A new study by Michigan State University scientists shows that oxytocin can stimulate special heart stem cells, known as Epicardium-derived Progenitor Cells (EpiPCs). These cells have the remarkable ability to transform into cardiomyocytes—the beating muscle cells of the heart—and regenerate tissue after injury.

Experiments with zebrafish revealed that the fish naturally boost oxytocin levels following heart injury, triggering EpiPCs to rebuild lost tissue. When tested on human heart cell cultures, oxytocin produced a similar regenerative effect—outperforming other molecules researchers tried.