title: Human osteoclasts express oxytocin receptor.
abstract: Increasing evidences demonstrated many new targets for the hypothalamic hormone oxytocin, as the regulation of food balance and in some cases of leptin secretion. Considering that leptin is a potent inhibitor of bone formation and that oxytocin receptors (OTR) were detected in normal human osteoblasts, we investigated if OTR was expressed by human osteoclasts (hOCs) and the effect of the hormone on these cells. Here, we demonstrate by immunofluorescence and by Western blot analysis the expression of OTR by fully differentiated hOCs and by their precursors (pOCs). We also show that the receptor is functional, as OT treatment induces an increase of [Ca(2+)](i), and that the hormone may affect osteoclastogenesis, since it increases the number of pre-osteoclasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, Policlinico-P.zza G. Cesare 11, Bari 70 124, Italy. s.colucci@anatomia.uniba.it
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.forename: Graziana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colaianni
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grano
authors.forename: Alberta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zallone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D010121:Oxytocin; D002118:Calcium