Fig. 2

Scheme showing autocrine and paracrine release of oxytocin. OT is released from dendrites (dendritic release), from the cell soma (soma release), and from axons (axonal release) in the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic oxytocinergic neurons express OT receptors (OTR). Released OT binds to OTR. More OT (yellow circle) is released by CD38-mediated intracellular calcium amplification (not shown). The positive feedback of OT release occurs by OT released from self or nearby cells via autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, respectively