File:OXT and AVP synthesized in the neurons located in the PVN and SON.jpg

English: Oxytocin (OXT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) are two closely related nonapeptides that exert their action on central and peripheral targets. (A) OXT and AVP are synthesized in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus. The peptidergic neurons in these nuclei project axons to the posterior pituitary, from where the peptides are released into the circulation. They act as hormones on peripheral targets, having well-documented actions (uterine contraction and vasoconstriction, for instance). In addition, dendrites of neurons in the PVN and the SON release the peptides directly into the brain, where they act as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators, regulating complex social cognition and behaviors. (B) OXT and AVP differ in only two aminoacids: this schematic drawing shows that, whereas the aminoacid sequence of OXT (top) includes an isoleucine at the third and a leucine at the eighth position, that of AVP (bottom) includes a phenylalanine and an arginine in the corresponding positions. Both peptides contain a cyclic six aminoacid ring, because of the disulfide bond formed by two cysteine residues.