and murine oxytocin receptors are 7-transmembrane (a.a. 39-63, 75-97, 114-135, 155-175, 203-225, 275-293, 309-331) GPCRs with their N-terminal end at the extracellular side (a.a. 1-38) and C-terminal end at the cytoplasmic side (human a.a. 332-389 and mouse a.a. 332-388).