Fig. 1. DNA synthesis measured as [³H]thymidine incorporation in hOB cells incubated (a) for 72 h with 10–1000 pmol/l of oxytocin (n=9 for each concentration) or (b) for 48 h with 100 pmol/l of oxytocin (n=6). 0=control conditions (n=6). The results are shown as means±S.D. Statistical evaluation was in Fig. 1a performed by a one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher’s test for post-hoc comparisons and in Fig. 1b by Student’s t-test. ANOVA: F(3,32)=4.98, P=0.006, * P<0.05, **P<0.01.

Fig. 2. Cell proliferation of SaOS-2 cells measured by the EZ4U kit. Cells were incubated for 24 h with oxytocin 1–1000 pmol/l (n=10 for each concentration). 0=control conditions (n=10). The results are shown as means±S.D. Statistical evaluation was performed by a one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher’s test for post-hoc comparisons. ANOVA: F(4,45)=4.06, P=0.0068, * P<0.05, ** P<0.01

Fig. 3. DNA synthesis measured as [³H]thymidine incorporation in SaOS-2 cells incubated for 24 h with oxytocin 100 pmol/l (n=6) or oxytocin 100 pmol/l and the oxytocin antagonist (1-deamino-2--Tyr-(Oet)-4-Thr-8-Orn-oxytocin) 200 pmol/l (n=6). 0=control conditions (n=6). The results are shown as means±S.D. Statistical evaluation was performed by a one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher’s test for post-hoc comparisons. ANOVA: F(2,15)=3.51, P<0.05, * P<0.05.

Fig. 4. Protein synthesis measured as [³H]proline incorporation in SaOS-2 cells incubated for 24 h with oxytocin 100 pmol/l (n=6). 0=control conditions (n=6). The results are shown as means±S.D. Statistical evaluation was performed by a Student’s t-test. * P<0.05.

Fig. 5. Amount of IL-6 per well in hOB cells incubated for 48 h with oxytocin 100 pmol/l (n=6). 0=control conditions (n=6). The results are shown as means±S.D. Statistical evaluation was performed by a Student’s t-test. *** P<0.001.