Oxytocin receptor antagonism shows investigational promise for lower urinary tract symptoms, requiring clinical validation.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), often linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and overactive bladder syndrome (OAB), significantly diminish quality of life for millions. Current treatments frequently have side effects or limited efficacy, leaving a substantial unmet need. The neuropeptide oxytocin, known for its roles in social bonding and reproduction, also influences smooth muscle contractility. This review explores the potential of targeting the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) pathway in the bladder and prostate, given its anatomical presence and observed contractile responses, as a novel therapeutic avenue for these challenging conditions. The precise role of oxytocin signaling in LUTS pathophysiology and its therapeutic modulation remains an area of active investigation.

This narrative review systematically evaluated existing literature on oxytocin receptor (OXTR) localization, signaling, and contractile responses within prostate and bladder tissues. The authors synthesized findings from experimental studies, including receptor expression and responses to OXTR antagonists, to establish mechanistic plausibility for targeting this pathway in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and overactive bladder (OAB). The review distinguished preclinical effects on tissue contractility and reproductive endpoints from clinical urinary outcomes, and considered proposed artificial intelligence applications for experimental receptor localization and contraction analysis.