Intrathecal administration of oxytocin induces analgesia in low back pain involving the endogenous opiate peptide system.

Yang J

Spine1 Apr 1994Cited by 125 (Europe PMC)

PMID8009342DOI10.1097/00007632-199404150-00001PepBankPUB-08009342

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study11

10 results from studies that gave the peptide. 2 results from people.

01HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In patients with chronic low back pain, intrathecal oxytocin relieved pain with an ED50 of 0.172 micrograms/kg.
In plain wordsIn people with chronic low back pain, oxytocin given into the spinal canal relieved pain.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseRelief of chronic low back pain (ED50)
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
ED50
0.172 micrograms/kg
chronic low back pain
Source sentences
Summary
oxytocin relieves low back pain (ED50 0.172 in chronic and 0.121 micrograms/kg in acute).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934201
02HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In patients with acute low back pain, intrathecal oxytocin relieved pain with an ED50 of 0.121 micrograms/kg.
In plain wordsIn people with acute low back pain, oxytocin given into the spinal canal relieved pain.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseRelief of acute low back pain (ED50)
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
ED50
0.121 micrograms/kg
acute low back pain
Source sentences
Summary
oxytocin relieves low back pain (ED50 0.172 in chronic and 0.121 micrograms/kg in acute).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934202
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In rats, intrathecal oxytocin had a dose-related analgesic effect.
In plain wordsIn rats, oxytocin given into the spinal canal reduced pain in a dose-related way.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseAnalgesia (ED50)
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (rat).
Measurements
ED50
0.067 micrograms/kg
rats
Source sentences
Summary
In rats, oxytocin had a dose-related analgesic effect (ED50 0.067 micrograms/kg).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934204
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
In rats, high levels of oxytocin induced locomotor ataxia.
In plain wordsIn rats, high doses of oxytocin caused loss of coordinated movement.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseLocomotor ataxia (ED50)
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Outcome group
Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (rat).
Measurements
ED50
17.915 micrograms/kg
locomotor ataxia
Source sentences
Summary
At high levels, oxytocin induced locomotor ataxia (ED50 17.915 micrograms/kg) and death (LD50 27.224 micrograms/kg).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934205
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Safety outcome
In rats, high levels of oxytocin caused death.
In plain wordsIn rats, high doses of oxytocin caused death.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseDeath (LD50)
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Outcome group
Mortality · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (rat).
Measurements
LD50
27.224 micrograms/kg
rats
Source sentences
Summary
At high levels, oxytocin induced locomotor ataxia (ED50 17.915 micrograms/kg) and death (LD50 27.224 micrograms/kg).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934206
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, an oxytocin antagonist reversed oxytocin-induced analgesia.
In plain wordsIn rats, a drug blocking the oxytocin receptor removed the pain relief caused by oxytocin.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableReversal of oxytocin analgesia by oxytocin antagonist
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin antagonist [d(CH2)5, Tyr(Me)2, Orn8]-vasotocin and opiate receptor-blocker naloxone could reverse oxytocin-induced analgesia.
Report a problemFND-0800934207
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, the opiate receptor blocker naloxone reversed oxytocin-induced analgesia.
In plain wordsIn rats, naloxone, an opioid blocker, removed the pain relief caused by oxytocin.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableReversal of oxytocin analgesia by naloxone
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin antagonist [d(CH2)5, Tyr(Me)2, Orn8]-vasotocin and opiate receptor-blocker naloxone could reverse oxytocin-induced analgesia.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934208
08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, oxytocin increased beta-endorphin content in the spinal cord.
In plain wordsIn rats, oxytocin raised beta-endorphin levels in the spinal cord.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseSpinal cord beta-endorphin content
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin also increased beta-endorphin, L-encephalin, and dynorphin A1-13 contents in the spinal cord
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934209
09AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, oxytocin increased L-encephalin content in the spinal cord.
In plain wordsIn rats, oxytocin raised L-encephalin levels in the spinal cord.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseSpinal cord L-encephalin content
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin also increased beta-endorphin, L-encephalin, and dynorphin A1-13 contents in the spinal cord
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934210
10AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, oxytocin increased dynorphin A1-13 content in the spinal cord.
In plain wordsIn rats, oxytocin raised dynorphin A1-13 levels in the spinal cord.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseSpinal cord dynorphin A1-13 content
Study
ratn: not reported in source
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intrathecalAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin also increased beta-endorphin, L-encephalin, and dynorphin A1-13 contents in the spinal cord
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
Report a problemFND-0800934211

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

11HumanEndogenous levelObservational studyOther
In humans, acute and chronic low back pain were associated with a marked change of oxytocin content in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma (direction not reported).
In plain wordsIn people, back pain was linked to a marked change in the body's own oxytocin in spinal fluid and blood.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Direction not reportedOxytocin content in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma in low back pain
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
In humans, acute and chronic low back pain causes a marked change of oxytocin content within cerebral spinal fluid and plasma
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Intrathecal injection, radioimmunoassay, and potassium iontophoresis tail-flick test were used to investigate the effect of oxytocin.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Report a problemFND-0800934203

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials2

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

2 trials · 1 ongoing · 1 stopped early · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

RecruitingPhase 2NCT06483659

Intravenous Oxytocin for Post Operative Pain After Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy

Brigham and Women's Hospitaln = 1521 Jun 2025 to est. 30 Jun 2028

Postoperative Pain

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 13 Aug 2026

WithdrawnPhase 4NCT05608070

IV Oxytocin for Post Operative Pain After Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centern = 01 Jun 2023 to est. Jun 2025

Pain, Postoperative · Analgesia · Postoperative Pain · Pain, Post Operative · Oxytocin

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 14 Aug 2023

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 20:03 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:51 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

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