Hormone · Synthetic peptide analog
Carbetocin
A long-acting oxytocin analog used as a research tool to study oxytocin receptor agonism and its effects on smooth muscle contractility.
- Length
- 8 amino acids
- Half-life
- Approximately 40 minutes
- Mechanism
- Carbetocin is a long-acting synthetic analog of oxytocin that functions as an agonist at oxytocin receptors, primarily on smooth muscle cells.
- Studied in
- It is used in laboratory organ bath experiments to study uterine smooth muscle contractility and in cell-based assays to investigate oxytocin receptor signaling.
About Carbetocin
Carbetocin is a synthetic octapeptide analog of the hormone oxytocin. It features key structural modifications, including the substitution of a hydrogen for the N-terminal amino group and a methyl group on the tyrosine at position 2, which confer increased resistance to enzymatic degradation. This results in a significantly longer duration of action compared to native oxytocin.
Like oxytocin, carbetocin binds to G-protein coupled oxytocin receptors, stimulating the phospholipase C-IP3-calcium signaling pathway, which leads to smooth muscle contraction. Due to its stability and prolonged agonist activity, it serves as a valuable reference compound with a clinical history for in-vitro pharmacological studies of the uterine myometrium and other tissues expressing oxytocin receptors.
Laboratory notes
- For myometrial strip contractility assays, prepare solutions in a physiological salt solution like Krebs-Henseleit buffer.
- Due to its high potency, perform serial dilutions to achieve accurate nanomolar working concentrations.
- Store lyophilized peptide at -20°C or colder and protect from light.
Storage and reconstitution basics: storage guide.
Questions about Carbetocin
How does Carbetocin's structure differ from oxytocin?
It has a deaminated N-terminus and a methylated tyrosine residue, which increases its metabolic stability and half-life.
What is Carbetocin's primary mechanism?
It is an agonist at the oxytocin receptor, stimulating intracellular calcium release and causing smooth muscle contraction.
What is a typical in-vitro application for Carbetocin?
It is frequently used in isolated organ bath setups to measure the contractile force of uterine tissue strips in response to receptor stimulation.
Is Carbetocin for human use?
No. It is supplied strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and is not for human or animal consumption.
Related research peptides
All products are sold for laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption, not a medicine, not for diagnosing, treating or preventing any condition.